Are you searching for the top affiliate program for e-commerce? According to an IAB study, users clicked on over 5 billion affiliate links in 2017, leading to more than 170 million global commercial transactions through affiliate marketing programs. As a result, the effectiveness of this marketing strategy is indisputable. However, with the vast selection of affiliate networks available, it may be tempting to assume that every program is successful. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Not all affiliate systems deliver the same level of business performance. If you want to discover which affiliate program is the best for e-commerce and understand the key factors contributing to its success, keep reading.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing, also known as an associate program or referral program, bears resemblance to a referral program. In essence, Pat Flynn, the creator of Smart Passive Income (SPI), succinctly described affiliate marketing as follows:
The process of affiliate marketing involves promoting products owned by individuals or companies in order to earn a commission. Firstly, you select a product that appeals to you, then you promote it to others, and finally, you receive a portion of the profit for every sale that you generate.
Affiliate marketing programs operate on the principle of revenue sharing. To enhance your earnings, you can endorse products or services from another company that complement your own, and in return, they will compensate you for bringing in customers.
What is eCommerce Affiliate Marketing?
ECommerce affiliate marketing is just affiliate marketing with an online component. Merchants earn a commission by promoting another company’s products, services, or website on their own website. This tactic is becoming more popular and is beneficial to both brands and affiliate marketers. As a result, more businesses are joining affiliate programs, with 81% of brands now utilizing affiliate marketing.
How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?
Affiliate programs may vary in their structure, but most commonly, a company gives its affiliate partners a distinct traceable code to share with their customers and clients. Whenever this code is utilized for a purchase, the affiliate receives a reward.
There exist three prevailing commission structures for affiliate programs.
- Purchase-Based Commission Structures. The affiliate partner gets paid when someone uses their code to make a purchase on the merchant’s website.
- Traffic-Based Commission Structures. The affiliate partner gets a commission based on the number of people they refer to the company’s website—regardless of whether those visitors make a purchase or perform some other action.
- Customer Acquisition-Based Commission Structures. The affiliate partner gets paid when their promotion helps the merchant close a new deal or sign a new customer.
Our Picks
Once you are aware of the advantages of ecommerce affiliate programs, which one should you consider joining? Keep in mind that selecting an affiliate program that aligns with your goals and caters to the needs of both you and your customers is crucial.
Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is widely regarded as the top e-commerce affiliate program, and it requires minimal effort to join. In addition to being one of the most visited websites globally, Amazon is among the top three search engines alongside Google and YouTube. The company also boasts an exceptional affiliate program, which is favored by most affiliate merchants thanks to its trustworthiness, transparency, and high quality. Successful e-commerce platforms like Gear Best and Wirecutter rely on this program for their affiliate links. Since Amazon dominates the e-commerce industry, referrals to its store result in fewer bounce rates compared to other e-commerce platforms. Furthermore, Amazon is highly regarded as a global brand. Apart from these advantages, affiliates can earn generous commissions of up to 10% per transaction, although the commission rate may vary in certain product categories.
Zappos
Despite not having the same level of fame and reputation as Amazon, this e-commerce platform established by Nick Swinmurn in 1999 has one of the most attractive affiliate programs available. Zappos provides its affiliates with a wide range of formats to choose from, including text links, advertisements, and various other interesting options. Despite primarily focusing on footwear, Zappos’ catalog is comparable to that of Zalando and other competitors, offering a diverse selection of shoes, handbags, and even home accessories from over a thousand brands. Although their commission rates of 7% may not be as high as Amazon or eBay, Zappos’ affiliate program remains highly popular.
eBay Partner Network
eBay, despite its reputation being said to be inferior to Amazon, is still a marketplace that does not require a cover letter. This e-commerce platform is highly attractive to affiliate merchants due to its commission rates, which can reach up to 50% and 70% per transaction. These percentages far exceed those offered by other affiliate programs. Additionally, the eBay Partner Network offers another advantage that not all affiliate programs provide – the duration of cookies. Affiliates will receive their appropriate share of the commission even if redirected consumers take more than ten days to make a direct purchase or participate in an auction. It is evident that eBay is deserving of being placed at the top of the list of highest paying affiliate programs.
Etsy Affiliates
With a substantial customer and marketer community, Etsy’s affiliate program contributes to the continued success of this captivating e-commerce platform. However, the 4% commissions fail to attract attention, but the inclusion of cookies that last for up to 30 days provides additional value for affiliate merchants. It is crucial to acknowledge the exclusivity of the products sold in this store. Consequently, the Etsy system is undeniably a strong contender for the top e-commerce affiliate program.
Shopify Affiliate Program
By participating in Shopify’s affiliate marketing program, you have the opportunity to receive affiliate commissions for every user who registers for a paid Shopify plan using your personalized referral link. This program allows you to access and share content created by Shopify, such as blogs, webinars, video tutorials, tools, and automated funnels, which can save you both time and money. Overall, it is an excellent affiliate program for ecommerce businesses.
Bluehost
Because of its inexpensive plans ($2.95/month) and generous commissions (starting at $65 or more for one-time payouts), the web hosting affiliate program of Bluehost is highly sought after.
Bloggers and merchants benefit from promoting Bluehost by experiencing high conversion rates and having access to text links and banners to promote the platform. Moreover, Bluehost’s affiliate managers are renowned for delivering exceptional customer service and support!
Fiverr Affiliates Program
Fiverr is a digital service marketplace with over 11 million users in 190+ countries, making it one of the largest in the world. By joining the Fiverr Affiliates Program, you can earn money for each new buyer you refer, with no limit on referrals and lifetime attribution. This is beneficial for your clients as it allows them to easily connect with freelancers for extra assistance when their team is overwhelmed or during peak periods.
