This post will explain affiliate platforms. You undoubtedly had some financial gain in mind when you first started your blog. And one of the best methods to convert traffic into cash when it comes to developing income from your blog is through affiliate marketing.
However, affiliate marketing is only a successful tactic if you can locate high-quality goods that your readers will be drawn to (and that you can feel proud to recommend).
10 Best Affiliate Platforms And Networks
In this article, you can know about affiliate platforms here are the details below;
The top 11 affiliate platforms and networks have been compiled by us to be of assistance. They’ll provide you access to millions of products and tens of thousands of merchants together.
You’ll find an affiliate programme on our list that can connect you to anything appropriate whether you wish to market tangible goods or digital goods, large or small firms, or both.
Let’s start with one of the largest affiliate platforms available.
1. ShareASale
One of the most well-known affiliate networks is ShareASale. ShareASale hosts affiliate programmes for more than 4,500 merchants, large and small, as opposed to Amazon Associates, which is solely focused on Amazon products.
You may register with all of these merchants, create links, and access your data from the ShareASale dashboard.
You should be aware that you must separately apply to and receive approval from each retailer, which is relatively usual for an affiliate network like this. This is another affiliate platforms.
In general, ShareASale is a fantastic choice for both digital and tangible goods.
For instance, there are numerous WordPress theme and plugin stores, hosting companies, etc. on the digital side.
On the physical side, there are a lot of large and small retailers. For instance, there are thousands of other small and large businesses, as well as Warby Parker (sunglasses), Sun Basket, Wayfair, Reebok, and the NFL Shop.
Basically, you may certainly find some offers worth promoting no matter what industry your website or blog is in.
What you must understand about ShareASale
- Product/niche types: A mix of both physical and digital goods, covering a wide range of topics.
Depending on the exact retailer you sign up with, the average commission rate varies.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with.
Pros and downsides of ShareASale
Pros:
- Thousands of retailers offering both physical and digital goods, many of which are well-known retailers
- Reputable – They have a long history and work with numerous well-known companies.
- A lot of upscale retailers. The majority of the 1,000+ merchants at ShareASale exclusively use ShareASale.
- Comes with a bookmarklet that makes creating unique affiliate links simple.
Cons:
- The dashboard design has improved significantly, yet it is still somewhat clumsy.
2. Awin (Formerly Affiliate Window)
Another well-known affiliate network that allows you access to over 13,000 other businesses is Awin, a condensed version of the original Affiliate Window.
Awin actually bought ShareASale in 2017, but the two continue to operate independently and use different merchants.
Awin offers a wide variety of possibilities for both physical and digital goods thanks to its 13,000+ merchants.
Among the well-known household names are:
- Etsy
- AliExpress
- HP
- XE (money transfer)
- StubHub
- Uncover Armour
- Gymshark
Additionally, there are a tonne of smaller sellers in various markets.
Awin was created in Germany, hence the merchant list has a slight European lean, even if there are numerous US/international businesses. This is another affiliate platforms.
You will have to submit individual applications to each merchant in the network, just with ShareASale and CJ. After that, you may create your links and begin collecting data.
What you must understand about Awin
- Product types: You may get both physical and digital goods for practically every specialty thanks to Overstock’s 13,000+ sellers.
- Depending on the exact retailer you sign up with, the average commission rate varies.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with.
pros and downsides of awin
Pros:
- There are many retailers to pick from.
- Dedicated WordPress plugin to help you import products
- A $20 minimum payout is required.
Cons:
- $5 registration fee (refunded if you’re accepted; forfeited if you’re not accepted)
3. Amazon Associates
Associates is a fantastic choice if you like to promote tangible goods on your website.
You can get a cut of everything sold on Amazon.com by using Amazon Associates.
This programme is even more useful because you get paid a commission on every new item a referral buys, even if it’s not the one you connected to. Also check best Twitch Viewers Bot
For instance, if you link to a $5 toothbrush and the customer purchases a $500 TV instead (as long as it happens within the cookie length and the item wasn’t previously in their cart), you’ll still get paid.
Previously, the compensation rate you received from Amazon Associates depended on how much revenue/sales you generated. The flat-rate commission structure, which Amazon switched to January 2017, pays you a fixed percentage based on the category that each product is in:
This adjustment makes Amazon Associates even more appealing for smaller sites because you no longer have to worry about reaching a particular threshold of sales volume to get a bigger commission, which may have upset some high-volume affiliates. This is another affiliate platforms.
What you should be aware of with Amazon Associates
- Product categories: Anything offered on the Amazon website (including products from third-party vendors).
- Average commission rate: Depending on the category, it might be anywhere between 1% and 10%.
- Cookie lifespan: Cookies have a 24-hour lifespan. However, if you urge customers to add a product to their carts, you will receive a 90-day cookie, but only for that particular item.
Benefits and downsides of Amazon Associates
Pros:
- A huge variety of goods
- A universal cookie that gives you credit for every purchase made during the cookie’s validity
- Amazon is by far the most well-known brand in e-commerce.
- Only $10 is the very low payout threshold.
Cons:
- The lifespan of the global cookie is 24 hours.
- Some categories, such as video games, have commissions that are extremely low (1%)
- You must sign up separately for each nation.
- Amazon has been known to occasionally reduce commissions.
4. CJ Affiliate (Formerly Commission Junction)
Another affiliate network that unites thousands of different merchants under one roof is CJ, formerly known by the longer name of Commission Junction (a lot like ShareASale).
You may connect with thousands of big and small merchants through CJ, which ranks as one of the largest affiliate networks alongside ShareASale. At this time, there are 2,696 various merchants.
Some of the major offline and online businesses that utilise CJ are:
- Lowes
- Overstock
- Office Max
- Priceline
- GoPro
- IHG (Hotels)
- Grammarly
There are also a tonne of smaller retailers.
You can apply to these merchants individually from the CJ dashboard, just like ShareASale. You will then have the ability to create links and examine statistics.
Though I believe CJ’s affiliate dashboard has a somewhat steeper learning curve than ShareASale, after you get the hang of it, I actually prefer it to ShareASale. This is another affiliate platforms.
What you must understand about CJ
- Niche/product types: Similar to ShareASale, CJ offers both physical and digital products across a variety of specialisations.
Depending on the exact retailer you sign up with, the average commission rate varies.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with.
Benefits and downsides of CJ
Pros:
- A huge selection of both large and local retailers is available.
- An attractive back-end dashboard to aid in the management of your affiliate marketing initiatives.
- Has a serious link generator bookmarklet that makes linking really simple.
Cons:
- The dashboard can be confusing when you first start using it (though I like it overall).
5. Rakuten Marketing (Formerly LinkShare)
A lot of major retailers are part of the well-known affiliate network Rakuten Marketing, formerly known as LinkShare. Known retailers are:
- Walmart
- The Best Buy
- Macy’s
- Pizza Hut
Although their network (which “only” has” around 1,000 merchants) isn’t as big as ShareASale, CJ, or Awin’s, they do have a few smaller retailers.
Therefore, you might be better off with one of the other networks if you want to have access to a big selection of merchants. But if you want to access the big guns, Rakuten is a fantastic alternative. They also have some interesting features, such the ability to rotate advertising without the use of an external solution.
What you should be aware of regarding Rakuten Marketing
- Product/niche types: Given that there are 1,000+ merchants, you can certainly still discover offers in the majority of niches.
Depending on the exact retailer you sign up with, the average commission rate varies.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with.
Pros and drawbacks of Rakuten Marketing
Pros:
- Allows you to shop at well-known stores like Walmart and Best Buy
- A reputable brand (Rakuten is a billion dollar company)
- Additional features including simple ad rotation
Cons:
- I think the back-end dashboard is a little old.
- The selection is smaller than that of some other affiliate networks.
6. Avangate Affiliate Network
An affiliate network with a concentration on digital products and software, as opposed to tangible things, is called Avangate Affiliate Network. This is another affiliate platforms.
You’ll have entrance, for instance, to well-known software vendors like:
- Bitdefender
- Kaspersky
- Hiding My Ass (the VPN)
- Awario
Avangate Affiliate Network offers you access to better than 22,000 pieces of software in total, so if your website frequently promotes digital goods, you should join this one.
Please take note that 2Checkout and Avangate were once the same company till 2017. The original Avangate tool has been combined with 2Checkout, and the affiliate network you should sign up for is Avangate Affiliate Network.
What you should be aware of regarding Avangate Affiliate Network
- Product/niche types: The Avangate Affiliate Network specialises in software and digital items. Without having to register, you may browse the entire marketplace for merchants.
- Average charge rate: This varies counting on the specific merchant you choose to work with, but Avangate advertises commission rates of up to 85%. Additionally, the digital products offered through the Avangate Affiliate Network typically have higher commission rates than the physical goods you’d find at other networks.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with. You are assured of at least 30 days at the very least because Avangate Affiliate Network allows merchants to select their cookie length anywhere between 30 and 180 days.
Pros and drawbacks of Avangate Affiliate Network
Pros:
- PayPal is an option for payment.
- A wide variety of original software packages are available.
- The majority of retailers give fairly high commissions. It’s usual to see commissions of 50% or more.
Cons:
- Compared to most other affiliate networks, the minimum compensation is $100.
7. Clickbank
Although it also offers tangible goods, ClickBank is another affiliate network that features many digital products, similar to Avangate Affiliate Network. Also check sites like Tumblr
ClickBank undoubtedly has more “smaller” merchants than ShareASale and Awin, which both include a lot of large, well-known platforms.
You can find several retailers selling eBooks, online courses, or membership websites, for instance. These retailers might not be as well known as well-known national or international brands, but if they meet your niche, they can be excellent bargains.
However, there is a drawback as well; some of the ClickBank products are simply of low quality. You should be vigilant about the merchants you select to promote, even if ClickBank has improved its vetting procedure to weed out unreliable vendors.
ClickBank: What You Need to Know
- Product types: ClickBank certainly favours digital goods, although there are also some physical goods available (and ClickBank makes it easy to filter between the two).
- The typical commission rate is very substantial and depends on the specific merchant you join up with. Both percentage and flat-rate commissions are available.
- Cookie lifetime: Varies depending on the exact retailer you join, but is typically 60 days.
Pros and downsides of ClickBank
Pros:
- A tonne of niche offerings in lesser quantities that you won’t discover on other affiliate platforms.
- The majority of retailers pay rather significant commissions.
- The $10 minimum payout makes it simple to get payment.
- Offers payouts every week
Cons:
- Because of ClickBank’s lenient return policy, you could end up losing commissions.
- You have to sift through some subpar goods
8. FlexOffers
With the help of the well-established, well-liked affiliate platform FlexOffers, you may access more than 12,000 different advertisers and merchants.
You can always find fresh discounts with FlexOffers because it adds more than 50 new merchants each day & has one of the more beautiful dashboards.
Numerous contracts from both large and small businesses are unrestricted on FlexOffers, including recommendations from well-known companies like Priceline.com, Macy’s, Skechers, Lenovo, & more. If you want to study what’s available before signing up, you can browse a complete listing of all the businesses.
FlexOffers has been around for a while, much like the other major affiliate platforms, so you can be sure that they won’t disappear anytime soon. This is another affiliate platforms.
Every publisher is also given a personal account manager by FlexOffers, which is a great touch. Your account manager can assist you in identifying the best offers to promote and can also help you make other affiliate marketing improvements.
How to use FlexOffers and what you need to know
- Product categories and niches: With more than 12,000 merchants, you may find physical and digital goods in all markets.
Depending on the exact retailer you sign up with, the average commission rate varies.
- Cookie lifespan: Variable based on the exact retailer you register with.
Pros and downsides of FlexOffers
Pros:
There is a big assortment (12,000+ retailers) available.
- Beautiful backend dashboard
- You receive an attentive affiliate manager.
Cons:
- PayPal is the sole payment option available to international customers (unless the transaction exceeds $5,000, in which case a wire transfer may be used).
9. Walmart Affiliates
Amazon Associates is undoubtedly the greatest name in the affiliate industry if you offer physical goods. There is a rationale behind that, yes. Nearly half of the US eCommerce sector is controlled by Amazon.
Walmart exclusively holds 3.7% of the internet retail enterprise in comparison (eBay is actually in second place with 6.6%, as you’ll discover next).
However, the Walmart affiliate programme became slightly more appealing since it gives larger commissions than Amazon in select categories after Amazon Associates changed from its old commission structure to its new category-based strategy.
For instance, Amazon only offers a 3% fee while Walmart offers 4% on toys.
Additionally, Amazon’s monitoring cookie only lasts one day, compared to Walmart’s three-day duration (24 hours). This is another affiliate platforms.
If you sell a lot of tangible goods, you really only need to test this out once.
See if moving to the Walmart affiliate network increases your money if you already use Amazon and Walmart provides larger commissions in your category (in either direction).
The information you should know about Walmart Affiliates
- Product types: Anything available on the Walmart website (which includes some third-party vendors)
- The average commission charge is between 1% and 18%. Most categories fall between 4% and 1%.
Pros and drawbacks of Walmart Affiliates
Pros:
- Vast product options
- Higher commissions in some categories than Amazon
- A reputable, well-known brand
- Amazon’s cookie is longer
Cons:
- The $50 minimum payout is greater than Amazon’s.
- Even while the effect selection is greater than that of nearly every other retailer, it still falls short of Amazon.
10. eBay Partner Network
EBay Partner Network is, as its title implies, eBay’s own companion network. With it, you may promote eBay listings and receive a commission. Also check google adsense alternatives
Yes, you may buy anything that is advertised on eBay, which gives you access to a wide variety.
The only drawback is that many of eBay’s products are temporary because of its auction-based business model (though you can also find plenty of permanent listings). This is another affiliate platforms.
The eBay Partner Network: What You Need to Know
- Niche/Product Types: The majority of the things are physical, yet you can sell anything on eBay and discover digital products as well.
- Average commission rate: You can expect to receive somewhere between 50% and 70% of eBay’s income as a fee, depending on the product category. You are earning a portion of eBay’s own commission; this is not the whole purchase price of the item.
- Cookie lifetime is 24 hours, but even if the auction lasts up to 10 days, you can still be paid a commission (as long as the person placed a bid within the first 24 hours).
Pros and drawbacks of eBay Partner Network
Pros:
- A huge selection of goods because eBay allows you to advertise anything
- Can sell second-hand goods, which is distinctive
- Meager payout of only $10
Cons:
- The cookie expires after 24 hours.
What affiliate network ought you to utilise?
You don’t have to pick just one when it comes to affiliate platforms and networks, which is fantastic!
This is a scrap of a trick query, then.
To find the finest advertising and rewards, sign up for all the networks that interest you rather than just one.
Actually, there are just two good reasons to restrict the number of platforms you use:
- Convenience – You most likely don’t want to often log in to 11 separate dashboards.
- Minimum payouts – It could be challenging to consistently reach each platform’s minimum reward if you distribute your traffic too thinly.