To grow sustainably, ecommerce businesses need to leverage channels that allow them to bring in new revenue without high spending. Affiliate marketing programs have proven effective at acquiring new customers with high lifetime value, making it a cost-effective acquisition channel while increasing retention. 

With the right tools, incentives, and effective marketing campaigns, leading ecommerce brands have been able to successfully set up affiliate programs that keep affiliates motivated, drive word-of-mouth marketing, and increase revenue.

In this blog, we'll explore the six best affiliate programs from successful ecommerce businesses, to show you how you can implement their strategies and increase your conversion rate! 

Why is affiliate marketing beneficial for ecommerce businesses?

Whether you’re in fashion, selling supplements, or even creating digital products, affiliate marketing programs have been proven to benefit all kinds of ecommerce brands, helping you grow without drastically increasing your expenses. Here’s how:

• Unlike paid ads, which require upfront payment and are not guaranteed to produce any results, affiliate marketing is performance-based. You only pay when you get a sale, which makes it a risk-free and cost-effective solution for any small business looking to scale.
• Affiliates recommend your products to relevant shoppers, helping your brand reach people who are already interested in similar product categories and more likely to buy.
• Affiliates with large followings (like influencers, bloggers, and content creation freelancers) increase your visibility among new audiences that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

Read more about the benefits of affiliate marketing.

6 Best examples of affiliate marketing programs

When you think of successful affiliate marketing programs, most big brand affiliate programs such as eBay Partner Network, Etsy Affiliate, Amazon Associates Program, and Amazon Affiliate Program come to mind.

But for DTC brands, programs by large marketplaces are not replicable, considering the magnitude, inventory structure,  and budget of these brands.  

So, let's take a look at the six best affiliate programs for ecommerce brands whose strategies you can effectively implement for your ecommerce brand.

1. My Obvi

MyObvi is a health and wellness brand selling supplements for skin and weight loss. 

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

• Affiliates earn a high commission of 30% on every sale they generate. 
• They send automated emails through Obvi's email marketing tool to remind their affiliates of their affiliate/referral links and codes, boosting content creation. This keeps the program on top of their mind, encouraging ongoing engagement.
• They use Safelinks (unique single-use coupon codes) so that every customer who clicks on an affiliate's link receives a unique code, avoiding fraud.

With their affiliate program, they were able to acquire new customers for a fraction of the cost of traditional paid ads. At a $7 cost per acquisition (CPA), this was 357% cheaper than their usual paid advertising. Additionally, the brand turned 84K+ of its customers into affiliates to spread the word about its range of products and generate revenue with zero upfront costs.

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Read the full case study on how the brand tackled acquisition challenges with an affiliate program that created an additional revenue stream for them.

2. SnapPad

SnapPad makes permanent jack pads for RVs. They run one of the strongest ecommerce affiliate programs. Here are the strategies the brand uses to optimize their program and improve effectiveness:

• Set up a page explaining their affiliate program and the step-by-step process of getting started.
• Simplified the affiliate's onboarding process.
• Automated affiliate link and discount code creation post-purchase.
• Streamlined tracking of sales and commissions.

3. She's Birdie

She's Birdie empowers women through personal safety devices. Here's why their affiliate marketing program is so successful:

• The brand already has a large and dedicated community that believes in its cause and is eager 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 share the brand.
• By joining this program, affiliates earn passive income while contributing to a cause that donates 5% of its profits to organizations working towards women's safety. Talk about a win-win!

4. Fanjoy

Fanjoy specializes 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 automatically onboard their customers as affiliates right after purchase and immediately share affiliate codes.. 

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As a result, they generated $100K+ new incremental revenue within just 4 months of launching the program. Read the case study to learn more about their strategy. 

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5. 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 what other programs offer, the brand’s product and order values are high AOV. So, affiliates end up earning comparable commission amounts as other affiliate programs.
• They have a 30-day cookie duration, which gives people a larger window for earning commissions on referred sales. This helps build a stronger relationship between the brand and their affiliate network, which leads to better results.
• They provide affiliates with high-quality resources to help promote their products effectively. These marketing materials help affiliates create high-converting content and stay consistent in their messaging.

6. OneWith

OneWith offers swimsuits that "fit like underwear", offering high comfort. Their affiliate program stands out for a few reasons:

• Their sign-up process is streamlined and user-friendly. Affiliates are onboarded in seconds without any lengthy steps, reducing friction.
• The brand embeds social media widgets on the affiliate sign-up page, which makes sharing affiliate codes exceptionally easy.
• They focus on partnering with influencers with a strong social media presence within the fashion or body positivity space. Having a strong focus on their niche helps the brand get in front of the right people.

What features do the best affiliate marketing programs have in common?

While each of these affiliate programs might have its unique features, they all share some core components. If you want to launch or improve your affiliate partner program, these best practices can help increase your ROI significantly: 

Easy signup page

Your sign-up or landing page is often the first real interaction that potential affiliates (customers, influencers, bloggers, content creators) have with your program. It's your chance to get them excited about partnering with you. Here's how to nail it:

• Keep it simple: Nobody likes a tedious and complicated sign-up process. Streamline your form to collect only essential information.
• Highlight the benefits: Mention what's in it for them—commission rates, unique perks, and support—to entice them to sign up.
• Add a personal touch: Consider including your team's welcome video or message. It adds a human touch and can set you apart.
• Showcase achievements from top affiliates: To show them their earning potential from your program, show how much your top affiliates earned from you. 
• Turn customers into affiliates automatically: Affiliate marketing tools like Social Snowball integrate with your ecommerce platform, allowing you to turn customers into affiliates as soon as they place an order. This allows you to tap into people who enjoy your products, turning them into advocates for the brand.

Thank you page

Now that you have a system to onboard new affiliates easily, it’s important to maintain a positive experience for them. 

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 more impactful:

• Provide next steps: Guide your new affiliates through the next steps to help them start earning. 
• Allow instant sharing: Use the thank you page to include the affiliate link that they can instantly share within their networks or on social media.
• Offer resources: Include FAQs, promotional materials, and video tutorials. Not every affiliate is a content creator, so equip them with the teachable resources they need.
• Set expectations: Let them know how they can access specific information (like their payouts) or how to contact you if they need help.

Reward type

Commission structures can make or break your affiliate program. The key is to create a reward structure that helps you maintain your profit margins while also motivating your affiliates to keep promoting your brand. 

Commonly, commission rates range from 5% to 30% of the sale value. The exact rate varies based on industry, product type and value, and competition.

A winning strategy for affiliate programs is to implement a tiered reward structure that increases based on the affiliate's performance. For example, here’s what a tiered program could look like:

Apart from this, exclusive discounts, early access to new products, or even co-branding opportunities (with your highest-performing affiliate) can be powerful motivators.

Pro Tip: If you sell subscription-based products, consider offering a recurring commission instead of a one-time payout. This way, affiliates continue to make money online for as long as their referred customer stays subscribed. 

Payout process

A clear, reliable payout process is key to keeping affiliates motivated. Here’s how to get it right:

• Be transparent: Communicate your payment threshold, schedule, and methods. No surprises mean happy affiliates.
• Offer multiple payout 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. 

Social Snowball lets you offer 700+ ways for your affiliates to redeem rewards, including direct bank transfers, PayPal, Venmo, gift cards, store credit, and more. This gives affiliates multiple options to choose from based on their preferences.

Communication 

Regular, meaningful communication can dramatically boost engagement and performance. Use your SMS or email marketing platform to set up automated updates. Here's how you can ace it:

• Send weekly or monthly email or SMS updates to keep your program top-of-mind for affiliates.
• Segment your affiliates and tailor your communications accordingly. Top performers will require different messages as compared to beginners or newcomers. 
• Quick, helpful responses to common queries can make a huge difference. Consider setting up a dedicated support channel for affiliates.
• Create online courses or send resources, templates, and affiliate marketing tips to your affiliates to help them get you more sales.

Ready to set up a high-converting affiliate program?

Paid ads are costly, unpredictable, and often deliver diminishing returns. Instead, affiliate marketing has emerged as a sustainable and high-ROI digital marketing strategy that allows entrepreneurs to scale their ecommerce business without increasing upfront costs.

If you’re ready to build a successful affiliate program, automation is key to making it scalable and efficient. An affiliate marketing software like Social Snowball can help you set up, manage, and scale effortlessly. 

From automated onboarding to fraud prevention, Shopify brands have been able to launch and run their affiliate marketing program effectively to acquire new customers and increase conversions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I prevent coupon fraud and code leaks in my affiliate program?

Affiliate fraud occurs when discount codes are leaked on coupon sites or misused by unauthorized users. Online retailers setting up affiliate programs need to safeguard their codes to ensure they don’t lose revenue. 

To prevent this, use unique, single-use discount codes like Safelinks, monitor suspicious activity, and set clear rules on code usage.

What is the best tool for managing an affiliate program?

Running an affiliate program involves multiple moving parts—onboarding affiliates, tracking sales, managing commissions, and preventing fraud. You need a reliable and easy-to-use affiliate manager tool such as Social Snowball that automates these tasks while creating a seamless experience for your affiliates. 

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Social Snowball helps you with:

• Automating affiliate onboarding, tracking, and payouts, reducing manual work.
• Providing metrics in real-time so affiliates always have visibility into their performance.
• Preventing coupon fraud and unauthorized code leaks with Safelinks.
• Offering automated commission payments, ensuring affiliates get paid on time.

How can I find affiliates?

You can find affiliates for your program in a few ways:

• Turn customers into affiliates since they are already interested in your brand and sure to recommend your products to others.
• Identify influencers and bloggers who are authorities in your industry, creating content for an audience that is likely to be interested in your brand. Reach out to them, telling them about the incentives of joining your program.
• Use affiliate marketplaces like ClickBank, ShareASale, Commission Junction (CJ Affiliate), and Rakuten to promote your program.

Read more about the different ways you can find affiliates for your ecommerce brand’s affiliate program.

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