June 7, 2023
This page contains affiliate links, and we may earn commissions for purchases on other sites.
For affiliate marketers, success partly depends on the commission rates they’ll earn. For instance, I promote high-paying merchants that pay at least 20 percent or $75 per sale. So if I sell $100,000 worth of goods, I’ll earn $20,000. Alternatively, if I focus too much on programs that pay low or single-digit commission rates, it will be tougher to reach my revenue goals. For example, at a 5 percent commission rate, I would make $5,000 per $100,000 sold. So in this post, let’s review the best high-paying affiliate programs for beginners and experienced marketers.
It may seem obvious to promote programs that pay well. However, many affiliates painstakingly market low-paying merchants and programs, such as Amazon Associates, which tops at 10 percent. I’m not suggesting affiliates promote programs with only high payouts, but they need to strike a balance and understand the math for selling thousands of dollars. For example, converting one Shopify plan monthly for twelve months would earn $1,800 yearly ($150 x 12 months). That amount is probably more rewarding than results from other programs for the same effort.
What niches, categories, and products pay the highest commission rates? There are high-paying programs in every sector and industry. However, SaaS, e-commerce, and marketing software companies tend to lead the pack because they avoid the costs associated with physical products, including manufacturing, storage, and fulfillment. For example, an email marketing provider doesn’t necessarily incur more expenses for each new customer. Therefore, it can be more generous with its affiliate commission rates. Many software and SaaS companies also have recurring affiliate programs that share revenue from ongoing customer payments.
| High-Paying Niches | Commission Examples |
| E-commerce apps | $1,500 per sale |
| Business apps | $200 per sale |
| Marketing apps | $200 per sale |
| SaaS apps | 300% per sale |
| E-learning | 50% per sale |
| Software apps | 80% per sale |
| VPN apps | 50% per sale |
| Web hosting | 150% per sale |
Best High-Paying Affiliate Programs
Most of the merchants in this list have a cookie duration of at least 30 days. You’ll find these and many more lucrative offers on the top affiliate networks, including ShareASale, Impact, and CJ Affiliate. To qualify for my list, the merchant must:
- Pay a minimum commission rate of 30 percent or $75
- Have an excellent business reputation
- Be a market leader or top contender
Digital Marketing Affiliate Programs
GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one digital marketing platform offering email campaigns, landing pages, conversion funnels, webinar hosting, opt-in forms, web push notifications, and other marketing automation tools. GetResponse will help generate leads, increase sales, sell knowledge, and engage customers.
The GetResponse affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission rate: 33% recurring or $100 one-time
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and CJ Affiliate
TubeBuddy
TubeBuddy is a browser extension, website, and mobile app that integrates with YouTube. TubeBuddy offers 60+ features, including channel management, video optimization, SEO, keyword research, tag management, analytics, productivity, bulk processing, and marketing.
The TubeBuddy affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission rate: Up to 30% recurring
- Cookie/referral period: Lifetime
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
VidIQ
VidIQ offers AI-driven growth tools to help creators and marketers grow their channels and brand awareness. VidIQ’s Chrome browser extension features video scoring, SEO, keyword research, tag management, analytics, and more.
Affiliates get the following with the VidIQ affiliate program:
- Commission rate: Up to 25% recurring
- Cookie/referral period: Lifetime
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
MailerLite
MailerLite provides the latest email marketing features to help you grow subscribers and build stronger relationships, including design editors, templates, opt-in forms, and marketing automation. MailerLite also offers website and blog builders, landing pages, and e-commerce solutions for a complete offering.
The MailerLite affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
ShareASale is a leading affiliate network with the tools and technology to support advertisers and publishers worldwide. Thousands of merchants use ShareASale to manage their programs, implement tracking, view reports, recruit and communicate with affiliates, and process payments.
Marketers get the following with the ShareASale affiliate program:
- Commission rate: Up to $150
- Cookie/referral period: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Semrush
Semrush is a powerful and versatile SEO, advertising, social media, and content marketing platform for online marketers. Semrush features keyword, link building, market analysis, PPC, content, and video advertising research tools.
The Semrush affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission rate: $200
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
E-commerce Affiliate Programs
Rentle
Rentle is a platform to sell and rent anything, online or offline. Also, Rentle is super easy to use while offering powerful features, including industry-leading inventory management, online store software, a booking app, self-service “kiosk mode,” and more.
The Rentle Affiliate Program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission rate: $100 (2nd tier 10%)
- Cookie/referral period: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: iDevAffliate
Shopify
Shopify provides everything you need to sell online, on social media, and face-to-face, including e-commerce software, POS hardware, themes, hosting, domains, business tools, marketing automation, payment processing, fulfillment, capital, and analytics. In addition, the Shopify App Store has thousands of apps to enhance and scale your store.
The Shopify affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission rate: $150
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Debutify
Debutify is a top-rated, user-friendly, and high-converting free Shopify theme with 50+ premium add-ons to increase your e-commerce sales. Launch your e-commerce product, build a dropshipping business, or expand your retail presence online with Debutify.
The Debutify affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission rate: 25% recurring
- Cookie/referral period: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
DoorDash for Merchants
DoorDash is a last-mile logistics company connecting consumers with their favorite restaurants, nearby grocery and convenience stores, and more. DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.
Affiliates get the following with the DoorDash affiliate program:
- Commission rate: $200
- Cookie/referral period: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $5
- Affiliate software/network: PartnerStack
Shift4Shop (FKA 3dcart)
Shift4Shop makes it easy to build the perfect website for your e-commerce business. Also, Shift4Shop provides a website builder, themes, shopping cart, order management, marketing automation, SEO, and other tools to start selling your products and services online.
The Shift4Shop affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission rate: $100
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Education Affiliate Programs
Coursera
Coursera offers online education through partnerships with hundreds of top-ranked universities and companies, including Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Google, and Facebook. From a catalog of 7,000+ courses, Coursera learners can take free and paid classes, specializations, and degrees for various subjects, industries, and professions.
Marketers get the following with the Coursera affiliate program:
- Commission rate: Up to 45%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Domestika
Domestika is a fast-growing creative community where top experts share knowledge and skills through professionally produced online courses. Take tutorials in illustration, marketing, business, design, photography, music, web design, app development, and more.
The Domestika affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of free and paid classes in design, art, business, marketing, technology, lifestyle, and more. Enroll in Skillshare classes to create, build, and thrive in whatever you do.
The Skillshare affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Web Hosting Affiliate Programs
Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the most established website hosting providers supporting millions of websites globally. Furthermore, Bluehost offers shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting, WordPress and WooCommerce solutions, domains, a website builder, and professional services.
The Bluehost affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission rate: $65
- Cookie/referral period: Up to 120 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
HostGator
HostGator is an established provider of shared hosting, reseller, VPS, and dedicated web hosting. HostGator supports 2m+ websites globally with 24/7/365 support and high customer satisfaction.
The HostGator affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission rate: $75
- Cookie/referral period: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
Hostinger
Hostinger offers fast and user-friendly website hosting solutions at a price nobody can beat. Hostinger plans cover websites, cloud, WordPress, email, e-commerce, VPS, domains, website builders, and more.
Affiliates get the following with the Hostinger affiliate program:
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
Liquid Web
Liquid Web provides fully managed web hosting, cloud, e-commerce, and data center solutions. Liquid Web’s products include dedicated servers, server clusters, VMware private cloud, and more.
The Liquid Web affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission rate: Up to 150%
- Cookie/referral period: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
SiteGround
SiteGround is an innovative technology leader in the website hosting and security sector. Sitegroud offers shared hosting, cloud hosting, WordPress hosting, enterprise solutions, email hosting, and domain registration. It also has optimization and security plugins for WordPress users.
Marketers get the following with the SiteGround affiliate program:
- Commission rate: Up to $125
- Cookie/referral period: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Weebly
Weebly’s free website builder makes creating a website, blog, or online store fast and straightforward. As a result, millions of people use Weebly to bring their unique ideas to life with customizable webpage designs, valuable tools, and third-party apps.
The Weebly affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
WP Engine
WP Engine provides fast, reliable, and managed WordPress hosting and solutions to more than 1.2 million websites globally. Also, it offers robust 24/7 support, headless WordPress, Genesis themes/blocks, and more.
The WP Engine affiliate program is attractive for these reasons:
- Commission rate: Up to $200
- Cookie/referral period: 180 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
VPN Affiliate Programs
NordVPN
NordVPN is a top-rated VPN offering military-grade online security and protection applications. NordVPN provides numerous benefits, including secure internet, a strict no-logs policy, worldwide servers, malware blocking, and more.
The NordVPN affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission rate: Up to 100%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact & CJ Affiliate
VuzeVPN
VuzeVPN protects users’ privacy, keeps browsing anonymous, and offers best-in-class security and encryption. In addition, VuzeVPN protects users from viruses, malware, adware, and phishing attacks.
The VuzeVPN affiliate program is proftiable for these reasons:
- Commission rate: 50%
- Cookie/referral period: 45 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Business Formation Services
Inc Authority
Inc Authority offers various services to help you launch your business mainstream, protect your brand, and build for the future. In addition, Inc Authority supports custom websites and logos, business plans, trademarks, building business credit, and more.
Affiliates get the following with the Inc Authority affiliate program:
- Commission rate: $100
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Incfile
Incfile offers the lowest cost LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, and Non-Profit incorporation services, starting at $0 plus state fees. Moreover, IncFile provides numerous business services and resources to build a successful company.
The Incfile affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission rate: $100
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Other High-Paying Affiliate Programs
Binance
Many crypto affiliate programs pay high commission rates. For example, Binance is a leading cryptocurrency exchange and platform paying affiliate commissions of up to 50 percent on referral trading commissions. Learn more about Binance and the best cryptocurrency affiliate programs.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Payout threshold: $0.01
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and Impact
Canva
Canva is a graphic design and content creation tool that helps people create images, logos, thumbnails, and posters for their websites, blogs, projects, and social media accounts. In addition, Canva provides access to over a million photographs and templates.
Marketers get the following with the Canva affiliate program:
- Commission rate: Up to 80%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Fiverr
Fiverr is the largest online marketplace for freelance services starting at $5. Thousands of freelancers offer marketing, business, graphic design, website design, writing, translation, video, and programming services. Fiverr Business, Pro, Studios, Logo Maker, and Workplace round out the full suite of services for SMB and enterprise customers.
The Fiverr affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission rate: Up to $150 or $10 plus 10% recurring for up to 12 months
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $100/$50
- Affiliate software/network: Cellxpert, Awin, and CJ Affiliate
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers small business accounting and management software to create proposals, send invoices, track time, manage receipts and expenses, accept payments, and more. Freshbook is for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and businesses with contractors and employees.
The FreshBooks affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission rate: Up to $200
- Cookie/referral period: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Jotform
Jotform is a full-featured online form builder that makes it easy to create robust forms, collect essential data, and get leads. Also, Jotform offers hundreds of templates and app integrations for a scalable solution.
The Jotform affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie/referral period: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds offers an online course platform for creating, selling, and promoting your online classes. Additionally, users can monetize their skills, experiences, and audience with continuing education, compliance training, and employee/customer onboarding content.
The LearnWorlds affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie/referral period: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $5
- Affiliate software/network: PartnerStack
STDcheck
STDcheck takes the embarrassment and hassles of conventional STD testing by providing fast, affordable, and private tests to adults and minors with 4,500+ testing centers. All tests are FDA-approved.
Affiliates get the following with the STDcheck affiliate program:
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie/referral period: 45 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Thrive Themes
Thrive Themes offers robust WordPress plugins, themes, and digital marketing tools to build websites, promote products, and increase sales. Thrive customers can create landing pages, funnels, online courses, membership sites, quizzes, scarcity campaigns, and more. Furthermore, Thrive Themes has solutions for various user groups.
The Thrive Themes affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission rate: Up to 35%
- Cookie/referral period: Two years
- Payout threshold: $20
- Affiliate software/network: iDevAffiliate
Tidio
Tidio is an all-in-one customer service app that improves your customer support and helps generate more sales. Tidio’s live chat widget makes your business available 24/7, while AI-powered chatbots engage your customers in real-time.
Marketers get the following with the Tidio affiliate program:
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
WP Rocket
WP Rocket is a WordPress caching plugin and a powerful application to boost your site’s load time, improve your PageSpeed score, and optimize your Core Web Vitals. WP Rocket has the most powerful features to make your website blazing fast.
The WP Rocket affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission rate: 20% – 30%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software/network: ShareASale
Apple
Apple affiliates can promote millions of songs, albums, books, audiobooks, movies, news, and TV shows. In addition, you’ll earn commissions on memberships for Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Podcasts.
The Apple affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission rates: Up to 400%
- Cookie/referral period: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $30
- Affiliate software/network: Partnerize
Best Affiliate Networks to Join
Joining the right affiliate network(s) can lead to success. Therefore, affiliates (and merchants) should consider the following criteria.
The network has reputable merchants. Most affiliates want to promote legitimate and trustworthy companies, products, and services. Therefore, the best networks carefully screen and accept reputable merchants. By contrast, networks with questionable companies and sellers focus on quantity, not quality, leading to terrible outcomes.
The network has a wide selection of merchants, categories, products, and services. So naturally, affiliates want to optimize their marketing activities by matching products to their audiences and niches. To achieve those goals, publishers can only experiment with different advertisers and programs if the network provides enough selection.
Acceptance/approval rates to join programs are high, and turnaround is fast. There’s no point in being on a network with high application decline rates. Secondly, application turnaround times should be quick; for instance, one to five business days. On some networks, my applications remain pending for months, prohibiting me from moving forward. While merchants are responsible for application decisions and cycle times, networks should encourage and educate merchants on the benefits of inclusion and efficient program management.
Sales attribution and tracking software are robust and efficient. Some affiliate networks use cookieless tracking and other methods to track conversions to combat browser and privacy initiatives, while others use inferior tracking technologies.
The network offers different payment methods, such as PayPal, direct deposit, cheque, wire transfer, etc. Secondly, payout thresholds should be low enough to keep operations flowing and affiliates engaged, for example, a $50 payment threshold.
User support is excellent, and problems are solved quickly. I don’t contact customer support often, but I want to see fast results when I do.
Networks typically require that new publishers have a website or an active YouTube channel. That’s an excellent way to keep low-quality marketers off their platforms.
Let’s review several top affiliate networks that are excellent for bloggers, YouTubers, beginners, and experienced marketers. I have experience with all the networks listed below.
Impact
Impact was founded in 2008 by a team of Internet marketing and technology experts who founded Commission Junction (CJ Affiliate), Savings.com, and LeadPoint. Its mission is to deliver disruptive innovations in technology and performance marketing to help clients successfully navigate the digital landscape.
Impact offers marketing solutions for influencers, affiliates, mobile app developers, and marketing agencies.
- Region(s): The United States and international markets
- Merchants/brands: 4,000+
- Niche strengths: Computers, consumer electronics, financial services, retail, jewelry and watches, and accessories
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: Multiple times monthly
- Payment methods: Direct deposit and PayPal
- Minimum payout amount: $10
- Programs: CPA, CPS, CPI, and CPL
- EPC program data: Yes
ShareASale
ShareASale has been in business for 20+ years, exclusively as an affiliate marketing network. It serves as a low-cost way to grow sales through performance marketing. ShareASale is one of the top networks for pay-per-lead offers.
- Region(s): The United States
- Merchants/brands: 15,000+ (across Awin and ShareASale)
- Niche strengths: Accessories, clothing, computers, consumer electronics, health, home and garden, gifts, art and photography, and sports
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: On the 20th of each month
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, and wire transfer
- Minimum payout amount: $50
- Programs: CPS and CPL
- EPC program data: Yes
CJ Affiliate
With 20+ years of experience, CJ Affiliate is one of the most trusted and established names in affiliate marketing. They are passionate about using data to drive growth for their clients. CJ Affiliate is a part of the Publicis Media Groupe and has 14 offices across the United States, Europe, and India.
- Region(s): The United States and Europe
- Merchants/brands: 3,200+
- Niche strengths: Clothing and apparel, health and wellness, travel, retail, computers, and electronics
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: Monthly
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, and Payoneer
- Minimum payout amount: $50
- Programs: CPS, CPL, and Pay Per Call
- EPC program data: Yes
FlexOffers
FlexOffers features over 10,000 advertisers and 65+ affiliate network partnerships. It also acts as a sub-affiliate network serving as a one-stop shop for those who value convenience, ease, and high application approval rates. Its FlexCash program offers additional ways to earn by referring content creators to the platform, i.e., users can earn up to 10% on revenues generated by their referrals.
- Region(s): The United States and Europe
- Merchants/brands: 10,000+
- Niche strengths: Accessories, clothing, computers, consumer electronics, and credit cards
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: Monthly
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, and PayPal
- Minimum payout amount: $50
- Programs: CPS and CPL
- EPC program data: Yes
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising is a global marketing, advertising, and technology services provider. Rakuten Advertising combines a unique media inventory, an international affiliate network, advanced machine learning, and rich consumer insights to deliver results that increase brand awareness and marketing performance.
- Region(s): The United States, Europe, and Japan
- Merchants/brands: 2,300+
- Niche strengths: Accessories, clothing, computers, consumer electronics, and health
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: Monthly
- Payment methods: PayPal, direct deposit, and check
- Minimum payout amount: $50
- Programs: mostly CPS
- EPC program data: No
Awin
With over 20 years of experience, Awin combines mergers and acquisitions of Affiliate Window, Zanox, affilinet, and ShareASale. Its parent companies are Axel Springer and United Internet. Awin has over 15,000 advertisers and 200,000 publishers on its platforms, and its website is available in 12 languages.
Awin creates trusted partnerships to drive growth. Its global affiliate marketing network empowers advertisers and publishers of all sizes to grow their businesses online.
- Region(s): Europe
- Merchants/brands: 15,000+ (across Awin and ShareASale)
- Niche strengths: Finance, insurance, retail, shopping, telecommunications, services, and travel
- Deep linking: Yes
- Payment frequency: Twice a month
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, and international wire
- Minimum payout amount: €20/£20/$20
- Programs: CPS and CPL
- EPC program data: Yes
How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs aren’t equal. Some are excellent, while others are terrible. Being able to distinguish one from another is how affiliates become successful. Let’s review the critical factors that determine the viability of an affiliate program and merchant.
Acceptance Rate
In a perfect world, affiliates could see the rate at which merchants accept them. But unfortunately, Impact is the only network to display approval rates. As a result, I typically don’t bother applying to programs with low acceptance rates.
Conversion Rate
The best-performing merchants frequently convert traffic into sales. A conversion rate specifies the frequency at which a user becomes a lead or paying customer. For example, suppose a website gets 100 visitors. If one of those people makes a purchase, the conversion rate will be 1 percent.
Many affiliate tracking apps and networks provide conversion rates on their dashboards and through reporting. Affiliates can also manually calculate them. Anything above a conversion rate of half a percent is satisfactory. Marketers should not expect conversion rates of 2 percent or more.
Earnings Per Click
Earnings per click (EPC) indicates how much money an affiliate program generates per click. For example, a merchant registers 1,000 unique clicks and generates $50 in sales. Therefore, its EPC will be $0.05. EPC can also represent how much an affiliate is making per click.
EPC data is available on many affiliate networks to compare the performance of merchants, products, and services. For example, a low EPC might suggest a low conversion rate, the merchant is new, or there are tracking issues.
Without EPC or conversion rate data, it’s impossible to conclude how a merchant performs. Therefore, you’ll want access to performance data, including clicks and sales.
Commission Rate
First, a commission rate of 20 percent or more is what I seek. Regarding fixed commissions, I’m open-minded. Secondly, an advertiser who pays well wants to:
- Scale its program and revenues
- Build profitable and mutually beneficial relationships
- Reward affiliates for their activities
Merchants who pay less than 20 percent don’t grab my attention and active participation. Also, I avoid advertisers who pay single to low double-digit commission rates (or who nickel and dime publishers).
Note: Some industries and sectors pay low commission rates because they operate on thin margins, for example, clothing merchants.
Cookie Duration
Giving marketers one or a few days to convert traffic is ridiculous and unfair. By contrast, a 30-day cookie duration allows prospects to become customers and affiliates to get credit for their promotional efforts.
Although thirty-day referral periods are a performance marketing standard, a minimum of 90 days would be more beneficial to each party. Therefore, I focus on merchants that provide ample time to convert.
Payments
Payment processing involves how and when affiliates receive commissions. Merchants typically pay affiliates via bank, PayPal, cheque, or wire. “When” refers to the payout threshold and timeliness of payments. For instance, GetResponse has a minimum of $50 and pays in the month following the account referral.
Many merchants have reasonable thresholds of zero to $100. On affiliate networks, $50 is the standard. A low payout threshold keeps affiliates motivated and engaged. Alternatively, I usually don’t join or promote companies with limited payout options or high minimums.
Software & UI
Affiliate tracking software is the cornerstone of success, and there are excellent and abysmal applications in the market. Reliable tracking, user-friendly dashboards, and robust reporting offer superior user experiences. In addition, activity data—such as impressions, clicks, conversion rates, and sales—should be available. Applications that omit activity data and reporting make tracking and evaluating performance difficult. The Impact affiliate network serves as my benchmark for affiliate marketing software.
Deep Linking
Deep linking is when an affiliate creates a link to a specific page on the merchant’s site. For example, instead of using a generic homepage affiliate link, I can link to an article related to my post. Deep linking can increase conversion rates because traffic flows to relevant landing pages. Many affiliate tracking apps offer deep linking, but advertisers must enable it.
Program Management
Merchants committed to the growth of their affiliate sales will assign someone to the task. Secondly, an affiliate manager can make or break a program. Therefore, depending on the manager, I’m happy to remain in or leave the programs.
Most affiliate managers who I deal with are pleasant and responsive. However, I do come across unqualified managers who have no clue what they’re doing, and I have worked with a few.
Terms & Policies
A program’s terms and policies are worth reading because you’ll want to ensure they align with your marketing ideas, goals, and activities. Also, you’ll want to abide by the merchant’s rules to avoid disciplinary action. For instance, most merchants prohibit publishers from using specific keywords for search engine marketing (SEM) because affiliates may increase bid prices by competing with merchants.
Free Trials & Plans
I like merchants that offer free trials and plans because they allow users to experience products and services without barriers. Then, users will convert if the merchant’s goods are beneficial. My most profitable partners fall into this group.
Marketing Materials
Advertising materials can help increase brand awareness and conversion rates. Therefore, merchants should offer marketing materials that are useful, appealing, and proven through split testing. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten excited about programs only to be disappointed by their marketing materials, creative assets, and banners.
Company Reputation
A company’s or person’s reputation is everything, and I focus on promoting companies that garner terrific customer reviews. For example, I’m comfortable marketing Wise because it has an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot based on thousands of reviews. Secondly, market share rank is something I consider because I want to promote winners, not losers. I want my audience to try and buy goods on the way up, not down. Case in point, I focus on Shopify over its competitors, including Wix, Squarespace, and ClickFunnels.
