“The Ultimate Guide to Shareasale: How to Make Money with the Popular Affiliate Marketing Network” provides a comprehensive overview of Shareasale, one of the largest affiliate networks in the US. This article delves into how Shareasale works, including the steps to create an account and find affiliate programs to join. It also covers the potential for making money through referral links and highlights the pros and cons of using Shareasale. With over 25,000 merchants and 270,000 active publishers, Shareasale offers a convenient platform for affiliate marketers to monetize their content and manage their earnings efficiently. comprehensive article.
Shareasale Review: How Does it Work?
Shareasale is a popular affiliate marketing network that serves as a platform connecting affiliate merchants and affiliate marketers. It acts as a middleman, providing a convenient way for affiliate marketers to find and join affiliate programs and track their performance and earnings. For affiliate merchants, Shareasale helps them expand their reach by partnering with a large network of affiliate marketers.
What is Shareasale?
Shareasale is an affiliate marketing network that was founded in 2000. It has grown to become one of the largest affiliate networks in the United States, with over 25,000 merchants and 270,000 active publishers. It provides a platform for affiliate marketers to find and join affiliate programs, and for merchants to connect with potential affiliates. Shareasale offers a range of affiliate programs across various niches, making it a valuable resource for affiliate marketers looking to monetize their content.
How Shareasale Works
Shareasale works by facilitating the relationship between affiliate merchants and affiliate marketers. Merchants can join Shareasale as a way to expand their reach and find new affiliates to promote their products or services. Affiliate marketers can use Shareasale to search for affiliate programs that align with their niche and audience, and apply to join those programs. Once approved, affiliate marketers can generate unique affiliate links to promote the merchant’s products, earning a commission for each lead or sale generated through their referral.
Benefits of Using Shareasale
There are several benefits to using Shareasale as an affiliate marketer:
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Wide Range of Affiliate Programs: Shareasale offers thousands of affiliate programs across various niches, giving affiliate marketers a wide selection of products and services to promote.
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Easy Application Process: Signing up as an affiliate on Shareasale is a straightforward process, and approval times are typically quick.
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Robust Tracking and Reporting: Shareasale provides detailed analytics and reporting tools that allow affiliate marketers to track their performance and earnings.
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Convenient Payment Options: Affiliate marketers can choose to receive payments via direct deposit or check, making it easy to receive their earnings.
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Reliable Payouts: Shareasale is known for its reliable and timely payment of affiliate commissions, ensuring that affiliate marketers receive their earnings as expected.
Drawbacks of Using Shareasale
While Shareasale offers many benefits, there are also a few drawbacks to consider:
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Program Closures: Some affiliate programs on Shareasale may shut down without warning, leading to the loss of potential earnings for affiliate marketers.
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Technical Issues with Links: Occasionally, affiliate links with special characters may cause problems, resulting in lost commissions for affiliate marketers.
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Customer Service: The quality of customer service provided by some merchants on Shareasale may vary, which can be frustrating for affiliate marketers seeking support.
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Payment Method Limitations: Shareasale currently does not offer the option to receive payments through PayPal, which may be inconvenient for some affiliate marketers.
How Can You Make Money with Shareasale?
Shareasale offers several ways for affiliate marketers to earn money:
PPL (Pay Per Lead)
With the PPL model, affiliate marketers earn a fixed price for every lead generated through their affiliate link. This typically involves the lead taking a specific action, such as filling out a form or signing up for a newsletter. The exact payment amount for each lead will depend on the merchant’s affiliate program.
PPS (Pay Per Sale)
With the PPS model, affiliate marketers earn a commission for each sale made through their affiliate link. The commission amount is usually a percentage of the sale price and can vary depending on the merchant and product being promoted.
Other Ways to Earn with Shareasale
In addition to PPL and PPS, Shareasale also offers other earning opportunities. These may include:
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Pay Per Call: Affiliate marketers can earn a commission for every phone call generated through their affiliate link.
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Pay Per Click: Some merchants offer a pay-per-click model, where affiliate marketers earn money for each click on their affiliate link, regardless of whether a sale or lead is generated.
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Two-Tier Programs: Certain affiliate programs on Shareasale offer a two-tier commission structure, allowing affiliate marketers to earn additional income by referring other affiliates to join the program.
How to Create a Shareasale Affiliate Account
Creating a Shareasale affiliate account is a simple process. Here are the steps to get started:
Step 1: Sign Up as an Affiliate
Visit the Shareasale website and click on the “Affiliate Sign Up” button. Fill in the required information, including your username and ID.
Step 2: Set Up Your Affiliate Account
Provide your website URL and answer questions about your goals, target audience, and the types of products you want to promote.
Step 3: Provide Information about Your Website and Audience
Shareasale will ask for information about your website, including its name, URL, and description. You will also need to provide details about your target audience, such as demographics and interests.
Step 4: Enter Contact and Payment Information
Fill in your contact information, including your email address and phone number. You will also need to provide payment information, such as whether you prefer to be paid by direct deposit or check.
Step 5: Agree to Shareasale’s Terms of Agreement
Carefully read through Shareasale’s terms of agreement and check the box to indicate your agreement.
Step 6: Confirm Your Email Address
Shareasale will send a confirmation email to the address you provided. Click on the confirmation link in the email to activate your account.
Step 7: Wait for Account Approval
Once you have completed all the steps, you will need to wait for Shareasale to review and approve your affiliate account. The approval process typically takes between 24 to 72 hours.
How to Find Affiliate Programs on Shareasale
Shareasale provides a variety of tools to help affiliate marketers find relevant affiliate programs to join:
Using the Search Feature
Use the search feature on Shareasale to search for specific keywords or merchant names. This will help you find affiliate programs that align with your niche and audience.
Filtering by Categories and Features
Shareasale allows you to filter affiliate programs by categories and features. You can select specific program types, such as pay per sale or pay per lead, and filter by features like auto-approval or exclusive to Shareasale.
Keyword Search and Modify Search
If you are looking for a specific merchant or product, use the keyword search feature and click on “Modify Search” to refine your results. This allows you to specify additional criteria, such as join date or program metric.
Pros and Cons of Shareasale
Here are some pros and cons to consider when using Shareasale as an affiliate marketer:
Pros of Using Shareasale
- Simple sign-up process and fast approval with a high acceptance rate.
- Large range of brands and affiliate programs to choose from.
- Robust search and filtering options make it easy to find relevant programs.
- Decent reporting tools for tracking performance and earnings.
- Easy-to-navigate user interface for managing affiliate partnerships.
- Reliable and timely payout of affiliate commissions.
Cons of Using Shareasale
- Some affiliate programs may shut down without warning, resulting in lost earnings.
- Technical issues with affiliate links can lead to missed commissions.
- Quality of customer service provided by merchants can vary.
- Limited payment method options (no PayPal available).
What People Are Saying About Shareasale
Here are some testimonials from Shareasale users:
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“Shareasale has been a game-changer for my affiliate marketing business. The platform is user-friendly, and the support team is always helpful.” – John, Affiliate Marketer
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“I’ve been using Shareasale for years and have found it to be a reliable source of income. The range of affiliate programs available is impressive, and the payouts are always on time.” – Sarah, Blogger
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“Shareasale has helped me monetize my blog effectively. The reporting tools are comprehensive, allowing me to track my performance and optimize my campaigns.” – Emily, Content Creator
Shareasale Alternatives
While Shareasale is a popular affiliate marketing network, there are several alternatives that affiliate marketers can consider:
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CJ Affiliate: CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction) is one of the largest affiliate networks and offers a wide range of affiliate programs across various niches.
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Amazon Associates: Amazon Associates is the affiliate program of Amazon, allowing affiliate marketers to earn commissions by promoting products on the Amazon marketplace.
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Rakuten Advertising: Rakuten Advertising (formerly LinkShare) provides access to a large number of affiliate programs and offers a user-friendly platform for managing affiliate partnerships.
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Awin: Awin is an affiliate marketing network that connects affiliate marketers with a wide range of advertisers and offers advanced tracking and reporting tools.
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ClickBank: ClickBank is a digital marketplace that offers a wide range of digital products for affiliate marketers to promote and earn commissions.
Overall, Shareasale is a reputable affiliate marketing network that offers a range of benefits for affiliate marketers looking to monetize their content. With its wide selection of affiliate programs, easy application process, and reliable commission payouts, Shareasale is a valuable resource for those looking to earn money through affiliate marketing.
