Affiliate marketing programs are a type of online business model where you promote other people’s products or services and earn a commission for each sale or action you generate.
Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative and flexible way to make money online, as you don’t need to create your own products, handle customer service, or deal with inventory.
However, affiliate marketing also has some challenges and drawbacks, such as finding profitable niches, choosing the right products, building trust with your audience, and complying with the rules and regulations of different platforms and networks.
In this post, we have simplified the process for you by combing the internet and finding the best programs that you can apply to, join and start making money. Just before listing these awesome money-making programs, we are going to look at what types we got so far and how each type works.
Types of affiliate marketing programs
One of the first steps to get started with affiliate marketing is to choose an affiliate program that suits your niche, audience, and goals. An affiliate program is a platform that connects you with merchants who offer products or services that you can promote.
There are different types of affiliate programs, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common types of affiliate programs and how they work.
1. Pay-per-sale (PPS) programs
Pay-per-sale programs are the most popular type of affiliate program. They pay you a percentage of the sale price whenever someone buys something through your affiliate link.
For example, if you promote a product that costs Ksh 10,000 and the merchant offers a 10% commission rate, you will earn Ksh 1,000 for every sale that you generate.
Pay-per-sale programs are attractive because they offer high earning potential and are easy to track. However, they also have some drawbacks.
For one thing, you have to rely on the merchant’s conversion rate and sales funnel, which may not be optimized for your audience. Also, you may have to deal with refunds, chargebacks, and fraud, which can reduce your earnings.
Some examples of pay-per-sale programs are Jumia Kol, Shopify, Getresponce, Aweber, Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and ClickBank.
– Amazon Associates: The largest and most diverse online marketplace that offers millions of products across various categories. It has a low barrier to entry and a user-friendly interface. However, it also has low commission rates and a short cookie duration.
– ShareASale: A leading affiliate network that offers thousands of merchants across various niches. It has a high reputation and a reliable tracking system. However, it also has a high minimum payout threshold and a complex approval process.
– ClickBank: A popular digital marketplace that offers thousands of products across various niches. It has high commission rates and a long cookie duration. However, it also has low-quality products and a high refund rate.
2. Pay-per-lead (PPL) programs
Pay-per-lead programs pay you for generating leads for the merchant. A lead is a potential customer who shows interest in the merchant’s offer by providing their contact information, such as an email address or a phone number.
For example, if you promote a free trial of a software service and the merchant pays you $5 for every lead that signs up through your link, you will earn $5 for every sign-up that you generate.
Pay-per-lead programs are appealing because they don’t require the customer to make a purchase for you to earn a commission. They are also suitable for promoting high-ticket items or services that require a longer sales cycle.
However, they also have some challenges. For one thing, you have to ensure that the leads you generate are qualified and relevant to the merchant’s offer. Also, you may have to deal with strict approval processes and quality standards from the merchant.
Some examples of pay-per-lead programs are Grammarly, MaxBounty, PeerFly, and Leadpages.
– MaxBounty: A top-rated CPA network that offers hundreds of offers across various niches. It has high commission rates and a fast payment system. However, it also has a high minimum payout threshold and a strict approval process.
– PeerFly: A reputable CPA network that offers hundreds of offers across various niches. It has low minimum payout threshold and a flexible payment system. However, it also has low commission rates and a limited number of offers.
– Leadpages: A leading landing page builder that offers a free trial of its service. It has high conversion rates and a long cookie duration. However, it also has low commission rates and a high competition.
3. Pay-per-click (PPC) programs
Pay-per-click programs pay you for generating clicks on the merchant’s ads or links. A click is when someone clicks on the ad or link and lands on the merchant’s website.
For example, if you display Google Adsense ads on your website and the merchant pays you $0.10 for every click that you generate, you will earn $0.10 for every click that you generate.
Pay-per-click programs are attractive because they don’t require the customer to take any action beyond clicking on the ad or link for you to earn a commission. They are also suitable for promoting a wide range of products or services across different niches.
However, they also have some drawbacks. For one thing, you have to compete with other advertisers and publishers for ad space and clicks. Also, you may have to deal with low commission rates and strict policies from the merchant.
Some examples of pay-per-click programs are Google Adsense, Ezoic, Adstera, Media.net, and Infolinks.
– Google Adsense: The most popular and trusted PPC program that offers ads from Google and its partners. It has a low barrier to entry and a user-friendly interface. However, it also has low commission rates and high competition.
– Media.net: A leading PPC program that offers ads from Yahoo and Bing. It has high commission rates and a responsive support team. However, it also has a high minimum payout threshold and a strict approval process.
– Infolinks: A unique PPC program that offers ads that are integrated into the content of your website. It has a low minimum payout threshold and a flexible payment system. However, it also has low commission rates and low-quality ads.
Other affiliate marketing programs that you can join include:
Semrush: $200 per Subscription
Liquid Web: $150 Per Sale
Coursera: Up to 45% Per Sale
BigCommerce: 200% per Sale
Shift4Shop: $5 – $25 per Signup
Flywheel: 300% per Signup
TripAdvisor: Minimum 50% per Booking
Volusion: 200% per Signup
Invoice Ninja: 50% per Signup
Capitalist Exploits: 50% per Sale
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing programs are a great way to earn passive income online, but you have to choose the best affiliate program for your niche, audience, and goals. There are different types of affiliate marketing programs, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
You have to consider factors such as commission rate, cookie duration, conversion rate, refund rate, approval process, minimum payout threshold, and reputation when choosing an affiliate program.
We hope this blog post has helped you understand some of the most common and popular types of affiliate marketing programs and how they work. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
