Do you have a blog, or are you thinking about beginning one?
Perhaps you’re still in the phase of choosing the theme, or the aesthetic, or the format.
If you’re farther along in your blog-starting process, then you’re probably asking yourself, “how can I make money while doing this?”
It’s a fair question. No one wants to put hours and hours into a project, for little to no gain.
Below, we outline not only how to find affiliate programs, but also some of the best affiliate programs for beginners currently on the blogging market.
Say Hello to Affiliate Programs
This where affiliate programs come in. Affiliates programs are essentially programs offered by companies wherein they pay you to mention their brand, product, or service.
You’re probably now wondering about finding these affiliate deals and how to fit as many as possible into your blogs as possible.
There are two key things to remember when applying for or accepting affiliate programs.
First, make sure that the affiliate deals align with your blog’s message. For example, it would be counterproductive to have a fashion app on a real estate blog.
Second, check that the affiliate has a good track history of treating its customers with care. You don’t want to align your blog and business with any company which may not have the best interest of others at heart.
Count Your Small Change
Otherwise, affiliate programs are really excellent ways to save up small amounts of money which add up to bigger amounts over time.
It may not seem like a lot when you first hear the amounts, but trust us, they definitely do add up.
For example, let’s say you make $5 on the typical affiliate commission. If 10 people sign up for the apps or sites you list on your blog in one day, then that might be $50 you made in a single day.
If your blog gets even more traffic, that number could easily double to $100 each day, which is an extra $36,500 per year! That’s certainly no chump change!
How to Find Affiliate Programs
Okay, by now you’re probably 100% onboard and want to know how to find affiliate programs, as well as which are the best affiliate programs for beginners.
There are a few different ways you can go about finding affiliate programs which suit your blog best.
1. Google It
Is anyone really surprised anymore that Google is a top-notch font of information? Type in
“[your area of interest] + affiliate program” and see what comes up.
Googling it is seriously one of the best ways to find affiliate programs.
2. Scope Out Your Competitors
If you’re just starting out, it may seem weird to look at your competitors’ sites. But, really, you shouldn’t feel weird or anything at all; there’s a lot of information to be mined from people with similar themes as you!
See what affiliates they have and then track them down for yourself.
3. Reach Out Directly
Do you have a brand you wish to work with in particular? Be bold and make the first move!
Reach out directly to the brand. Tell them about your company, brand, or blog, and then ask if they have an affiliate program because you think their mission, product or service aligns well with your own.
You never know who might return your email!
4. Affiliates May Contact You
Depending on the success of your blog, affiliates may start to reach out to you.
Make sure that any pay packages they present are fair and not designed to take advantage of your content or content integrity in any way.
If you lose the trust of your readers, you may lose everything.
5. Affiliate Directories
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for affiliates, or just testing the waters of what is available to you, consider checking out an affiliate directory.
Usually, you submit your program or business to the directory and can then be matches based on which affiliate programs reach out to you. Or, you can sign up then choose from the available affiliates.
Want more advice on how to start a blog which can make you money? Learn more now!
Find Affiliate Deals with Directories
Of course, we wouldn’t just mention finding out about affiliate deals via directories without sharing some directories with you!
Here are three directories which are totally legit and can help you find what you’re looking for:
1. FlexOffers
Become a publisher with FlexOffers right now and find the affiliates that are perfect for your blog!
FlexOffers has over 12,000 affiliate programs listed within their directory.
The FlexOffers site is an “augmented affiliate network” which offers significant benefits and features to both advertisers and publishers.
When you sign up, your account is assigned to a dedicated manager who can help curate your potential affiliate matches.
FlexOffers can help connect you to reputable brand name companies which you can become an affiliate for.
The site also has features such as real-time tracking, ads management and accessible support through phone or email for immediate assistance.
However, keep in mind that FlexOffers does cost a one-time fee of $500 from publishers in order to get started.
Become a ShareaSale affiliate today!
Shareasale has been in business for over 19 years as an affiliate marketing network.
They offer many merchants as affiliate partners, separated into disparate categories such as home and garden, fashion, green, and business merchants.
Sharesale has over 3,900 affiliate programs in their current directory.
Some of their most popular merchants include the likes of: Sears Parts Direct, Trunk Club, Custom Ink, Grammarly, and ModCloth.
3. Max Bounty
Become a Max Bounty affiliate today and start promoting them tomorrow!
Max Bounty offers campaigns with the “best rates in the performance marketing industry,” according to their website.
Max Bounty sifts through all possible affiliates, so only the top opportunities are represented by their site, meaning you will only work with the best of the best.
Their goal is to provide you with high paying and high converting offers to maximize affiliate earnings.
They claim to be “built specifically with affiliates in mind,” having honed their raft over a decade of experience.
Over time, they’ve developed robust tracking, cost savings, and speedy payments which translate into higher rates for affiliates.
Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners
Without further ado, let’s talk about some of the best affiliate programs for beginners that we’ve ever come across.
We use quite a few of these affiliate programs in our other blog, Money Done Right. As you can guess, these affiliates have to do with making, saving, or growing money, as that is the theme of Money Done Right.
Let’s get into the affiliate programs!
1. Survey Junkie
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: When you sign up with Survey Junkie, you get paid to provide your opinions about certain items, so companies can ultimately design better products.
You start off by sharing some personal information such as how much shopping you do for your household, key demographic info like income, gender and relationship status, health habits, personal interests, pet ownership, and household technology use.
After creating an account you’re a SurveyJunkie member. This means that you can start filling out those surveys and earning extra income!
For each survey, you get awarded points at a 1 point to $0.01 ratio. That means that when you rack up 1,000 points (or $10) then you can redeem your points for cash via PayPal or electronic gift cards.
Your Affiliate Commission: Receive at least $1.00 for every person who signs up to take surveys via your link.
How to Use: Link to any blogs about making money, earning extra income, side hustles, making money from home, quick ways to make money, easy ways to make money, making extra money, taking surveys online, getting paid to take surveys, etc.
Want to start a blog right now? We can help! Click here for the information you need to know.
2. Airbnb
Start promoting Airbnb today. Click here!
Note: This may be tricky to use, especially in the beginning, as you need at least a million views every month to qualify.
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: To earn more monthly and develop smart money habits, you need to learn how to use what you already have. This can be as simple as repurposing an item or renting out a space you’re not currently using.
Everyone knows about Airbnb by now. But have you actually considered renting a room, floor or property that you’re not using?
You can make quite a significant amount of cash if you know how to spruce up a property and then list it for maximum reach.
To get started with Airbnb, all you need to do is sign up for free. For those willing to go the extra mile, renting an Airbnb property can provide some side hustle income flow or even main income salary if it takes off enough.
Your Affiliate Commission: Make up to $95 per user you sign-up, capped at $5,000 travel credits.
How to Use: Link to any blogs about making money, making money with what you have, using your resources, side hustles, renting space, etc.
3. Long Game
Click here to start promoting Long Game yourself!
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: The Long Game app is designed to help prepare people financially while also providing fun ways for people to turn saving money into a game.
Once you download the Long Game app you can fund an account for as little as $5. When you fund an account and set up recurring deposits, you earn free coins to play games.
This app is designed as an easy online savings account, meaning it can help you boost your savings because that’s what it’s made for!
This app is designed for people who may need that little extra incentive to save, such as coins and games which could win you more money.
Free Bonus Coins: Use my promo code 28ZEPK to get 1,000 bonus coins for yourself!
Your Affiliate Commission: 1,000 coins per person who signs up.
How to Use: Link to any blogs about saving money, playing games, financial responsibility, new apps, mobile apps, mobile games, etc.
Wondering how to start a successful blog that people will actually read? Click here for help!
4. HealthyWage
Click here and sign up to become a HealthyWage affiliate right now!
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: HealthyWage is a site where people can get paid for losing weight!
It may sound like a scam, but it’s really true! If you set your goal, stick to it and lose the weight you’re planning to, the company will really pay you.
There have been glowing reviews of HealthyWage across the internet with people winning $2,400, $2,500, and even $3,180 for losing the weight they bet themselves they’d lose.
If you want to make extra money and want to be motivated to change your fitness, then the HealthyWage challenge may be the perfect fit for you.
If you don’t meet your goal the money you bet gets put into Healthy Wage’s pocket, for use with other betters. If you do meet the goal, then HealthyWage pays you more than what you bet as a prize.
Your Affiliate Commission: Earn $50 for each HealthyWager sign up you generate, or $30 for each Team Challenge participant sign up you generate.
How to Use: Link to any blogs about losing weight, saving money in the long run, getting healthy, setting goals, betting, motivation, etc.
5. Sweatcoin
Click here to become a Sweatcoin affiliate today.
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: This app is perhaps less directly to do with money saving and more to do with having the time to spend that money with the people you love.
Just exercising a few times a week would also show a great step forward toward being more healthy. The problem often lies in just how hard it may be for some to get up the motivation to actually exercise.
That’s where Sweatcoin comes in. It’s all about motivating you to exercise.
Yes, that’s right! The Sweatcoin app is in fact known for paying people to exercise!
So, with this motivation and good cheer, why not try to stay as fit as possible and make money at the same time with Sweatcoin?
Your Affiliate Commission: Get paid for getting 30 invites using your unique sharing link and get access to the influencer marketplace where earnings can reach $1,000 per day.
How to Use: Link to any blog about saving time, making money, getting healty, making money while exercising, mobile app, mobile exercise app, side hustle, make money working out, etc.
6. Swagbucks
Click here to become a Swagbucks affiliate today!
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: One of the best types of money habits to develop is the ability to look for deals in your everyday actions. For instance, if you shop online you should be saving money.
Swagbucks is a great money saving app for online shoppers. When you shop using the Swagbucks Search, you earn Swagbucks points with each search.
You can then redeem those points for gift cards from thousands of retailers — such as Amazon, Target or Walmart — or get PayPal cash.
You’re getting paid to shop, which is the same as saving the money you’re spending. This is truly one of the best affiliate programs for beginners.
Your Affiliate Commission: Earn free gift cards for referring others.
How to Use: Link to any blog about making money, saving money, online shopping, online shopping app, money saving app, paid to shop, etc.
7. Acorns
Click here to start promoting Acorns today.
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: Do you wish your money would grow on its own? Think about starting an investment account with Acorns.
The free app lets you start small and then stack up savings over time. For example, if you spent $9.50 at the grocery store, then $0.50 gets put into your Acorns investment account.
It’s an amazing way to start saving without thinking about it too much. The app even fives you a $5 bonus when you sign up for Acorns.
Your Affiliate Commission: Receive $5 per sign-up who invests as well as monthly bonuses. For example, in May 2018, those who referred at least 12 users received a $1,000 bonus!
How to Use: Link to any blogs about making investing easier, easy investing, investing for beginners, investment apps, mobile apps, making saving easy, growing money, saving money, etc.
8. Ibotta
Click here to start promoting Ibotta on your blog today.
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: One of the best mobile shopping apps is Ibotta, a free mobile coupon and cashback shopping app compatible with most iOS and Android devices.
When you sign up with Ibotta, you have the opportunity to earn cash back on select products by performing easy tasks, purchasing the product then providing proof of purchase like a receipt.
See our Ibotta Review 2019 for more helpful information.
Your Affiliate Commission: You receive $5 per person who signs up with a receipt as well as monthly bonuses. If you reach a certain level of sign-ups per month, you’ll be invited to become an “Ibotta Preferred Partner” and receive $7 per sign-up!
How to Use: Link in any blogs about mobile shopping, mobile apps, shopping apps, mobile shopping apps, mobile coupons, shopping coupons, cashback, cashback shopping, cashback while shopping, free apps, saving money, saving money while shopping, etc.
Starting a blog is a matter of knowing what to do and how. Learn our tips and tricks right now!
9. Ebates
Click here to start promoting Ebates on your blog today.
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: A great money saving app for shopping is Ebates. It offers up to 40 percent cash back at over 2,500 stores.
Arguably one of the easiest ways to make money while shopping is by doing your online shopping through Ebates at your favorite stores.
They offer a check or PayPal payments which are given to you every quarter. Join Ebates now for free and start saving money while you shop!
This is one of the best affiliate programs for beginners, hands-down!
Your Affiliate Commission: You receive $25 every time someone who signed up from your link makes their first purchase on the platform.
How to Use: Link in any blogs about shopping, shopping apps, cashback, making money, saving money, getting money, saving money while shopping, etc.
Want to make the most of your blog? Click here for tips on how to optimize for success!
10. Getupside
Affiliate Elevator Pitch: A good money habit is to save whenever you can. Think about how much money you spend on gas and food.
What if you didn’t have to spend as much as you do? What if you could save each time you filled up your vehicle or bought something to eat?
Download the GetUpside app and find gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores with unbeatable deals.
Not to mention that their cashback rebates can save you up to 25 cents per gallon on gas. Never pay full price for gas again!
Your Affiliate Commission: Get a bonus whenever someone clicks through and purchases a minimum of $10.
How to Use: Link in any blog about saving money, saving money on gas, saving money on food, saving money app, money app on mobile, saving money mobile app, etc.
What Are You Waiting For?
Starting a blog can be pretty intimidating.
You’ll probably be wondering, “Am I doing this right?” and “What if no one reads this?”
And, you know what, yes, it is a distinct possibility that you might stuff things up a few times. It’s only natural and you’ve probably never done what you’re doing before.
The worst-case scenario, the one that would really cut deep, is if no one read your piece once you spent so much time researching, writing, and posting it.
It’s painful. I think every blogger has been there at some point.
The important thing to remember is that you need to keep on carrying on. Sometimes it’s all about gaining enough momentum so that a few views turn into tens then hundreds then thousands and so on.
With seemingly infinite digital resources at your fingertips, and as many hours in the day as Beyonce, there’s no reason that you can’t put your best blogging step forward.
Use our advice to create your dream blog step by step, find affiliates, and be on your merry way to monetizing your blog!
Have questions or comments? We’d love to hear them down below. Talk to you there!
Leave a Reply