What Is Affiliate Marketing & Top 10 Affiliate Networks

If you are new in the industry, you might be asking, “what is affiliate marketing?” To simplify it, affiliate marketing is an online sales tactic that allows business owners to increase their sales with less effort by allowing “others” or affiliate marketers to promote and sell their products in return for a commission each time someone purchases the product through a unique trackable link. Affiliates can recommend and sell products through blogs, websites, and social media platforms. Because it’s a win-win situation between the brands and the affiliates, there is no wonder why 81% of brands are now using this marketing power. 

 

Affiliate marketing networks act as intermediaries between advertisers and affiliates, making life easier for creators and affiliate marketers.

 

They provide a centralized platform for tracking sales, commissions, and payments, eliminating the need for affiliates to manually track their earnings from different programs.

 

These networks also offer a wide range of products or services from various businesses, giving affiliates more options.

 

Additionally, they provide tools and resources, such as analytics and data on consumer behavior, to help affiliates improve their marketing strategies.

 

Moreover, affiliate marketing networks handle the administrative tasks of managing partnerships, including negotiating contracts and resolving disputes.

 

This frees up time for creators and affiliate marketers to focus on what they do best – promoting products or services and creating valuable content for their audiences.

 

With the help of affiliate marketing networks, creators and affiliate marketers can streamline the process of promoting products or services, making it more convenient and efficient.

What are affiliate networks?

Affiliate networks are platforms that connect merchants or product owners with affiliates or marketers who promote their products and earn a commission for every sale made through their referral.

These networks act as intermediaries between the two parties, providing support and tracking systems to ensure accurate commission payouts.

The affiliate marketing players

Now that you know what a marketing affiliate is, let us present to you the four affiliate marketing players.

Merchant

The merchant is the person or the brand which has a product for sale. This merchant uses affiliate marketing to increase its sales. They engage with affiliates who will be the ones to promote and sell the products. In return, the merchant will pay the affiliates whenever someone buys the products they recommend. 

Affiliates

Affiliates are the people who promote and sell the merchant’s products to their own audience. They use a unique and trackable link provided by the merchant that identifies them as the source of purchase. This unique link ensures that they will be given a commission whenever someone buys a product from them.

Consumers

The consumers are the one who purchases the product recommended by the affiliates. They click the affiliate’s link whenever they decide to purchase a product.

Network

The affiliate network is a platform where they provide listings of products to sell. If you are an affiliate, before you can promote and sell, you will need the merchant’s approval first. 

Top 10 affiliate networks

As you have known the players in affiliate marketing, let us now explore the top affiliate networks that can help you find the best choice for you. 

 

Check also the affiliate networks review on the other platforms.

Clickbank

Since 1999, Clickbank has been one of the most trusted affiliate marketing networks. Even though Clickbank has a much larger range of digital products, you’ll find some physical products as well. In this networking platform, signing up and getting verified is easy compared to other networks; you just need to provide your contact number and you can browse the affiliate marketplace and generate links right away. Another highlight you can get with Clickbank is some of their products offer up to 75% commission. 

G2 review: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $10

Payment method: Direct deposit, Payoneer, or wire transfer

ShareASale

One of the most popular affiliate networks, ShareASale is a great option for both physical and digital products. This platform has over 16,000 merchants so whatever your niche is,  you can probably find some offers worth promoting. Also, you can find programs with 1% commission to 300% commission rates. In order to sign up, you need to provide either your website or social handle, which is the best for beginner bloggers and influencers. However, in order to start, please note that you’ll need to apply to each merchant separately and receive their approval. 

G2 review: 3.6 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $50

Payment method: Direct deposit, Payoneer, or paper check

CJ Affiliate

Formerly known as Commission Junction, CJ Affiliate is one of the largest affiliate networks has a market share of 8.15%. This network offers physical as well as digital products from sources like GoPro, Grammarly, and Office Depot to name a few. In order to become a member, you need to provide your contact information and promotional property like your social media accounts or your website. The same thing with ShareASale, you need to apply to the merchants individually. 

G2 review: 3.6 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $50 for direct deposit and $100 for check

Payment method: Direct deposit, Payoneer, or paper check

MaxBounty

MaxBounty provides access to a global network of marketing channels for businesses to evolve their brands. This too provides affiliates the opportunity to promote products and earn commissions based on their performance through CPA, CPS, CPL, and CPI pricing models. Currently, they have over 2000 active campaigns that ensure you never run out of products to sell and promote. 

G2 review: 3.6 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $100

Payment method: PayPal, Intercash, eCheck, ACH, Wire, Bitcoin, or check.

Rakuten Advertising

Although Rakuten Advertising looks old-school, this platform is still easy and intuitive to navigate. Rakuten Advertising is one of the most established affiliate networks. What’s more about Rakuten Advertising is they focus on quality over quantity which means even if they don’t have thousands of thousands of merchants compared to other affiliate networks, they have some of the biggest merchants in various industries such as Microsoft, Sephora, and Virgin Holidays to name a few. This platform is one of the best options if you want to benefit from a big-name brand reputation on your website. 

G2 review: 3.9 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $50

Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, or PayPal.

FlexOffers

In FlexOffers, you can access over 12000 merchants, from both small and big brands. FlexOffers has been in its industry for years so you know that this network is a reliable one. This network adds 50 plus merchants each day so you can always find new offers and it allows you to browse a full directory of all merchants before signing up. Moreover, FlexOffers provides an account manager to each affiliate salesperson that can help you find the best offers to promote and to help you improve your affiliate marketing effort. 

G2 review: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $25

Payment method: Bank transfer, Wire transfer, Check, or PayPal.

JVZoo

JVZoo makes it easy for merchants and affiliates from all over the world to meet and work together. They have a huge digital library where you can find more than 200 niches and categories. For affiliates, they provide access to its tools and training. Aside from it, JVZoo also allows potential affiliates to sign up for free and have an access to its marketplace where they can find products to promote and sell to their audiences. What’s more to this network is they provide one link for all products in a sales funnel to the affiliates. To make consumers purchase products from their affiliate link, affiliates can offer exclusive bonuses along with it; and the bonus product will be automatically delivered with the purchased product.

Trustpilot review: 2.8 out of 5 stars

Avangate Affiliate Network

Focused on digital products, Avangate Affiliate Network provides you access to more than 22000 pieces of software— you’ll get access to big merchants such as Awario, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky to name a few. So if you want to get high commissions from digital products, this network is for you. 

Trustpilot review: 2.9 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $100

Payment method: Wire transfer, Check, PayPal, or Avangate MasterCard

AWIN

AWIN is the owner of ShareASales which they acquired last 2017. This popular affiliate network gives you access to over 21,000 brands. With this huge number, you can find both digital and physical products to promote and sell. Since AWIN was founded in Germany, you can find a lot of European tilt in its merchant list. The same with ShareASales, you can sign up with either a website or social media handles. However, you need to pay a $5 deposit to join the network. Some of the most notable names you can find here are Etsy, Gymshark, and AliExpress to name a few. 

G2 reviews: 3.7 out of 5 stars

Minimum payout: $20

Payment method: BACS, international wire transfer, or ACH.

eBay Partner Network

eBay Partner Network is eBay’s own affiliate network which means that you’ll have access to any product listed on eBay. Although most of its products are physical, you can still find digital products as well. 

Minimum payout: $10

Payment method: Electronic Funds Transfer or PayPal.

Is affiliate marketing still profitable in 2024?

Affiliate marketing has been a popular and profitable business model for many years, and experts expect it to remain so.

 

The significance and financial gain of affiliate marketing are on the rise due to the surge of online shopping and e-commerce.

 

In 2024, experts predict that affiliate marketing will continue to evolve and adjust to new technologies and changing consumer trends. This means that there will be plenty of opportunities for affiliate marketers to profit.

 

However, affiliates must stay updated and adapt to these changes to remain competitive and successful.

 

To improve marketing, businesses should explore new channels and stay current with industry trends while continuously optimizing their performance.

 

Affiliate marketing’s performance is determined by the marketer’s level of dedication.

 

By staying updated, engaging with your audience, and constantly improving your strategies, affiliate marketing can still be a profitable venture in 2024 and beyond.

What are the steps to become an affiliate marketer in 2024?

1. Choose your niche.

To start your journey as an affiliate marketer, you must decide which area of interest you want to concentrate on. Your niche should align with your interests and knowledge and have the potential for profitability.

2. Research affiliate programs.

After deciding on your niche, the next step is to research various affiliate programs associated with it. Compare and choose the best affiliate programs with top commissions, products, and support.

3. Build a website or blog:

To market your affiliate products effectively, it is crucial to have a platform where you can display them. Having an online presence and attracting potential customers is vital, and building a website or blog can help you achieve this goal effectively.

4. Create quality content.

Content holds a crucial place in digital marketing, and as an affiliate marketer, you must produce top-notch content that advertises your products. This can include product reviews, tutorials, and informative articles related to your niche.

5. Drive traffic to your website.

Good design and quality information are not enough to ensure that your website and its contents are needed. To attract visitors to your website, it is important to employ several tactics, such as search engine optimization, promotion on social media platforms, and email marketing.

6. Join affiliate networks.

Affiliate networks act as a middleman between merchants and affiliates, making it easier for you to find and join different programs. Some popular affiliate networks include Commission Junction, ShareASale, and ClickBank.

7. Monitor and optimize your performance.

To be a successful affiliate marketer, it is crucial to consistently evaluate your performance and make appropriate modifications to enhance your outcomes. This can include tracking your website traffic, click-through rates, and conversion rates.

8. Build audience engagement.

Connect with your audience by commenting on your website, engaging on social media, and using email marketing in affiliate marketing. This will not only help you build trust with your audience but also increase the chances of making a sale.

9. Stay updated on industry trends and changes.

As this field is constantly evolving, it’s crucial to remain updated about the latest industry trends and changes in affiliate marketing. This can include new products, technologies, and strategies that can help you improve your performance.

Takeaways

Now that you know what affiliate marketing is and together with the information that we provided, we hope that you’ll have a much easier time finding the right affiliate network/s for you that can give you better chances of success. Yes, you don’t have to choose just one — this is one of the best things that affiliate marketing offers!