By Molly Bell, Senior Director
The digital landscape is constantly evolving, prompting brands to adapt to new tools and trends to connect effectively with consumers. One of the most impactful trends today is the growing role of affiliate programs in editorial content—an impressive 94% of publications now utilize affiliate marketing programs (AuthorityHacker).
For publishers looking to monetize content, brands with affiliate programs are becoming a priority. This shift offers consumer brands a unique opportunity to enhance visibility and drive sales through strategic partnerships.
Affiliate marketing has become integral to modern publishing as media consumption, advertising, and consumer behavior change. By earning commissions on sales generated through their content, affiliate programs provide publishers with a scalable revenue stream, allowing them to partner with various brands and retailers, ultimately diversifying their income sources.
This performance-based model motivates publishers to feature products that align with their audience’s interests and provide financial benefits via affiliate links. For brands, being part of an affiliate program significantly boosts their chances of appearing in articles, gift guides, and product roundups—a win-win for publishers, brands, and consumers alike.
Why Embrace Affiliate Programs?
For consumer brands, joining an affiliate program is no longer optional; it’s essential. By partnering with reputable affiliate networks like ShareASale, Skimlinks, and IMPACT, brands can increase their chances of being featured by top-tier publishers. Here’s why:
- Increased Exposure: Affiliate programs make products more appealing to publishers, increasing brand visibility and reach.
- Enhanced Credibility: Features in reputable outlets boost brand credibility, building trust with consumers who are more likely to purchase recommended products.
- Direct Sales Growth: Affiliate links streamline the purchase process within articles, driving higher sales for featured brands.
- Valuable Data & Insights: Affiliate programs offer insights on product performance across platforms, allowing brands to refine their marketing strategies for maximum impact.
Getting Started with ShareASale, Skimlinks, and IMPACT
To capture editors’ attention and ensure brand inclusion in stories and roundups, joining a robust affiliate program is crucial. Platforms like ShareASale, Skimlinks, and IMPACT offer comprehensive tools to manage and optimize affiliate efforts. Here’s how to start:
- Register the Brand: Sign up on ShareASale, Skimlinks, or IMPACT, ensuring products are listed and accessible for media and influencers to promote.
- Create Compelling Offers: Set competitive commission rates to motivate publishers. Highlight unique product features to make them stand out.
- Inform Editors: When pitching to editors, mention that the brand participates in an affiliate program, including affiliate details like the member ID, link to the affiliate page, and commission rate.
- Monitor & Optimize: Regularly review performance metrics from affiliate platforms to refine offers, adjust rates, and optimize the overall strategy.
In today’s digital era, where content drives consumer shopping behavior, affiliate programs have become essential for brands aiming to increase sales and brand awareness.
