Affiliate marketing is performance-based marketing in which a business rewards third-party advertisers (affiliates) for conversions and sales brought by their marketing efforts. Some programs pay per click (PPC affiliate programs), while others pay based on sales. Often, affiliates and businesses are connected via affiliate marketing programs.
There are four key players in affiliate marketing: the merchant (also known as the “retailer” or “brand”), the publisher (also known as the “affiliate”), the affiliate program (that contains offers for the affiliate to choose from), and, of course, the customer. The chart above demonstrates how all these parties work together.
Affiliate programs are an effective way for businesses to reach new customers. They can be a helpful tool for website owners or social media influencers looking to monetize their online presence. There are even options to do affiliate marketing without a website.
There are many affiliate programs, each with different terms, conditions, and payouts—so how do you know which one is right for you? The answer lies in understanding your business needs and finding a program that fits those requirements. Ideally, you should look for programs offering high commissions and low payout thresholds. If you’re experienced, you can start looking at high affiliate marketing programs, while if you’re new to the game, affiliate programs for beginners are preferable.
However, I understand that conducting research can be stressful. That’s why I’ve created a list of free affiliate programs so that you can find the perfect fit.