The 7 best affiliate marketing programs for new content creators

You probably got your start as a creator because you were passionate about your content. But what if we told you there’s a way to monetize that passion? There is, and it’s called affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing generates passive income, which means you don’t have to exchange your time for money like you would clocking in at a job. You just take the content you’re already creating – blog posts, funny TikToks, Instagram reels – and let it do the work for you.

What is affiliate marketing and how does it work?

Affiliate marketing is a type of digital marketing that lets brands partner with influencers who create content in a specific niche. Brands look for influencers who have a following that fits the target audience – the demographic the brand is trying to reach. Partner influencers use their content to spread awareness about the brand’s products or services. Since the brand has a target audience in mind when choosing which influencers to work with, the content creator’s followers will usually respond well to what’s being offered.

What do influencers have to do in this model? Not much. The brand often gives them an affiliate link or code that the influencer can drop in their blog, videos or social media posts. Brands can see where their web traffic is coming from, so the influencer gets credited when followers use their affiliate link or code. Depending on the agreement, the influencers might be rewarded for clicks or leads, or they might get a kickback when their followers make purchases.

What’s the difference between an affiliate network and an affiliate program?

First, let’s take a look at some industry jargon. Affiliate networks and affiliate programs sound similar, but they’re different models.

Affiliate networks are third parties that link up brands and influencers – they act as a middleman. This means that influencers who work with affiliate networks don’t have direct contact with the companies they represent. The affiliate network does the work of determining which products are the right fit for an influencer’s audience.

Affiliate programs, on the other hand, are run by the brands themselves, cutting out the middleman. Brands that run these programs partner directly with the influencers who represent them.

How to find the right affiliate partnership for you

Affiliate marketing really shouldn’t take up much of your time. When you’re considering different online marketing programs or networks, look for models that easily fit into the work you’re already doing and offer the kind of commissions you want.

• Look for easy-to-use platforms: Whether you’re working directly with a brand or an affiliate marketing network, make sure you understand the rules of engagement and how the platform works. If the interface is confusing, it may be time-consuming for you, and that’s the last thing you want when trying to earn passive affiliate income.
• Partner with brands/products you actually like: Your followers trust your authority because they find common ground with you and admire your content. Keep this trust by pitching brands you believe in and products that are relevant to your niche. You don’t want your social media accounts or blog posts to start looking more like advertising spaces than the creative zones they’re meant to be.
• Make sure you’re on board with commission rates and payments: Learn about the affiliate program’s commission structure, and what your earning potential would be. And make sure you can accurately track your income by finding out when and how you’ll get paid (many programs offer direct deposit or PayPal options). Finally, don’t sign on with a program that makes you pay to earn money. Look for free affiliate programs – many of the most popular programs will partner with you without asking for money in return.
• Look for long cookie durations: When a potential customer clicks on your referral link, the affiliate program will store your referral for a certain length of time, which is called the cookie duration or window. Some programs will have a window of one day, while others could extend for a full month or more. You’ll only get credited if a customer makes their purchase within the cookie window – so look for programs that offer a longer duration

7 of the best affiliate programs for beginners

1. Canva

How it works: Influencers recommend this design app to their followers and earn up to $26 for each new member who signs up for the Pro plan via an affiliate link.

Why it’s great: The affiliate platform goes out of its way to help newbies with marketing tools and useful information about what they’re selling.

2. Fiverr

How it works: This freelance marketplace offers influencers up to $150 per product purchased by someone in their audience.

Why it’s great: You have the option to promote different products, and you’re assigned your own dedicated affiliate manager.

3. HubSpot

How it works: Influencers who partner with this CRM platform can choose a recurring 15% monthly commission or a flat rate of 100% of the first month’s revenue.

Why it’s great: This partner program has a long cookie duration.

4. Weebly

How it works: Hosted by ShareASale, an affiliate marketing network, Weebly’s program offers influencers a 30% commission.

Why it’s great: This affiliate program has a long cookie duration and no cap on how much influencers can earn.

5. Bluehost

How it works: This web hosting platform offers affiliate marketers $65 on each qualifying sign-up.

Why it’s great: This affiliate program offers analytics so you can see how your campaigns are performing with your audience.

6. Shopify

How it works: Shopify pays content creators like influencers, bloggers and educators affiliate commissions on merchant referrals.

Why it’s great: Shopify supports influencers’ content development and offers analytical tools so they can see how their marketing efforts are paying off.

7. Amazon Associates Program

How it works: Amazon pays affiliate partners 10% commissions on qualifying purchases on a wide range of products.

Why it’s great: With millions of products on this massive ecommerce site, there’s something for every influencer and audience in the Amazon affiliate program.