Affiliate marketing has become a dynamic avenue for individuals and businesses to monetize their digital presence, and the choice of the right affiliate network plays a pivotal role in this journey.
In this article, we'll introduce you to some of the industry's most reputable and rewarding affiliate networks, providing you with insights into their features, benefits, and opportunities for affiliate success!
What is an affiliate network?
An affiliate network is an intermediary platform that connects businesses (also referred to as advertisers), often ecommerce or online retailers, with affiliate marketers (also referred to as publishers). It enables marketers to promote products or services from various advertisers and earn commissions for driving desired actions, such as sales or leads.
The network tracks and manages these activities, ensuring proper attribution and compensation. Affiliate networks offer a win-win scenario, as businesses gain additional marketing reach, and affiliate marketers have opportunities to monetize their web traffic and audience.
How does an affiliate network differ from an affiliate program?
The main difference between an affiliate network and an affiliate program lies in their scope and structure.
An affiliate program is a single, company-specific initiative where a business collaborates with independent affiliates who promote its products or services for a commission.
The program is run in-house by the advertiser, and affiliate marketers promote that specific company's offerings.
On the other hand, an affiliate network is a third-party solution that connects multiple advertisers with a broader network of affiliates. It offers a centralized system for affiliate marketers to choose from various advertisers, manage their campaigns, and track commissions. The network acts as an intermediary, facilitating partnerships between individuals and multiple companies.
Sometimes affiliate programs may initially resemble affiliate networks, such as with Amazon Associates, Amazon’s affiliate program, for example. However, in such cases, your affiliation is solely with the platform brand and not the individual sellers.
In contrast, when you sign up with an affiliate network, you submit an application to collaborate directly with an advertiser or seller through a dedicated landing page. They subsequently provide you with a distinct affiliate ID to monitor sales stemming from your affiliate marketing work.
In essence, an affiliate program is company-centric, while an affiliate network is a multi-company platform that streamlines affiliate marketing activities.
What are the pros and cons of joining an affiliate network?
Affiliate networks can have both pros and cons for affiliates looking to start a brand new journey in affiliate sales or expand their current strategy, regardless of the type of affiliate marketing their business involves.
Pros
One of the biggest advantages of affiliate networks is that they provide access to a diverse range of advertisers and affiliate products or services, giving you more opportunities to find suitable offers to promote. What’s more, established solutions often have a good reputation, which can instill trust among publishers and advertisers alike.
In addition, many platforms offer centralized tools for tracking, reporting, and payments, making it easier for you to manage multiple campaigns. They might also provide various payment models, including pay-per-sale, pay-per-click, and pay-per-lead, increasing flexibility in how you can earn commissions. Some networks supply educational resources, marketing materials, and support as well to help affiliates succeed, which can be especially beneficial if you’re new to affiliate marketing.
Cons
Despite the numerous benefits of affiliate networks, there are also several drawbacks. For example, due to the wide range of offers available on a particular platform, competition among affiliates can be fierce, making it challenging to stand out. Furthermore, not all advertisers on a network may be reputable or offer high-quality products or services, potentially damaging your business’s reputation.
It’s also worth mentioning that many solutions impose minimum earnings thresholds before users can withdraw their commissions. In addition, some of these platforms charge fees or take a percentage of commissions, reducing your overall earnings.
What should you consider when deciding what affiliate networks to join?
When deciding which affiliate networks to join, you consider several factors to ensure the best fit for your marketing goals.
- Relevance to your niche: Look for options with advertisers and offers that align with your niche or target audience. Promoting products or services relevant to your content or audience increases the likelihood of conversions.
- Credibility and reputation: Research the network's reputation, history, and feedback from other affiliates. Choose well-established networks known for fair practices and timely payments.
- Commission structure: Understand the commission structure, payment models (e.g., pay per sale, pay per click, pay per lead), and commission rate, keeping in mind that these can vary significantly, particularly between networks involving B2B affiliate marketing and those involving B2C affiliate marketing. Compare this information with your revenue expectations.
- Tracking and reporting tools: Assess the tracking and reporting capabilities of the network. Reliable tracking ensures you're accurately credited for your referrals.
- Cookie duration: Investigate the length of the tracking cookies used by the network. Longer cookie durations provide more time for conversions.
- Payment methods and thresholds: Check what options are available for how you can get paid (e.g., check, PayPal, direct deposit) and what amount of earnings you must have before you can get paid. Ensure they align with your preferences and financial situation.
- Support and resources: Prioritize options that offer support, educational resources, and marketing materials to assist you in your affiliate efforts.
- Ad quality: Evaluate the quality of ads and promotional materials provided by the network. High-quality creatives can improve the effectiveness of your promotions.
- Terms and conditions: Carefully review the terms and conditions of the affiliate marketing programs offered through the network. Ensure you're comfortable with the advertiser's rules.
- Network fees: Understand any fees imposed by the network, such as transaction fees or withdrawal fees. These fees can affect your overall earnings.
- Performance history: Inquire about the network's performance history, including average conversion rates, earnings per click (EPC), and other performance metrics.
- Geographical reach: Consider whether the network offers international campaigns if you have a global audience or specific geographic targeting needs.
- Policies on advertiser quality: Find out if the network has policies or criteria for advertiser quality, which can affect the credibility of the offers you promote.
- User interface and ease of use: Assess the user interface and navigation of the platform. An intuitive dashboard can simplify your campaign management.
- Accessibility and support: Confirm the availability and responsiveness of customer support and affiliate managers who can assist you with any issues or questions.
By carefully considering these factors, you will be able to select affiliate networks that best match your needs and objectives, boosting your chances of a successful and profitable partnership.
Best affiliate networks to help you achieve success in affiliate marketing
1. Awin
Awin, previously known as Affiliate Window, is a renowned affiliate marketing network that offers a vast array of partnership opportunities for marketers, bloggers, and online businesses around the world. Founded in 2000, it has grown to become one of the most popular global affiliate networks, with a presence in over 15 countries.
Awin boasts an extensive network of more than 25,000 brands, such Under Armour, Warby Parker, Asus, and others, providing access to various industries and regions. Its user-friendly dashboard, robust reporting tools, and exceptional support make Awin a preferred choice for many publishers looking to monetize their digital presence effectively.
- Commission payment schedule: the 1st and the 15th of each month for the previous month’s earnings
- Minimum payout: $20
2. ShareASale
ShareASale, a prominent affiliate marketing platform in North America since its inception in 2000, has consistently thrived through relationship-building, innovative technology, and helping clients excel in affiliate marketing. In 2017, the network was acquired by Awin to bolster the company’s presence in the US..
ShareASale features 25,000 merchants and currently has more than 270,000 affiliates actively using the solution. Publishers are able to join and apply to programs for free, making it a particularly attractive option for those new to affiliate marketing.
- Commission payment schedule: the 20th of the month
- Minimum payout: $50
3. CJ Affiliate
Founded in 1998, CJ Affiliate, previously known as Commission Junction, is one of the biggest affiliate networks on the internet. With a vast network of partners, including well-known brands such as Hello Fresh, Overstock, Barnes & Noble, and Office Depot, as well as smaller merchants, the solution offers affiliates a wide range of programs from which to choose.
As with many other options mentioned in this article, you will be required to apply to each merchant individually. This must be done from the CJ Affiliate dashboard before you can start to promote any products or services, and there’s no guarantee that you will be approved. That being said, the platform remains a popular choice with affiliate marketers due to helpful tools like comprehensive omnichannel tracking, insights and analytics, and a powerful API, all of which have aided its publishers in collectively earning over $1.8 billion a year.
- Commission payment schedule: the 20th or the 28th of the month, depending on currency
- Minimum payout: $50
4. Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising, part of the Rakuten Group, is another popular affiliate network that includes a plethora of brands, such as Hilton, Benefit, Vera Bradley, JanSport, Sixt, and Ashley Furniture, 95% of which are exclusive to the platform. Founded in 1996, the global network has since become one of the largest affiliate marketing networks worldwide, reaching over 190 countries.
Upon joining Rakuten Advertising, affiliates will have access to dedicated support and upskilling opportunities to help them attain their marketing objectives. What’s more, the solution provides a robust set of tools and features, including deep linking capabilities, which enable users to create hyperlinks directly to product pages, increasing conversion rates. Rakuten Advertising also offers dynamic ad rotation, customizable ad units, and advanced reporting and analytics tools help affiliates track performance, optimize campaigns, and maximize their earnings
- Commission payment schedule: every Wednesday (though timeliness depends on when advertisers, who Rakuten Advertising invoices monthly, process their commission payments)
- Minimum payout: $50
5. GiddyUp
GiddyUp is an affiliate network that has disbursed over $375 million in commissions to its publisher partners. New affiliates can benefit from innovative tools and real-time data to maximize their earnings. In addition, a dedicated affiliate partner manager is available to address digital marketing inquiries.
GiddyUp offers a rich array of creative assets, including videos, images, and campaign content, tailored to various traffic sources. With a track record of over 150 direct-to-consumer (DTC) product launches in different sectors, GiddyUp is a strong choice for those interested in promoting physical products.
- Commission payment schedule: N/A (get in touch with GiddyUp for more details)
- Minimum payout: N/A (get in touch with GiddyUp for more details)
6. ClickBank
Established in 1999, ClickBank is one of the most reputable and longstanding affiliate marketing networks, paying more than $6.1 billion in commissions to its affiliates since it was founded. Unlike many other platforms for affiliate marketing, ClickBank doesn't require affiliates to possess a website or social media presence in order to sign up. They simply need to furnish their contact details, and then they can promptly access the affiliate marketplace and start generating referral links.
The network presents a diverse array of both digital and physical products, exceeding 4,000 in total, in categories such as health and fitness, home and garden, self-help, e-business, sports, etc. Moreover, ClickBank equips its affiliates with sales tracking tools and maintains a dedicated resource center for ongoing support. These resources extend opportunities to enhance earnings through upselling tactics.
- Commission payment schedule: weekly or bi-weekly on Fridays
- Minimum payout: $10
7. FlexOffers
Featuring over 12,000 advertisers, among them notable companies like Nike, Microsoft, Hulu, Wayfair, and Samsung, and a network of 75,000 publishers, FlexOffers offers a comprehensive affiliate marketing platform. One of the solution’s unique elements is that it also has partnerships with 65 other platforms and affiliate networks, providing a wide array of partner options for brands and affiliates alike.
It’s worth noting that FlexOffers accepts free blogging websites, including WordPress, Wix, Blogger, and BlogSpot, as traffic sources. The platform also supplies numerous resources and features, such as deep linking, comparison widgets for product pricing, reporting tools, and access to a full set of APIs, for affiliates to enjoy.
- Commission payment schedule: Commission earnings for the month are processed 60 days later and paid sometime between the 1st and the 7th of the month after the processing date.
- Minimum payout: $25
8. Impact
Although relatively new to the affiliate network scene, Impact is quickly making a name for itself due to boasting partnerships with a diverse array of brands, including Levi’s, Adidas, HSBC, Fabletics, and L’Oréal, offering access to over 9 million products.
Impact stands out with its Mobile App Partner Marketplace, a specialized solution designed to help affiliates optimize their efforts for mobile traffic and boost their earnings. The network’s flexible processing of payments, access to exclusive promo codes, cross-platform tracking, and other automation tools help publishers take their affiliate efforts to the next level.
- Commission payment schedule: the 1st or the 15th of the month
- Minimum payout: $10
9. Avangate Affiliate Network
Publishers looking to promote software and other digital products rather than physical offerings may want to give Avangate Affiliate Network a try. Another relatively new platform, this solution, established in 2006, has been ranked by Blue Book Global as the #1 Worldwide Affiliate Network for digital goods for 8 years running.
One of Avangate Affiliate Network’s top features is its a geo-targeted shopping cart, allowing publishers to deep-link to a localized cart, making it perfect for targeting specific market locations. In addition, it offers dedicated email support available 24/7, flexible payment options, comprehensive reporting, and other aids to help bolster sales and create an enjoyable user experience.
- Commission payment schedule: monthly (20 days from the end of the month for which the commission is due)
- Minimum payout: $100
10. Sovrn
Sovrn, founded in 2014, is a dynamic affiliate marketing network known for its focus on content-driven advertising. The network connects publishers and advertisers, offering over 25,000 independent websites for publishers to collaborate with.
Sovrn's key features include a publisher dashboard for managing and tracking campaigns, real-time analytics, and native advertising. It enables affiliates to maximize earnings through engaging, relevant content and responsive ad formats. The solution emphasizes transparency and supports publishers with actionable insights for improved monetization strategies.
- Commission payment schedule: 90 days after the end of the month in which commissions are earned
- Minimum payout: $25
11. JVZoo
Founded in 2011, JVZoo is a reputable affiliate marketing network that primarily focuses on digital products. Free to join, the platform currently has over 800,000 active affiliates and facilitates easy affiliate marketing with features like real-time tracking and automated instant payments to publishers.
JVZoo’s marketplace is packed with an extensive range of non-physical goods, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, marketing, and tech, offering opportunities for affiliates to promote a variety of items. It also features in-depth performance statistics, making it easy for affiliates to track their campaigns and earnings.
- Commission payment schedule: depends on the individual program
- Minimum payout: $50
12. Pepperjam
Recently acquired by Partnerize, Pepperjam is a well-known affiliate marketing network established in 1999. Although it doesn’t feature as many brands as other networks available today, you’ll still find a wide variety of advertisers present, such as Puma, Tarte, Cole Haan, Everlane, Bath & Body Works, Ace Hardware, and others. Pepperjam has a relatively straightforward application process, making it easy for affiliate marketers and brands alike to partner with the solution.
What’s more, it supplies numerous education resources, including on-demand self-education, to assist affiliate marketers in achieving success, regardless of their current level of experience in affiliate sales. With offerings such as a user-friendly dashboard; monetization features like banners, product deep links, and coupons; and a focus on simplifying communication between the publisher and advertiser, Pepperjam can be an especially great solution for those looking to develop long-lasting partnerships with a smaller number of merchants.
- Commission payment schedule: the 1st and the 15th of the month, with advertiser locking periods varying between 30 and 60 days
- Minimum payout: $25
13. MoreNiche
MoreNiche, founded in 1999, is a well-established affiliate network that specializes in the fitness, health, and weight-loss industries. Although it offers a limited number of affiliate marketing programs, the products available boast high commissions, with the average commission rate being 40% per sale.
The solution stands out with its personalized support, which includes coaching, expert guidance, and dedicated affiliate managers to help you achieve higher commissions. MoreNiche also offers a range of features for affiliates, including a custom-built affiliate portal, marketing materials, and tracking tools to maximize success.
- Commission payment schedule: the 15th and the last day of each month
- Minimum payout: $100
How do you get started in affiliate marketing?
Remember that even today’s top affiliate marketers were once beginners! When it comes to achieving success in affiliate marketing, it’s essential that you start by not only selecting high-quality partners but also having a top-notch website to promote your chosen affiliate products.
Evolup is a solution that lets you create your own affiliate site in a flash, thanks to our powerful AI feature! The various tasks associated with digital marketing can be both complex and time consuming.
With Evolup, you get a turnkey solution for creating your affiliate website, presented as a real online store.
With the help of artificial intelligence for text generation, you can easily turn your descriptions into powerful SEO levers, find your niche, create a domain name that reflects your personality, and even craft compelling product descriptions, blog posts, and other text for your website.
Furthemore, Evolup offers users plenty of flexibility. You’ll be able to build an online store that best suits the vision you have for your business by selecting from a plethora of design templates. Then, because the solution is compatible with all affiliate programs, you can add the products that you’re super passionate about and highlight them on your website.
In addition, Evolup is completely dedicated to helping you achieve your affiliate marketing goals. Our Business Coaches are available to guide you every step of the way and respond to any queries you may have concerning your business.
Sign up with Evolup, the best solution for creating your affiliate website, and take advantage of a 7-day free trial!
