ShareASale Affiliate Marketing

ShareASale affiliate marketing is a top way to make money online. It’s an affiliate network that connects merchants with affiliate marketers to drive sales and generate revenue. It provides a platform for businesses to promote their products or services through a network of affiliate marketers who earn a commission for each successful referral or sale they generate. ShareASale acts as an intermediary, managing the tracking, reporting, and payment processes between merchants and affiliates. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, ShareASale offers a seamless and efficient way for businesses to expand their reach and for affiliate marketers to monetize their online presence. Whether you are a merchant looking to increase sales or an affiliate marketer seeking to earn passive income, ShareASale provides a reliable and effective solution for affiliate marketing success.

Introduction to Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular online business model that allows individuals to earn money by promoting and recommending products or services. In this model, you become an affiliate for a company and earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your affiliate link.

Here’s how affiliate marketing works

1. Find a niche: Choose a specific topic or industry that you are interested in or have knowledge about. This will help you target a specific audience and create content that resonates with them. Choosing the right niche for affiliate marketing can make or break a business.
2. Join an affiliate program: Look for companies or online marketplaces that offer affiliate programs. These programs provide you with a unique affiliate link that tracks the sales or leads generated through your referrals.
3. Promote products or services: Once you join an affiliate program, you can start promoting the company’s products or services. This can be done through various channels such as a website, blog, social media, email marketing, or YouTube.
4. Drive traffic: The key to successful affiliate marketing is driving targeted traffic to your affiliate links. This can be done through search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, content marketing, or social media marketing.
5. Earn commissions: You earn a commission when someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase or completes a desired action (such as signing up for a service). The commission rate varies depending on the affiliate program and the product or service being promoted.

Benefits of affiliate marketing

1. No product creation: You don’t have to create or develop your own products as an affiliate marketer. You can promote existing products or services and earn a commission for each sale.
2. Low startup costs: Affiliate marketing has lower startup costs than other business models. You don’t need to invest in inventory, manufacturing, or customer support. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.
3. Flexibility: Affiliate marketing offers flexibility in terms of working hours and location. You can work from anywhere and choose your own schedule.
4. Passive income potential: Once you have set up your affiliate marketing campaigns and have a steady stream of traffic, you can earn passive income. This means you can continue earning commissions even when you do not promote the products or services.
5. Diverse income streams: You can promote multiple products or services from different companies as an affiliate marketer. This allows you to diversify your income streams and reduce the risk of relying on a single product or company.

In conclusion, affiliate marketing is a popular online business model that allows individuals to earn money by promoting and recommending products or services. It offers several benefits, such as low startup costs, flexibility, and the potential for passive income. If done correctly, affiliate marketing can be a lucrative way to make money online.

Platforms for Recommending Affiliate Products

You can use several platforms to recommend affiliate products and earn commissions. Here are some of the popular platforms:

Blogs: Blogging is one of the most common platforms for affiliate marketing. You can create a niche-specific blog where you write informative and engaging content related to the products or services you are promoting. You can include affiliate links to the recommended products within your blog posts. When readers click on these links and purchase, you earn a commission.

Social Media: Social media platforms like YouTube and Pinterest can also be effective for affiliate marketing.

YouTube: You can create videos to review or demonstrate products and include affiliate links in the video description or within the video itself. When viewers click on your links and make a purchase, you earn a commission.

Pinterest is a visual search engine where users discover and save ideas. You can create visually appealing pins that link to your affiliate products. When users click on your pins and make a purchase, you earn a commission.

Email Marketing: If you have an email list, you can use it to recommend affiliate products to your subscribers. You can send out newsletters or dedicated emails promoting the products and include your affiliate links. When subscribers click on these links and purchase, you earn a commission.

Influencer Marketing: If you have a large following on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, you can partner with brands as an influencer and promote their products through sponsored posts or stories. In these posts, you can include affiliate links, and when your followers make a purchase using your links, you earn a commission.

It’s important to select affiliate programs with higher commission rates to maximize your earnings. While the commission rate may vary depending on the program and the product or service being promoted, choosing programs with higher commission rates can significantly impact your income.

When selecting affiliate programs, consider the following:

1. Commission Rate: Look for affiliate programs that offer higher commission rates. Some programs offer a percentage of the sale, while others provide a fixed amount per sale or lead. Compare the commission rates of different programs to find the ones that provide the best earning potential.
2. Product Quality and Relevance: Promoting products or services of high quality and relevance to your audience is crucial. Recommending products that align with your niche and are valuable to your audience will increase the likelihood of conversions and repeat purchases.
3. Cookie Duration: Cookie duration refers to the length of time that a user’s click on your affiliate link is tracked. Longer cookie durations give you a higher chance of earning a commission if the user makes a purchase within that time frame. Look for programs with longer cookie durations to maximize your earning potential.
4. Affiliate Support: Consider the level of support provided by the affiliate program. Look for programs that offer resources, training, and dedicated affiliate managers who can assist you in optimizing your affiliate marketing efforts.

In summary, there are various platforms for recommending affiliate products, including blogs, social media platforms like YouTube and Pinterest, and email marketing. Select affiliate programs with higher commission rates and consider product quality, relevance, cookie duration, and affiliate support factors. You can effectively earn commissions through affiliate marketing by choosing the right platforms and programs.

Advantages and Challenges with ShareASale

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing platform that connects affiliate marketers with a wide range of merchants and products to promote. It provides a marketplace where affiliates can find affiliate programs and join them to earn commissions by promoting the merchants’ products or services.

One of the critical factors to consider in affiliate marketing is the commission rate offered by affiliate programs. The commission rate is the percentage or fixed amount that affiliates earn for each successful referral or sale they generate. Commission rates matter because they directly impact the amount of money you can make as an affiliate marketer.

ShareASale offers a variety of commission rates depending on the merchants and their affiliate programs. The commission rates can vary from a few percent to a higher percentage of the sale. Choosing programs with higher commission rates is essential to maximize your earnings.

When comparing ShareASale to other programs like Amazon Associates, consider your affiliate marketing strategy’s specific needs and goals.

Advantages of ShareASale

1. Higher Commission Rates: ShareASale offers affiliate programs with higher commission rates compared to some other affiliate marketing platforms. This means that as an affiliate marketer, you have the potential to earn more money for each successful referral or sale you generate.
2. Top Brands and Merchants: ShareASale has a wide range of top brands and merchants in various industries. This gives you access to well-known and trusted companies to promote, which can increase the credibility and trustworthiness of your affiliate marketing efforts.
3. Reliable Payments: ShareASale is known for its reliable payment system. They have a monthly payment schedule and ensure timely payments to their affiliates. This can provide peace of mind and financial stability for affiliate marketers.
4. Affiliate Support: ShareASale offers dedicated affiliate support, including resources, training, and a responsive affiliate management team. This support can be valuable, especially for beginners or those looking to optimize their affiliate marketing strategies.

Challenges with ShareASale

1. Dashboard Navigation Difficulties: Some users have reported difficulty navigating the ShareASale dashboard. The interface may not be as intuitive as desired, and finding specific information or performing certain tasks is challenging. However, with time and familiarity, these navigation challenges can be overcome.
2. Program Approval: ShareASale requires affiliates to apply and get approved for each individual affiliate program they wish to join. While this ensures the quality of the programs, it can be time-consuming and may result in rejection if your website or promotional methods do not meet the specific requirements of certain programs.
3. Limited International Availability: ShareASale is primarily focused on the United States market, which means that some international affiliates may have limited options when it comes to promoting products or services outside of the U.S. However, they do have a growing number of international programs available.
4. Program Termination: ShareASale has a strict policy regarding compliance with its terms and conditions. An affiliate’s account and associated programs may be terminated if they violate these terms. Familiarize yourself with the rules and guidelines to avoid issues.

In summary, ShareASale offers several advantages for affiliate marketers, including higher commission rates, access to top brands, reliable payments, and affiliate support. However, some challenges are also to consider, such as navigation difficulties in the dashboard, the program approval process, limited international availability, and the risk of program termination. Understanding these advantages and challenges enables you to make informed decisions and effectively utilize ShareASale for your affiliate marketing efforts.

How to Sign Up with ShareASale

To sign up with ShareASale, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Visit the ShareASale website: Go to the ShareASale website (www.shareasale.com) and click on the “Affiliate Sign Up” button at the homepage’s top right corner.
2. Complete the application form: Fill out the application form with your personal information, including your name, address, and contact details. You will also need to choose a username and password for your ShareASale account.
3. Enter your website information: Provide information about your website or platform, including the URL, website category, and a brief description of your website’s content or niche. Make sure to describe your website to increase your chances of approval accurately.
4. Choose your promotional methods: Select how you plan to promote affiliate products. This can include promotional methods such as website/blog, email marketing, social media, or others. Be specific about your promotional strategies to help ShareASale understand how you will promote their merchants’ products.
5. Provide payment information: Select your preferred payment method from the available options. ShareASale offers payment via direct deposit, paper check, or Payoneer. Enter the necessary payment details based on your chosen payment method.
6. Connect your email address to your domain: To expedite the application process, it is recommended to use an email address associated with your domain. This helps ShareASale verify your ownership of the website and can increase the chances of approval.
7. Agree to the terms and conditions: Read and agree to ShareASale’s terms and conditions by checking the box provided. Make sure to review the terms and conditions thoroughly to understand the rules and guidelines you need to follow as an affiliate.
8. Submit your application: Once you have completed all the required fields and reviewed your information, click on the “Submit Application” button to submit your application to ShareASale for review.
9. Wait for approval: ShareASale will review your application and website to ensure it meets their guidelines. The approval process typically takes a few business days. You will receive an email notification regarding the status of your application.
10. Start exploring and promoting: Once your application is approved, you can log in to your ShareASale account and start exploring the available affiliate programs. Browse through the merchants and products, generate affiliate links, and start promoting them on your website or other platforms.

Remember to comply with ShareASale’s terms and conditions, as well as the specific rules of each affiliate program you join, to maintain a successful and compliant affiliate marketing business.

Exploring ShareASale’s Dashboard

To explore ShareASale’s dashboard and its features, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your ShareASale account: Visit the ShareASale website (www.shareasale.com) and log in using your username and password.
2. Dashboard Overview: Once logged in, you will be taken to the dashboard, which provides an overview of your account activity and performance. The dashboard is divided into sections, each offering valuable information and tools.
3. Activity Feed: The activity feed section displays recent updates and notifications related to your account. It includes information such as new program approvals, program changes, and important announcements from ShareASale.
4. Balance Snapshot: The balance snapshot section shows a summary of your current account balance, including pending earnings, approved earnings, and any available payouts. This section overviews your earnings and helps you track your affiliate income.
5. Merchant Summaries: The merchant summaries section provides a list of the merchants you are promoting as an affiliate. It displays key information about each merchant, such as commission rates, cookie duration, and program details. You can click on a merchant to access more detailed information about their program and available promotional materials.
6. Trending Merchants: The trending merchant’s section showcases ShareASale’s top-performing and popular merchants. This section can help you discover new merchants and products to promote based on their current popularity and performance.
7. Finding Products to Promote: You can use the “Merchant Search” feature on the dashboard to find products to promote. Enter relevant keywords or browse through different categories to find merchants that align with your niche or target audience. You can also use the “Quick Links” section to access popular categories and featured merchants.
8. Merchant Details: When you find a merchant you are interested in promoting, click on their name to access their program details. Here, you can find information about their commission structure, available promotional materials (such as banners or text links), and any specific guidelines or restrictions for promoting their products.
9. Generating Affiliate Links: You can create affiliate links within the ShareASale dashboard to promote a specific product or merchant. Select the desired merchant and product, and ShareASale will provide you with a unique affiliate link that tracks your referrals and earnings.
10. Reporting and Analytics: ShareASale also offers reporting and analytics tools to track your affiliate performance. You can access reports such as clicks, conversions, earnings, and more to analyze the effectiveness of your promotional efforts.

By exploring these sections and features within the ShareASale dashboard, you can effectively navigate the platform, find products to promote and track your affiliate earnings and performance.

Finding Products and Understanding Commissions

To find affiliate products on ShareASale, you can browse categories and check the power rank. Additionally, it’s important to understand how commissions work, what EPC (earnings per click) means, and how offering free trials can lead to higher conversions. Here’s a breakdown of each aspect:

Finding Affiliate Products

Browsing Categories: ShareASale offers a wide range of categories to help you find affiliate products that align with your niche or target audience. You can browse these categories to discover merchants and products relevant to your website or promotional channels. Click on the desired category to explore the available merchants and their affiliate programs.

Power Rank: ShareASale’s Power Rank is a ranking system highlighting the platform’s top-performing merchants. The Power Rank is based on various factors such as sales, conversion rates, and affiliate feedback. Checking the Power Rank can give you an idea of which merchants are currently performing well and may be worth considering for promotion.

Understanding Commissions

Commissions: Commissions are the earnings you receive as an affiliate when someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link. Each merchant on ShareASale sets their own commission rates, which can be a percentage of the sale amount or a fixed amount per sale. Before promoting a merchant, it’s important to review their commission structure to understand how much you can earn for each referral.

Earnings Per Click (EPC)

EPC (Earnings Per Click): EPC is a metric that measures the average earnings generated per click on your affiliate links. It indicates the effectiveness of your promotional efforts in terms of generating revenue. A higher EPC suggests that your audience is more likely to convert into customers, resulting in higher earnings for you as an affiliate. When browsing for affiliate products on ShareASale, you can often find the EPC data for each merchant, which can help you evaluate their potential profitability.

Free Trials and Conversions

Free Trials: Some merchants on ShareASale may offer free trials of their products or services as part of their affiliate program. Offering free trials can be an effective strategy to increase conversions. By allowing potential customers to try the product before committing to a purchase, you can build trust and reduce barriers to entry. This can result in higher conversion rates and, ultimately, higher earnings for you as an affiliate.

When exploring ShareASale for affiliate products, take the time to browse categories, check the Power Rank, review commission structures, consider EPC data, and evaluate the potential impact of free trials. By understanding these aspects, you can make informed decisions about the products you choose to promote and optimize your earnings as an affiliate marketer.

Joining Programs and Creating Links

Joining affiliate programs on ShareASale and creating links to incorporate into your blog or website is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Joining Affiliate Programs

• Sign up for a ShareASale account: If you haven’t already, visit the ShareASale website and sign up for an account. Fill out the necessary information and submit your application.
• Search for affiliate programs: Log in to your ShareASale dashboard once your account is approved. Use the “Merchant Search” feature to find affiliate programs that align with your niche or target audience. You can search by keywords or browse through different categories.
• Apply to affiliate programs: When you find a program you’re interested in, click on the merchant’s name to access their program details. Review the commission structure, promotional materials, and any specific guidelines. If you decide to join, click the “Join Program” button and follow the instructions to apply.
• Wait for approval: After applying, the merchant will review your application. Once approved, you’ll be able to access their affiliate resources and start promoting their products.

Creating Affiliate Links

• Generate affiliate links: In your ShareASale dashboard, navigate to the “Links” section. Click on “Get a Link/Banner” to generate your affiliate links. Select the desired merchant and product, and ShareASale will provide you with a unique affiliate link.
• Customize your links (optional): ShareASale allows you to customize your affiliate links to make them more user-friendly or trackable. Add sub-IDs, campaign names, or other parameters to the link.
• Shorten and cloak your links (optional): To make your affiliate links more manageable and professional-looking, you can use link shortening and cloaking services. These services create shorter, branded links that redirect to your affiliate links. I like Thirsty Affiliates, an affiliate marketing plugin for WordPress.
• Test your links: Before incorporating your affiliate links into your blog or website, test them to ensure they work correctly. Click on the links and verify that they redirect to the correct merchant’s website.

Incorporating Links into Your Blog or Website

• Text links: One way to incorporate affiliate links is by using text links within your blog posts or website content. You can hyperlink relevant keywords or phrases to your affiliate links. Make sure the links blend naturally within the content.
• Banners and display ads: ShareASale provides a variety of banners and display ads that you can place on your blog or website. These visually appealing graphics can attract attention and encourage clicks.
• Buttons: Using buttons instead of plain text links can help with conversions. Create eye-catching buttons that stand out on your website and lead visitors to your affiliate links. Experiment with different button designs and placements to optimize click-through rates.
• Product reviews and recommendations: If you have a blog or website that focuses on product reviews or recommendations, you can incorporate affiliate links within your content. Write honest and informative reviews, and include affiliate links to the products you are promoting.

Remember to disclose your affiliate relationships to comply with legal requirements and maintain transparency with your audience. You can include a disclosure statement on your website, blog posts, or wherever you feature affiliate links.

Following these steps, you can join affiliate programs on ShareASale, create affiliate links, and effectively incorporate them into your blog or website.

ShareASale Alternatives

Here is the list of alternatives to ShareASale. Feel free to join more than one network.

1. CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction)

CJ Affiliate is one of the largest and most well-known affiliate marketing networks. It offers a wide range of products and advertisers, making it a popular choice for affiliate marketers. CJ Affiliate provides advanced reporting and tracking tools and access to an extensive network of publishers.

2. Rakuten Advertising (formerly LinkShare)

Rakuten Advertising is another popular affiliate marketing platform that offers a wide range of products and advertisers. It provides various tools and features to help publishers and advertisers optimize their campaigns and track performance. Rakuten Advertising also offers a global network, allowing affiliates to promote products from around the world.

3. Awin (formerly Affiliate Window)

Awin is a global affiliate marketing network that connects advertisers with publishers. It offers a wide range of advertisers and products, making it suitable for various niches. Awin provides advanced reporting and tracking tools and access to promotional materials and support from a dedicated account manager.

4. Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is the affiliate marketing program of Amazon, one of the largest online retailers. It allows affiliates to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products. Amazon Associates is a popular choice for affiliate marketers with a vast selection of products and a trusted brand. It offers various advertising tools and reports to track performance.

5. Impact

Impact is a comprehensive affiliate marketing platform that provides a range of features for both advertisers and publishers. It offers advanced tracking and reporting capabilities and tools for managing partnerships and optimizing campaigns. Impact also provides access to an extensive network of publishers and advertisers.

6. FlexOffers

FlexOffers is an affiliate marketing network that connects publishers with advertisers across various industries. It offers a wide range of products and services to promote, along with advanced tracking and reporting tools. FlexOffers also provides a dedicated support team to assist affiliates in maximizing their earnings.

7. Pepperjam

Pepperjam is an affiliate marketing platform that focuses on performance-based marketing. It offers a range of tools and features to help affiliates drive conversions and optimize their campaigns. Pepperjam also provides access to a network of advertisers and offers personalized support to its affiliates.

8. Skimlinks

Skimlinks is a platform that helps publishers monetize their content through affiliate marketing. It automatically converts product links into affiliate links, allowing publishers to earn commissions from their recommendations. Skimlinks works with a wide range of advertisers and provides reporting and analytics tools to track performance.

9. AvantLink

AvantLink is an affiliate marketing network that specializes in outdoor and lifestyle products. It offers a range of tools and features to help affiliates promote products and track performance. AvantLink also provides access to a network of advertisers and offers dedicated support to its affiliates.

10. ClickBank

ClickBank is an affiliate marketing platform that primarily focuses on digital products, such as e-books and online courses. It offers a wide range of products to promote and provides advanced tracking and reporting tools. ClickBank also offers a marketplace where affiliates can find products to promote and earn commissions.

These are just a few of the many alternatives to ShareASale. Each platform has its own unique features and benefits, so research and choose the one that best suits your needs and goals as an affiliate marketer.

SEO Tips and Relationship Building

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plays a crucial role in promoting affiliate products and driving organic traffic to your blog or website. Here are some SEO tips to help you rank your content on Google and build a strong relationship with your affiliate manager:

Importance of SEO in Affiliate Marketing

• Target relevant keywords: Conduct keyword research to identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for. Incorporate these keywords into your content, including titles, headings, and body text.
• Optimize on-page elements: Optimize your content by including relevant meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt tags for images. These elements provide search engines with valuable information about your content and can improve your ranking.
• Create high-quality content: Focus on creating high-quality, informative, and engaging content that provides value to your audience. The more valuable and relevant your content is, the more likely it is to rank well in search engine results.
• Build backlinks: Backlinks from reputable and relevant websites can improve your authority and visibility in search engine rankings. Reach out to other bloggers or website owners in your niche to collaborate on guest posts or link exchanges.
• Optimize for mobile: With the increasing use of mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly is essential. Optimize your website’s design and functionality for a seamless user experience on all devices.

Ranking Content on Google

• Conduct keyword research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to identify keywords with high search volume and low competition. Target these keywords in your content to increase your chances of ranking.
• Create comprehensive and valuable content: Google values content that provides comprehensive information and addresses user intent. Aim to create in-depth, well-researched, and helpful content that answers your audience’s questions.
• Optimize your website’s technical aspects: Ensure that your website has a fast loading speed, is mobile-friendly, and has a clean and organized structure. Use SEO plugins or tools to optimize meta tags, headings, and URLs.
• Build high-quality backlinks: Earn backlinks from authoritative websites in your niche. Focus on creating valuable content that other websites will want to link to naturally. You can also reach out to relevant websites and offer guest posts or collaborations.
• Promote your content: Share your content on social media platforms, participate in relevant online communities, and engage with influencers in your niche. The more exposure your content gets, the more likely it is to attract backlinks and rank higher on Google.

Building a Relationship with Your Affiliate Manager

• Once you start making a consistent income from your affiliate marketing efforts, it’s beneficial to establish a relationship with your affiliate manager. Here’s a pro tip to get started:
• Reach out and introduce yourself: Send an email to your affiliate manager expressing your appreciation for the program and your commitment to promoting their products. Share your success and the strategies you’ve implemented to generate sales.
• Request additional resources: Ask your affiliate manager if there are any additional resources, such as exclusive deals, promotional materials, or advanced tracking options, that you can utilize to improve your performance.
• Seek guidance and advice: Don’t hesitate to ask your affiliate manager for guidance or advice on optimizing your campaigns or increasing conversions. They have valuable insights and can provide tips specific to their program.
• Provide feedback and suggestions: Share your feedback on the program, including any suggestions for improvement or new ideas for collaboration. Affiliate managers appreciate input from successful affiliates and may be more willing to support your efforts.

By implementing SEO best practices, ranking your content on Google, and building a relationship with your affiliate manager, you can increase your visibility, drive more organic traffic, and maximize your affiliate marketing success.

Conclusion

Wrap up the tutorial by reinforcing the importance of affiliate marketing and how ShareASale can be a valuable asset. Highlight the need to negotiate commission rates and continually learn and adapt in the affiliate marketing industry.

Hope this guide helps anyone looking to venture into affiliate marketing, particularly with ShareASale!