Best Affiliate Marketing Programs and Why They Work

With customer acquisition costs aiming for the sky, ecommerce businesses have been struggling to maintain their profit margin and grow simultaneously. They're stuck in a never-ending cycle of spending more and getting more customers or spending less and getting fewer customers every day! 

Paid ads aren't the solution to every problem, especially if you don't have enough capital to invest, test, analyze, and then determine which marketing campaigns are working.

Brands have been looking for and testing out ways to bridge the gap and let them grow sustainably at a fast pace. One of the solutions that has worked best for many of them is launching affiliate marketing programs.

In this blog, we'll explore the reasons behind this shift, using examples from successful businesses to show you how you can implement them and increase your conversion rate!

Why is affiliate marketing beneficial for ecommerce businesses?

Before we get into the best affiliate marketing programs for ecommerce or online businesses, let’s first understand how they will benefit you and help you grow without increasing your expenses drastically. Here are some pointers:

• Expanded reach: It's like having a team of brand ambassadors working around the clock to spread the word about your business.
• Cost-effective marketing: Unlike traditional advertising, which requires upfront payment and is not guaranteed to produce results, affiliate marketing is performance-based. You only pay when you achieve a sale.
• Targeted audience engagement: This means your products are being showcased to people who are already interested in what you're selling.
• Diverse promotional channels: This multi-channel approach increases your visibility and allows customers to engage with your brand in different ways.

Types of affiliate marketing programs

Now while affiliate marketing programs offer a range of benefits, you need to first decide on the type of program that you’ll be implementing. Ideally, there are two types of affiliate marketing programs:

Customer affiliates

Have you ever considered turning your happy customers into your biggest cheerleaders? 

That's exactly what customer affiliate programs do. These programs use word-of-mouth marketing by incentivizing your existing customers to spread the word about your products.

Let's say you run an online store selling eco-friendly home products. Sarah, one of your loyal customers, loves your bamboo toothbrushes. You offer her a unique referral link that she can share with her friends and family. Every time someone makes a purchase using her link, Sarah earns a commission. It's a win-win – Sarah makes some extra cash in the form of affiliate income, and you gain new customers who trust Sarah's recommendation.

When to choose customer affiliate programs?

This approach works wonders if you have a product people love discussing. It's also perfect for businesses with a strong community feel or those offering products that solve specific problems.

Influencers

Unlike customer affiliates, where you partner with your customers, influencer affiliate programs involve partnering with social media influencers or web creators with a personal brand in your industry or an audience that overlaps with your target market.

Suppose you're running an online fitness equipment retail store. You could partner with popular fitness vloggers with a YouTube channel or complementary businesses like nutrition supplement companies. These affiliates would promote your products to their audience with social media posts, blog posts, review sites, or any other form of content and earn a commission on any resulting sales.

When to choose business affiliate programs?

This strategy is ideal for rapidly expanding your reach or tapping into new markets. It's particularly effective if you're looking to build credibility in your industry.

6 Best affiliate marketing program

Whether you're passionate about wellness, beauty, or fashion, there's something here for everyone.

However, when you think of successful affiliate marketing programs, most big brands come to mind, such as the Shopify affiliate program, eBay partner network, Amazon associates program, and Amazon affiliate program.

But it's difficult to follow the same strategies considering their magnitude and budget.

Today let's explore some best affiliate programs in the ecommerce space that could be your ticket to earning some extra cash while promoting products you believe in.

My Obvi

Here's why their affiliate program is one of the best in this niche: 

• Affiliates earn a whopping 30% commission on every sale they generate. With their range of popular products, that can add up fast!
• Social Snowball sends automated emails through Obvi's ESP to remind you of your affiliate code and link. This keeps the affiliate program on top of their mind, encouraging ongoing engagement.
• Social Snowball's Safelinks feature generates unique single-use coupon codes for every customer who clicks on an affiliate's link and safeguards them from code leaks.

And if you’re still not convinced why My Obvi’s affiliate program is among the best, here are some numbers:

• They acquired new customers for a fraction of the cost of traditional paid ads. We're talking a $7 cost per acquisition (CPA)—that's 357% cheaper than their usual paid advertising.
• After just one day, they saw a 5x return on investment (ROI). Yes, you read that right - one day!
• They converted 84,000 customers into affiliates, who are spreading the word about My Obvi products and generating revenue almost immediately.

What we find particularly appealing about My Obvi is its modern, approachable branding. This could be a perfect fit if you've got an audience interested in health and wellness but feel intimidated by the typical "gym bro" aesthetic of many supplement brands. Plus, imagine how satisfying it would be to help your followers find supplements that actually make sense to them!

Fanjoy

Now, here's something for all you pop culture enthusiasts out there. Fanjoy is not your average merch company - they specialize in creating unique, limited-edition products in collaboration with influencers and celebrities. Here's what makes their affiliate program stand out:

• Fanjoy provides a comprehensive dashboard where affiliates can track their performance in real time. This includes clicks, conversions, and earnings data, allowing them to fine-tune their promotional strategies effectively.
• They give generous cash commissions on every sale generated by an affiliate.
• They enabled Social Snowball's "Turn customers into affiliates" feature and started onboarding everyone as an affiliate the moment they purchased from the brand. This helped them immediately offer affiliate codes to happy customers, which they can share with friends and family. 

‍

Here are the results they got: 

• 12X return on investment
• $100,000+ new incremental revenue only within 4 months of launching the program

SnapPad

Now, we've got something a bit different. SnapPad might seem niche at first glance - they make permanent jack pads for RVs. Here are the strategies they use to improve the effectiveness of their programs:

• RV SnapPad has leveraged Social Snowball's seamless Shopify integration to create a user-friendly affiliate experience. This means:some text
  • Easy onboarding for new affiliates
  • Automatic affiliate link and discount code generation post-purchase
  • Streamlined tracking of sales and commissions
• By automatically offering affiliate opportunities post-purchase, they tap into the enthusiasm of satisfied customers. This strategy capitalizes on genuine word-of-mouth marketing, creating a win-win situation for both RV SnapPad and its affiliates.
• Social Snowball offers a wide variety of payout options, including Venmo and bank transfers. This flexibility means you can choose the best payout method for you, making it easier than ever to access your hard-earned commissions.

She's Birdie

Ever heard of She's Birdie? If not, you're in for a treat. This brand is all about empowering women through personal safety devices. Here's why their affiliate program might be right up your alley:

• She's Birdie has created a movement to make the world safer for women, in turn building a community of people who believe in their cause and are ready to spread the word about the brand.
• They offer a 10% commission on every sale generated through their affiliates, giving their followers another reason to discuss them.
• By joining this program, affiliates earn money while contributing to a cause that donates 5% of its profits to organizations working towards women's safety. Talk about a win-win!

SolaWave

SolaWave offers cutting-edge skin care devices that use red light therapy and microcurrent technology. Here's what makes their affiliate program stand out:

• They offer a 3.2% commission per sale. While it may seem lower than She's Birdie or other programs on the list, these are higher-priced items, so the brand is offering attractive commissions to motivate its affiliates and get more sales.
• The most unique strategy they have implemented is their 30-day cookie duration, which gives people a good window for earning commissions on referred sales. Taking steps like this builds a stronger relationship between your affiliate network and your brand, which leads to better results.
• The brand creates and provides affiliates with plenty of resources to help promote their products effectively. This not only helps them ensure the materials are on point but also helps them stay on top of their affiliates' minds without being pushy.

OneWith Swim

Last but certainly not least, we have OneWith Swim, which offers swimsuits that "fit like underwear" (their words, not ours!). Their affiliate program stands out for a few reasons:

• Their sign-up process is incredibly streamlined—affiliates are onboarded in mere seconds, making it one of the most user-friendly programs available.
• Their social media widgets make sharing affiliate codes exceptionally easy, seamlessly integrating promotions into onboarding.
• They're serious about maintaining the integrity of their brand. That means no sharing codes on coupon sites or engaging in self-purchases which helps prevent any code leaks or scams and, therefore, losses.
• They focus on partnering with influencers with a strong social media presence, especially in the fashion or body positivity space, as that's their niche.

What do they all have in common?

While each of these affiliate programs might have its unique flavors, they all share some core components. If you're an affiliate marketer, you should take note of these:

Sign up page

Your sign-up or landing page is often the first real interaction potential affiliates have with your program. It's your chance to wow them and get them excited about partnering with you. Here's how to nail it:

• Keep it simple: Nobody likes a tedious affiliate website with a complicated sign-up process. Streamline your form to collect only essential information.
• Highlight the benefits: Clearly spell out what's in it for them—commission rates, unique perks, support—lay it all out.
• Add a personal touch: Consider including your team's welcome video or message. It adds a human element and can really set you apart.

For instance, SolaWave nails all of these pointers with their sign-up page:

Thank you page

You've got a new affiliate on board - awesome! But don't stop there. A well-crafted thank you page can turn a sign-up into an engaged, active affiliate. It's your chance to make them feel valued and supported from day one. Here's how you can make this page count:

• Provide next steps: Guide your new affiliates through the next steps. Maybe they need to access marketing materials or set up their first campaign.
• Offer resources: Include links to your affiliate handbook, FAQs, promotional materials, or video tutorials. The more equipped they are, the sooner they can start promoting.
• Set expectations: Let them know when they'll hear from you next or how to contact you if they need help.

Payout process

Let's face it - affiliates are in it for the rewards. This means a clear, reliable payout process is important to motivate them. Also, a smooth payout process isn't just about transferring money - it's about building trust and reliability with your affiliates. So, here's how to get it right:

• Be transparent: Clearly communicate your payment threshold, schedule, and methods. No surprises mean happy affiliates.
• Offer options: Different affiliates might prefer different payout methods, such as direct deposits, gift cards, or cash coupons. The more flexibility you can offer, the better.
• Stay punctual: Late payments are a surefire way to lose trust. Set up a system that ensures timely payouts every time.

Reward type

Commission structures can make or break your affiliate program. It's not just about how much you pay but how you structure those rewards. The key is to create a reward structure that aligns with your business goals while providing real value to your affiliates. Here's how you can do this:

• Mix it up: Consider combining flat rates and percentage-based commissions. This can accommodate different types of products and affiliates.
• Incentivize performance: Tiered commission rates that increase with sales volume can really motivate your top performers.
• Think beyond cash: Exclusive discounts, early access to new products, or even co-branding opportunities can be powerful motivators.

Communication 

Last but definitely not least - communication and customer service are the glue that holds your affiliate program or any digital marketing campaign together. Regular, meaningful communication can dramatically boost engagement and performance regardless of your product category. Here's how to ace it:

• Set a schedule: Send weekly or monthly newsletters or updates to keep your program top-of-mind for affiliates.
• Personalize when possible: Segment your affiliates and tailor your communications. Top performers might appreciate different info than newcomers.
• Be responsive: Quick, helpful responses to queries can make a world of difference. Consider setting up a dedicated support channel for affiliates.
• Email marketing: Use emails to communicate with your affiliate network and send them resources, online courses, and affiliate marketing tips so that they can bring you more paying customers.

How to level up your affiliate program?

If you haven't already, it's time to seriously consider launching an affiliate campaign and level up your marketing efforts. Why? Because it's like having an army of passionate advocates acting as lead magnets, spreading the word about your brand and attracting customers.

When it comes to setting up and managing your program, Social Snowball is a fantastic option. They make it easy for affiliate managers and small businesses to launch an affiliate marketing website, recruit affiliates, track performance, and automate payments so they can focus on growing their business.

But here's where things get really exciting. Social Snowball offers an innovative solution to secure your affiliate programs – Safelinks. These are like your regular affiliate links but with a twist. Every time a customer clicks on a Safelink, they get a unique, single-use discount code generated just for them.

It's like giving each of your customers a VIP pass! This approach personalizes the shopping experience and eliminates the headache of coupon fraud and attribution errors. So, ready to take your affiliate program to the next level? Request a demo today!

‍