How to Choose Affiliate Products and Services

An affiliate product or service is an item that you promote to consumers in exchange for a commission when the consumer clicks through your affiliate link and ultimately purchases the product. You typically have to be approved to join an affiliate program by the merchant, and then you’ll receive a unique link or code that you can place on your website or social media channels. You can use this to track conversions to determine how effective your marketing campaign is.

When you choose an affiliate product or service, it’s important that it fits your niche and the audience you hope to attract. Products that are image-heavy, like home decor or clothing, may be well-suited for Instagram, while more in-depth purchases, such as software or a gym membership, could be better suited for blogs and YouTube videos.

Some affiliates focus on reviewing a specific line of products to their audience, leveraging their rapport with the target market and stance as an expert in the field. This can be done with physical products, digital software or even services booked online, such as ride-sharing or hotel rooms. Creating helpful, informative and detailed content helps build trust with your audience and also improves search engine optimization.

For example, a review of a new baking pan can include tips for proper care and use as well as a side-by-side comparison of similar products, so the buyer has all the information they need before making a purchase. This balances the affiliate’s recommendation and increases the chances of a sale.

Another way to encourage a buy is to Affiliate products and services offer a bonus item when someone clicks through your affiliate link and makes a purchase. This can be a simple free gift, like a discount on a subscription to a newsletter, or a more significant incentive, like a one-on-one copywriting session with a business coach. For example, business coach Marie Forleo offers a free copywriting lesson to anyone who signs up for her popular B-School course through her affiliate link.

Pay-per-sale (PPL) is a common payout model for affiliate programs and the most typical for ecommerce sales. It’s often based on the last-click marketing attribution model, wherein the affiliate who receives the final click before a conversion earns 100% of the commission. Other payment structures, such as pay-per-lead (PPL) and tiered commissions, are also available, but are less common.

Some affiliates connect with a range of brand partners within an industry, creating a network of complementary affiliate content. This strategy can be useful for promoting seasonal or timely products. For example, fitness equipment may be in high demand leading up to a big fitness event, or superhero costumes might spike in popularity around Halloween. In some cases, an affiliate will be able to promote a single product to multiple audiences, using email segmentation and customized content to optimize the results. In this case, each audience member will receive a personalized message with an affiliate link that’s tailored to their unique interests and needs.