As a novice, affiliate networks are the simplest method to get started with affiliate marketing.
They provide you with access to tens of thousands of the top affiliate programs available. They assist you in being paid on time. They may also assist you in rapidly expanding your affiliate marketing firm.
According to the most recent affiliate marketing statistics, over 80% of marketers have an affiliate program. Affiliate programs were named as the top customer acquisition method by 40% of retailers.
So, what does this mean for content creators, bloggers, and publishers on social media? There are many ways to generate money online.
This tutorial will explain affiliate networks and how they differ from standalone programs. After that, you may look at the most prominent affiliate networks to see which one is ideal for you.
What is an affiliate network and how does it work?
An affiliate network is a service that links advertisers with publishers (also known as affiliate marketers). The network serves as a “middleman,” allowing publications and companies offering programs to easily locate each other. Affiliates may be found and hired quickly to promote a brand's products and create a new sales channel.
Affiliate networks are frequently used by brands when they:
- There isn't adequate assistance for outbound sales.
- Have a limited marketing budget
- Do you want to connect with a new audience?
Publishers benefit from affiliate networks because they make it easier to identify programs and track commission distributions. They simplify the process of dealing with affiliates and influencers for companies.
An affiliate network differs from an affiliate program in that the latter (typically) pertains to a single brand. On the other hand, an affiliate network is made up of thousands of programs that producers may find and join.
In an affiliate network, there are three partners involved:
The seller. A large corporation, such as Nike, or a small business or entrepreneur might be the vendor. They develop things like electronics, consumer goods, services, and even digital products, which they then offer through an affiliate network.
The affiliate. often known as the publisher, are you? This is the person in charge of advertising items and persuading potential clients to make a purchase. Affiliates frequently market to and cater to the interests of a target audience. Every sale earns affiliates a one-time or recurring commission.
The customer. is the most important individual in the connection. Profit-sharing benefits both the seller and the affiliate when they buy a product or service through an affiliate.
Affiliate networks are simple to navigate, especially if you utilize affiliate marketing software. You merely join the network and then have access to all of the available items on the market. Some networks, such as Avantlink, have stringent standards for affiliates to join, and you may be denied entry if you don't meet them. Fortunately, there are several newbie affiliate networks where you can sign up and start generating sales right away.
Note: Some affiliate schemes, such as Amazon's affiliate program and the eBay Partner Network, may appear to network at first glance. However, you only have a relationship with the marketplace brand, not the vendors. On a dedicated landing page, you apply to work directly with an advertiser or seller, and they issue you a unique ID so you can monitor sales related to your marketing efforts.
Because you may join many programs at once, affiliate networks are flexible and rational. Rather than joining up for several programs individually, this allows marketers additional opportunities to promote items and make affiliate sales at scale.
10 Best Affiliate Networks
Affiliate networks have expanded their offerings to satisfy demand as more businesses turn to affiliate marketing to promote their goods. Examine the major affiliate networks to see which is the best fit for you.
1- ShareASale
ShareASale is an affiliate platform, In 2017, the AWIN Group purchased the company. ShareASale helped the AWIN Group produce $1 billion in income for publishers (and $14 billion for advertising) with a slew of accolades as a service provider. It's ideal if you're new to affiliate marketing and don't have any money because joining the network and applying for programs is completely free.
There are approximately 16,000 vendors to select from on the marketplace. So, whatever your specialization, you'll be able to locate a product category or affiliate product that suits you. A large range of commission rates comes with such a diverse set of merchants. Some programs pay 1 percent commission up to high-ticket affiliate programs that pay 300 percent commission, and true CPA rates are easy to locate.
What's the best part? Signing up is simple and free. It's a terrific alternative for new bloggers or influencers because you can sign up using either your website or a social media account.
Getting paid: For the previous month's commissions, on the 20th (or nearest business day) of each month.
Payment method: Paper check, direct deposit, or Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 3.6 out of 5.
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2- AWIN
AWIN (previously known as Affiliate Window), the company that owns ShareASale, was named the top CPS (cost per sale) network in North America for 2022. The AWIN network has over 21,000 brands, so you'll have no trouble finding the correct merchant.
“Their site is straightforward to access,” says Robin Young of Fitness Savvy, “making product feeds and custom links are incredibly easy to accomplish,” she adds. “They include many major advertisers—across the world, but especially good for the UK, I've found—and their customer support is wonderful.”
You may sign up with either a website or social media account, similar to ShareASale, albeit you must pay a nominal $5 fee to join the network. After you've reached your first payment threshold, you'll get your deposit returned.
With so many British companies in the network, UK–based innovators and small businesses can simply make AWIN work for them, as Robin stated.
Getting paid: There is a $20 minimum payment barrier on the 1st and 15th of every month for the previous month's commissions.
Payment method: BACS, international wire transfer, or ACH.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 3.7 out of 5.
3- CJ Affiliate
CJ Affiliate (previously known as Commission Junction) is also one of the most popular affiliate networks, with an 8.15% market share. CJ, which was founded in 1998 in Santa Barbara, California, has twice as many IR500 brands as its nearest competitor.
It's simple to open a CJ account. Filling out your contact information and adding your “promotional property,” such as your website or social media profiles, are among the seven steps required to become an active member.
CJ is wonderful for novices, but if you're an expert affiliate or a developer, you'll love it because it provides an open developer site with API access.
Getting paid: Commissions for the previous month are usually paid on the 20th or 28th of the following month.
Payment method: Direct deposit or Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 3.6 out of 5.
4- ClickBank
Since 1999, ClickBank has paid out more than $5 billion in commissions, making it one of the oldest and most dependable affiliate marketing networks.
Signing up and becoming verified with ClickBank is easier than with the other networks on our list. You are not required to submit a URL or a social media handle. After providing your contact information, you may immediately explore the affiliate marketplace and produce links.
It's worth mentioning that ClickBank sells a lot more digital items than it does physical ones. If you're an influencer (especially in the health and fitness space) looking to monetize your content through referrals, ClickBank is a great place to start.
Getting paid: Weekly or bi-weekly.
Payment method: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer, or Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 4.7 out of 5.
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5- FlexOffers
FlexOffers is another large affiliate network to explore, with over 12,000 advertisers (including big brands like Samsung, Sephora, and Wayfair). While the platform's color palette may be improved, it is user-friendly and easy to browse.
FlexOffers is even more intriguing because it takes visitors from free blogging services like WordPress, Wix, Blogger, and BlogSpot. Furthermore, it has a cookie length of 30 days, which is rather outstanding.
FlexOffers is a terrific alternative for individuals who want to promote huge companies, but it's also a good option for those who want to start affiliate marketing without spending any money.
Getting paid: Unless you qualify for advanced payments as a top affiliate (commissions earned from March 1–31 are paid 60 days later, on May 31), standard payouts are net 60.
Payment method: Bank transfer, Wire transfer, Check, or PayPal.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 4.8 out of 5.
6- Avangate Affiliate Network
Avangate Affiliate Network is one of the newest platforms on this list, having been formed in 2006. Avangate Affiliate Network can help you develop a passive income by marketing software or digital items if you're in a niche that focuses on them.
Avangate Affiliate Network further distinguishes itself from the competition by allowing users to use a geo-targeted shopping cart. That means you can deep-link them to a localized cart if you're attempting to reach a certain marketplace.
Avangate is the network for you if you're a tech-savvy blogger (you'll need a separate website) looking for big commissions on digital items and online courses.
Getting paid: The commission is due 20 days after the end of the month for which it is due.
Payment method: Wire transfer, Check, PayPal, or Avangate MasterCard (in partnership with Payoneer).
Affiliate support: Yes.
Trustpilot star rating: 2.9 out of 5.
7- Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising is another big name that has been around since the 1990s (formerly known as Linkshare). In comparison to some of the other networks on this list, this one appears to be the oldest. However, it is still simple and intuitive to use.
Rakuten Advertising is unique in that it has just about 1,000 merchants, rather than tens of thousands. Rakuten, on the other hand, prioritizes quality above quantity—its merchants include some of the largest names in a variety of sectors, including:
- Virgin Holidays
- New Balance
- Microsoft
- Sephora
- Udemy
Rakuten Advertising might be a terrific alternative for you if you operate a small business and want to profit from a big-name brand reputation on your website (which you'll need before joining up).
Getting paid: Net 60 days.
Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, or PayPal.
Affiliate support: Yes.
Trustpilot star rating: 3.2 out of 5.
8- Impact
Impact is one of the newest networks on the block, having been founded in 2008. However, in that short time (compared to Rakuten, for example), it has collaborated with an incredible selection of businesses and provided over nine million goods to affiliates. Partnerships with SaaS and SEO companies like Semrush, as well as chances with Airbnb and Adidas, are available.
Impact is widely-liked for its clean and modern user interface and marketing tools, as well as its exceptional customer assistance, according to its 400+ G2 reviews. Impact also has a Mobile App Partner Marketplace that you won't find anywhere else. It also comes with a set of automated tools to help you manage your relationships.
As a result, Impact.com is the greatest option for you if you want to be an affiliate partner for famous mobile apps. It's also a good choice for UK-based affiliates because it accepts BACS payments.
Getting paid: On the 1st or 15th of the month, or when you reach the minimum or custom payment threshold.
Payment method: Direct Deposit, BACS, or PayPal.
Affiliate support: Yes.
G2 star rating: 4.6 out of 5.
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9- AffiliaXe
AffiliaXe, based in Israel, is a global affiliate marketing network that provides VIP service to everyone from entrepreneurs and freelancers to small internet enterprises.
As an approved affiliate, you'll have access to a personal affiliate manager who will assist you in increasing conversion rates by selecting the finest programs for you and optimizing your traffic. AffiliaXe features the most diverse monetization options, including pay per view, pay per click, social networking, email marketing/feeds, and more.
You'll also earn a $1,000 welcome bonus as an affiliate. However, because AffiliaXe is notorious for being tough to join, it is best suited to well-established websites or influencers.
Getting paid: The minimum payout is $100, and it is paid twice a month, once on the 15th and once at the end of the month.
Payment method: Through Tipalti you can use PayPal, Payoneer, ACH, or Bank Wire.
Affiliate support: Yes. You get a dedicated affiliate manager.
Trustpilot star rating: 3.7 out of 5.
10- GiddyUp
GiddyUp is another modern affiliate network platform with offices in Seattle and Ventura committed to helping you generate money online, whether through your website or social media. GiddyUp has given out more than $200 million in commissions to its affiliate partners since 2013.
GiddyUp can help you optimize your profits as a new affiliate by providing you with cutting-edge tools and real-time statistics. All of your digital marketing inquiries will be answered by an affiliate partner manager. No matter the channel you choose to drive traffic, you'll have access to new creative materials to help you.
GiddyUp also emphasizes its connectivity to more than 150 direct-to-consumer and online retailers in a range of sectors. So, if you're looking to promote actual things, GiddyUp is a terrific choice.
Getting paid: To payout on the 1st and 15th of each month, you must hit the $25 minimum.
Payment method: ACH, Check, or foreign bank transfers.
Affiliate support: Yes. You get an affiliate manager to help you.
Trustpilot star rating: 4.1 out of 5.
Start Generating Affiliate Sales
Now that you know what kind of affiliate networks exist and who would gain the most from them, you can begin experimenting with them.
Affiliate marketing may be great earning potential, but to increase your chances of success, diversify your options throughout your preferred affiliate networks as well as the finest affiliate marketing programs.
Check out our affiliate marketing blog entries now if you want to learn more or get some suggestions on how to make the most of your traffic and online audience.
