Affiliate programs are partnerships between companies and people or businesses, through which affiliates promote the products or services of the company and earn a commission for each sale or action generated through their unique affiliate link. At With Grace and Gold, for example, we offer an affiliate program through which our affiliates earn 30% or $270 from every Showit template sale they generate through their unique affiliate link. 

For small business owners who are seeking new ways to generate revenue, who serve as educators in their field, or who aim to serve their audience in unique, educational, or encouraging ways, affiliate programs can make a meaningful difference in their revenue, credibility, and overall success. That’s why, today, we’re excited to share 5 ways to earn more from affiliate programs – creative ways you can make the most of the affiliate programs you are a part of, or seek out affiliate programs aligned with your business goals. 

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5 Ways to Earn More from Affiliate Programs

Welcome to Episode 169 of the Brand It, Build It Podcast: 5 Ways to Earn More from Affiliate Programs! 

For small business owners who are seeking new ways to generate revenue, or who serve as educators or mentors in their field through social media, blog content creation, or educational courses, affiliate programs can make a meaningful difference. So, how should you determine which affiliate programs to be part of?

• First, we recommend choosing affiliate programs that complement and don’t compete with your business. For small business owners in particular, it’s likely we use a variety of resources within our businesses – resources for project management, social media marketing, and more – which are likely to offer affiliate programs or referral programs. 
• We recommend choosing affiliate programs that allow meaningful earning potential. While one strategy is to sign up for as many affiliate programs as possible, another strategy to consider is choosing a curated number of affiliate programs you can really commit to marketing – such as those which offer meaningful earning potential or those that feel most authentic and aligned with your own business and brand. 
• Lastly, we recommend choosing affiliate programs from companies whose values align with your values. 

So, how do you find these affiliate programs? We recommend doing a Google search for the company you’d like to be an affiliate for, followed by the words ‘affiliate program’ or ‘referral program.’ When you do, you’ll likely discover many companies offer affiliate programs and referral programs for you to participate in. 

Now, let’s explore the ways you can earn more from your affiliate programs:

1. Provide exclusive bonuses or discounts. One effective way to incentivize your audience to make a purchase through your affiliate links is by offering exclusive bonuses or discounts. Negotiate with the companies you’re affiliated with to provide special offers or bonuses that are unique to your audience. These exclusive perks can make your audience feel valued and give them an extra reason to choose your affiliate recommendations over other options.
2. Create high-quality, engaging blog content. Create valuable and engaging blog content that resonates with, educates, encourages, or serves your audience in a meaningful way. The more your content connects with and serves your audience, the more likely they are to trust your recommendations and make a purchase through your affiliate link.
3. Incorporate affiliate links in a genuine, purpose-driven way. Rather than overwhelming your audience with affiliate links, be strategic in how you use your affiliate links. Choose natural and seamless ways to share your affiliate recommendations. For example, you can mention the products or services within your blog posts when relevant to the topic at-hand. By integrating your affiliate links organically, you’ll avoid coming across as overly promotional and increase the likelihood of generating clicks and conversions.
4. Pin your blog content on Pinterest. Create a variety of Pinterest-friendly graphics that point Pinterest users to your unique blog content. When you do, you can grow your website traffic, reach new audiences, and lead more readers toward your content, and therefore, your affiliate link.
5. Create a resource library or a discount code page within your website. Perhaps you can create a resource that continuously lives on your website and shares your affiliate links with your audience. If you serve as an educator,  a mentor – or you’re often asked for the resources you recommend most, by creating a resource library you can continuously refer your audience to can be a beneficial way to point your audience toward your affiliate links.
6. Continuously analyze and optimize your affiliate marketing efforts. Keep a close eye on the performance of your affiliate campaigns and make data-driven decisions to optimize your results. Track metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and average order values. Identify which products or promotions are performing well and which ones may need adjustment. By regularly reviewing and refining your strategies, you can maximize your earnings and make the most out of your affiliate partnerships.

Today, we explored what affiliate programs are, how to be discerning about the affiliate programs you choose to participate in, and 5 ways to earn more from the affiliate programs you do participate in. Within our Show Notes, we’ve included a link to With Grace and Gold’s affiliate program, just in case it’s a program you’d like to learn more about! Thanks for tuning in! 

About Brand It, Build It Podcast, Hosted by Kelly Zugay

Hosted by Kelly Zugay, co-founder of With Grace and Gold, The Brand It, Build It Podcast is a leading small business marketing podcast for small business owners, creatives, and founders. Weekly, brief, actionable episodes will equip you to build a successful, sustainable small business. Since 2014, With Grace and Gold has provided award-winning custom brand and Showit web design and completely customizable Showit website templates for small businesses worldwide.