Affiliate marketing is not as new as many think. People receiving commissions from referrals is the main idea behind affiliate marketing. It has decades of history and the first signs of it were seen hundreds of years ago. Today, however, affiliate business has changed a lot and dozens of handbooks won’t be enough to cover entirely the benefits, limitations, tools, platforms, techniques, and other elements of affiliate marketing.
This article is dedicated to exploring the best platforms for affiliate marketing in 2024. Here, we intend to discover, evaluate, and compare different solutions for affiliate marketers. We compare features, design, pricing, scope, and many other important details that marketers take into account when choosing a platform.
Best Platforms for Affiliate Marketing
Some platforms emerged as industry leaders. They managed to unite all necessary tools and functions in a single platform. Of course, you can do affiliate marketing without any special tools, such as the Pinterest affiliate program, but these solutions are often top choices for marketers cause they can perform all marketing initiatives and activities in a single space. It is one of the primary factors that we based our research on and here are our findings for the top 5 platforms for affiliate marketing:
ShareASale
ShareASale is a well-known platform for marketers. It accounts for more than 24 years of excellent reputation on the market. Despite being relatively old, ShareASale manages to keep up with the trends and dynamic markets. Marketers can choose from more than 4000 merchant programs. ShareASale’s portfolio is one of many reasons why businesses choose this platform for their affiliate marketing campaigns.
The only complaint we found on the internet regarding ShareASale is its customer service. They do have an FAQ section that tries to cover as many questions as possible. But, if you have another question not listed on their website you may spend ages finding the answer for it. The customer service of ShareASale is not the fastest support we have encountered. You may expect to wait from 3 to 7 working days to get a response.
Rakuten
We have seen many “top 5” lists of best platforms for affiliate marketing. And guess what, Rakuten is always in the top 2. There are multiple reasons why people favor Rakuten against its competitors:
- A massive product selection: Rakuten has over 1.5 million products from which to choose. This is ten times more than the average number of products with the competing platforms.
- Detailed performance tracking: You can track your sales and commission payments in real time. It also is the rarest feature with the competition – competitors usually provide data that is at least 24 hours old.
- Support system: in contrast to ShareASale, Rakuten is known for its customer service excellence. Often, you get answers to your queries and questions immediately and no later than 48 hours after sending an email.
CJ Affiliate
CJ Affiliate is another affiliate marketing platform that has more than 20 years as an industry leader. The platform has one of the biggest communities of marketers. But one thing that clients love most about CJ Affiliate is the platform’s ease of use. The platform comes with one of the most user-friendly interfaces which allows beginner marketers and affiliate specialists to quickly understand all parts of the website.
CJ Affiliate offers a free account. As soon as you register on the platform you can start promoting the products right away. It comes with a big selection of products and also a considerable amount of tools and resources for promotion. The customer service is more or less responsive with an average response time not exceeding 4 working days.
Impact Radius
Impact Radius is another popular affiliate network. Those businesses that need complex functions and tools for day-to-day operations prefer Impact Radius. Similar to Rakuten, Impact Radius also provides real-time reporting and up-to-date performance metrics. The portfolio diversity is another advantage of the platform with an extensive list of products, services, and companies.
What makes this affiliate network unique is its “Impact Academy” website section. This section is full of courses to help affiliates learn about their industry and improve their marketing skills. Impact Radius also serves as a community for marketing specialists. The users can join relevant groups or forums to network with other like-minded professionals and exchange advice and tips.
On top of that, Impact Radius’s search feature and helpful customer support are the benefits that make it one of the top affiliate networks available. It also lets affiliates choose from a range of rewards programs, such as signup bonuses and referral incentives.
AvantLink
AvantLink is a relatively new service. Compared to its competitors, the platform does not have an impressive experience. However, its reputation is good enough for marketers to consider AvantLink as one of their top choices. AvantLink comes with one of the most refined systems for reporting, tracking, and performance analysis. You can monitor your program progress, track clicks, view commissions, and measure ROI easily.
There are many unique features on AvanatLink that you may not find with any other competitor. For example, the platform offers an advanced set of tools, such as a keyword search that can give you insights on what’s trending in the market. Or, you can use AvantLink’s automated rules to block low-performing publishers. Additionally, you can provide bonuses and reward campaigns to promote affiliates more successfully.
AvantLink is integrated with multiple third-party services such as email service providers, analytics services, and content management systems. This helps you create a seamless sales process for your customers and ensures that you get the most out of your affiliate program.
How to Get Started in Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest jobs people can get without leaving their homes. 3 out of 10 students try affiliate marketing at least once. Many people succeed in working in affiliate marketing and generate passive income for the rest of their lives. But it is very different for professional career seekers in the affiliate world. If you want to start a career in affiliate marketing, here are the steps you should follow:
- Choose a niche: Select a product or service that you are knowledgeable about and passionate about. This will make it easier for you to write content and promote products.
- Find affiliate programs: Look for affiliate programs that align with your niche and research the commission structure and cookie duration offered by each program.
- Build your platform: Choose a platform to promote your affiliate products, such as a blog, YouTube channel, or social media accounts.
- Create content: Write articles, blog posts, or create videos to promote your affiliate products. Don’t copy-paste content from other creators. You can observe competitors for inspiration but create unique and authentic content for your business.
- Drive traffic: use different channels for driving traffic to your website or affiliate platform. You can use SEO for organic traffic, social media, paid advertising, or other means.
- Track and analyze your results: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your affiliate marketing efforts, including affiliate marketing ROI, and make adjustments as needed.
- Network with other affiliates: Join affiliate marketing communities and attend events to network with other affiliates. It will help you understand market trends better and also get inspiration from your colleagues and competitors.
FAQs
What is the best email platform for affiliate marketing?
The best email platform for affiliate marketing is the one that allows you to track, segment, and personalize your emails for maximum effectiveness. Some popular platforms include Mailchimp, GetResponse, ConvertKit, and AWeber. Each of them have powerful features to help you maximize the success of your affiliate marketing campaigns.
What is the highest paying affiliate program?
The highest paying affiliate program will depend on your niche and the type of product or service you are promoting. However, some of the highest paying affiliate programs include Amazon Associates, ShareASale, eBay Partner Network, ClickBank, Commission Junction, and Rakuten Marketing.
Do affiliates get paid monthly?
Yes, affiliates typically get monthly payments. Usually made on the same day each month. Or, at least, within a certain period of time after the end of the month. The exact payment schedule will depend on the affiliate program you are working with.
Conclusion
There are numerous platforms available for affiliate marketing, each with its own unique benefits and challenges. Choosing the right one is crucial for the success of your affiliate marketing efforts. However, everything will depend on your niche, target audience, and marketing goals. Whatever you choose to promote products through. Be it your blog, social media accounts, email marketing, video marketing, or comparison websites. The key to success is to be strategic, consistent, and focused on providing value to your audience. Thanks for reading this article.
