Peter Navarro May 8, 2021 Affiliate marketing is not only the present, but it’s the business of the future as well. However, with so many affiliate programs, it is difficult to choose the one that best suits our needs. Choosing an affiliate program that pays handsomely can be time consuming as each network has varying commission rates and a different application procedure to start with. So, check out this list of the 10 most profitable affiliate platforms and start making money from your website!
But those who are not familiar with this concept, let me quickly explain what exactly an affiliate program is.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based system, where associates sell a merchant’s product or service and receive a commission for each visit, subscription, or sale they grant to the merchant. It enables affiliates (also called publishers) to earn money without storing product inventories, spending on services, or establishing customer relationships.
Here’s the list of 10 profitable affiliate marketing networks to get started with this year.
- Awin
- Amazon Associate
- ClickBank
- CJ Affiliate
- eBay Partner Network
- Lemonads
- Rakuten Advertising
- Skimlinks
- ShareASale
- Aliexpress
1. Awin
Awin is on our list of the most profitable affiliate programs for good reasons, on the one hand, it has some 14,600 brands, including Bankia, Yoigo, or El Corte Inglés; and on the other, it is extremely simple to use. This platform is open to anyone who has a website, blog, social network, or any other digital channel where they can advertise the products. Sure, you are expected to have real traffic or followers to share your links with.
To register as an affiliate, Awin has two special conditions, provide information about your promotional spaces (website, social network pages/channel etc.) and make a small initial payment that will be fully refunded when your first commission payment is made.
One of the advantages of this network is the simplicity of the generation of links, in fact, you can convert any image or link of the brand, into your affiliate link and share it wherever you want. Another clear advantage is that your earnings are safe because Awin pays you even if the brand has not paid Awin for any reason.
2. Amazon Associate
On Amazon, there are millions of products of all kinds and 200 million registered Prime users around the world, which undoubtedly makes its affiliate program one of the most attractive today.
Create an account with the Amazon affiliate program by visiting here (this application URL is only for the Amazon Associates Program in the US. You will need to apply separately for each international Amazon Associates Program).
You need to have a website or an app, fill out a form and wait for your account to be verified and activated. Immediately after being accepted, you can start looking for the products you want to recommend and generate affiliate links that you can publish on your website and even on your social network pages.
As an affiliate, you will have custom link tools at your fingertips to better promote the products. If you are a WordPress user, you can use their plugins that will allow you to get more out of your membership. How much can you earn with Amazon? This will depend on the category of the product you recommend, but in the USA and Europe, the highest commission rate is 12% for select categories. Although it is not a very high commission, the great advantage of this program is that Amazon is the preferred place for many to buy physical and digital products.
3. ClickBank
ClickBank is the number one affiliate platform when it comes to digital products. In it, you will find courses, e-books, memberships, software, and all kinds of info-products created by brands or independent professionals.
Registration on this platform is automatic and after providing a few details you will have access to the marketplace where there are thousands of products available among other data such as the commission rate, product popularity, and the landing page that your audience will see if they click on your affiliate link.
In the case of ClickBank, it is the creator of each product who establishes the commission that will be paid to the affiliate, but this is usually around 50 to 75%. Without a doubt, a very profitable affiliate program.
4. CJ Affiliate
Commission Junction or CJ Affiliate has more than 20 years’ experience in the affiliation business, which is why it has established itself as one of the best platforms to the point that it is now the largest affiliate network in the world.
As an affiliate, you can earn by sale, click, registrations, or any other type of conversion established by the merchant. You can earn by promoting recognized brands on your websites, social networks, emails, mobile applications, offline marketing, and other channels.
When you register on the platform, your account is approved immediately, but in order to promote a particular product, you have to send a request that will be reviewed and approved if you meet the brand’s conditions.
To advertise the product on your website, you will have access to textual links, banners, and even widgets that allow you to promote more effectively and motivate your followers to action.
In addition, from the affiliate panel, you will see your statistics, earnings, and opportunities for improvement at all times.
The commission is set by the advertiser and can be very attractive at times, for example, if you recommend Panda Security antivirus you will earn 50% for each sale and renewal. If you search well, you may find unmissable offers that are perfect for your audience.
5. eBay Partner Network
With the reputation they have built since 1995, it’s hard not to see eBay as one of the largest and most trusted marketplaces out there.
They have over 1.1 billion top brand listings for various niches. Plus, their marketing kits make it easy to promote and share.
How difficult is it to start? You can register on this page with a Google or Facebook account to speed up the process. Remember to have your PayPal information handy.
How fast can you start earning? eBay’s partner network gives you between 50% and 70% of their revenue, depending on product categories. Plus, you only need to reach a balance of $ 10 to receive a payment.
6. Lemonads
Lemonads is a performance marketing platform which means that advertisers pay only when a specific action is exercised, such as click, register, application download, etc. You can promote more than 10,000 plus businesses as an affiliate.
When you sign up and join their platform, you will receive exclusive access to CPA offers from many well-known and trusted brands. You can use their affiliate tools that will help you in optimizing your campaigns in real-time.
Their support is excellent. As per the network’s claim, 85% of the publishers see an increase in their revenue in the first three months using lemonade.
7. Rakuten Advertising
This is another affiliate that you can trust blindly. Rakuten is a leading online retailing company based in Japan. They have a global network of affiliates that can help advertisers win new customers and bring repeat purchases.
How difficult is it to start? Go to their page and sign up. You will need to fill in details about your company, contact, main website, and certain tax information. You can also set your minimum payment, as long as it is higher than $ 50. There are a wide variety of commission rates.
The downside to this network is that you have to join the programs of each specific advertiser.
8. Skimlinks
Skimlinks has more than 48,000 advertisers, including Microsoft, Sephora, H&M, Bloomingdale’s, Wal-Mart and New Balance among others. This is a really great network especially if we have a fashion and beauty profile on Instagram and we want to earn some money.
Once we are registered, we can include a piece of JavaScript code on our website, and all existing links will become affiliate links automatically. Something that can be great for us, especially if we have a blog with a lot of content and outgoing links.
If we talk about commission rates, we must know that Skimlinks keeps 25% of our profits. Another negative point is that advertisers have to approve the commissions, which means that they usually take a little longer to pay.
9. ShareASale
If you fancy another affiliate program with a wide collection of products, ShareASale Affiliates is your answer!
ShareASale is similar to a marketplace: it serves both merchants and promoters alike. With over 3,900 merchants, on-time payments, and responsive support, it’s no wonder ShareASale ranks among the list of the most trusted affiliate programs.
How difficult is it to start? To enroll, you must follow five simple steps. Start by registering your username and password, then fill in your website information, enter your email, contact details and choose a payment method: direct bank deposit or check. Then wait one business day for your application to be validated.
How fast can you start earning? ShareASale has a lower minimum payment threshold than the programs mentioned above – just $ 50. Keep in mind that different payment methods also influence how quickly you will receive your earnings.
International transactions take 4-6 weeks before your check is mailed, 1-3 business weeks via FedEx, and only 3-6 business days if you choose direct deposit.
10. Aliexpress
When it comes to online stores, Aliexpress is another favorite of users around the world. It is precisely the variety of categories and the cheap prices of the products that makes Aliexpress affiliate program one of the most profitable today. In order to promote their products, you must have an original website with quality content because when you fill out the application, your website will be reviewed and if it does not meet some minimum requirements, you will not be accepted. If your request is approved, you will have to decide which of their products you want to recommend on your website and do so using text links or banners. You will also have access to an intuitive control panel where you can manage your account, statistics and earnings. Here also, the seller decides the commission that will be paid to the affiliate for each sale and commission is paid only after the buyer has confirmed the receipt of the product.
Conclusion
Don’t let the above list overwhelm you, but ask yourself what you would like to do. Now that you know the best affiliate programs available, you can start to consider the main factors: commission rates, product quality, and relevance to your niche. Remember, just like any way to earn money, it may not be immediately successful. But with persistence and dedication you will achieve it.
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