Not yet on affiliate networks? It’s time to change that. Affiliate networks can boost brand exposure (because outlets love working with brands on affiliates) and can help generate revenue as brands and products get featured in bigger and splashier ways, leading to more eyeballs (and hopefully purchases). 

Nowadays, being on an affiliate network is practically a requirement when it comes to landing coveted press placements. In 2021, the number of publishers who participated in Digiday’s survey and responded that they were not making money from affiliate programs was just 34%. It’s an important tool! 

All of that said, there are tons of options when it comes to selecting an affiliate network with which to work. Which is best for you? Here, we’ve broken down the five best affiliate programs of the year based on ease of use, reach, and more. 

ShareASale

As an early player in the affiliate marketing space, ShareASale is a popular choice for brands and publishers. It’s easy to use and has been working alongside merchants, publishers, content creators, and agencies for 20+ years. Commissions vary and are paid on the 20th of the following month. 

SkimLinks

Like ShareASale, SkimLinks is a wide-reaching affiliate network popular with top media publications including BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, and Hearst offering competitive commission rates. The site also publishes blog posts and guides about link creation, toolbar analytics, content creation, and industry trends for those looking to learn more about affiliates. 

Amazon Associates

Also in the affiliate business for 20+ years, Amazon Associates works with a plethora of brands for potential earnings. Depending on the product, Amazon commission rates vary up to 10%, and are paid within 60 days. Amazon offers great customer service, link management, and account assistance, making it a great option for beginners.

Shopify

A favorite of small e-commerce businesses and content creators, Shopify is free to join and helps you monetize your existing audience while helping you expand. You must already have a website, create original content, and sell a product to join. Commission rates vary and there is no limit to your referrals, with payouts coming every month. 

Rakuten

A globally recognized firm, Rakuten is a leader in creating partnerships and influencing sales with top brands, agencies, and publishing companies. Commission rates vary and are paid 90 days after it has been paid by the merchants. Like many other programs, Rakuten publishes an industry blog with insights, but it also offers a customer service team and account managers to guide partners and hosts events. The company recently launched their Accelerate vertical in order to continue offering specialized, custom affiliate plans for retailers and D2C brands. 

Press Hook knows that writers, editors, and publishing companies more generally are looking for products and brands on affiliate networks and, because of that, offers an option for editors to filter and search for brands by various affiliate networks, which allows them to find what they’re looking for more quickly—and help your products get noticed. At Press Hook, we see affiliate PR and marketing as an extension of traditional pitching and have seen success when brands utilize both methods. 

Want to know more about how affiliate marketing works and how it can benefit your brand? Click here for an explainer.

Ready to learn more about how you can put Press Hook to work as your PR and media relations secret weapon? Click here to schedule a demo with our team.