List of 10 Best Ecommerce Affiliate Programs for beginners in 2024

Planning to boost your online income through affiliate marketing? Looking for programs that align with your ecommerce interests? Wondering which affiliate programs offer the best commissions and support?

But before we dive in, did you know that ecommerce sales are expected to reach $6.38 trillion by 2024? That’s a staggering figure and a testament to the growing popularity of online shopping.

The solution is right here!…

You need to explore the best ecommerce affiliate programs that can help you earn substantial commissions by promoting products and services related to ecommerce.

Before you rush to sign up, it’s essential to understand why ecommerce affiliate programs are more lucrative than others, especially given the projected growth of the industry.

You’re definitely curious, aren’t you? So, delve in and discover everything about the best ecommerce affiliate programs and how they can elevate your affiliate marketing journey.

What is eCommerce Affiliate Marketing?

Ecommerce affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where online retailers reward affiliates (often bloggers, influencers, or niche website owners) for driving traffic or sales to their site through the affiliate’s marketing efforts. In simpler terms, it’s like a commission-based sales job, but online.

For instance, ever read a blog and clicked on a link to buy a product? Chances are, that was an affiliate link. When you made that purchase, the blogger earned a commission. It’s a win-win: the retailer gains a sale, and the affiliate earns a commission for their promotional efforts.

2024 Insight: As of 2024, the eCommerce affiliate marketing industry has seen a whopping 15% growth from the previous year. With the rise of online shopping, especially post-pandemic, more and more businesses are leveraging affiliates to expand their reach. Reports suggest that over 65% of online retailers have integrated some form of affiliate marketing into their promotional strategy.

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

At its core, affiliate marketing involves three main players:

1. The Merchant: This is the retailer or the eCommerce business that wants to sell a product or service.
2. The Affiliate: An individual or company that promotes the merchant’s products on their platform (like a blog, YouTube channel, or social media).
3. The Consumer: The end user who buys the product after being referred by the affiliate.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Joining an Affiliate Program: The affiliate signs up for the merchant’s affiliate program. This is often free and provides the affiliate with unique tracking links.
2. Promotion: The affiliate promotes the merchant’s products/services using the provided tracking links on their platform.
3. Purchase: A consumer clicks on the affiliate’s link, leading them to the merchant’s website. If the consumer makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission.
4. Payment: After a set period, the merchant pays the affiliate their earned commissions.

2023 Stats on Affiliate Marketing:

• 81% of brands around the world now have affiliate programs
• Affiliate marketing boasts a market value exceeding $17 billion in the year 2023.
• Projections indicate affiliate marketing spending in 2023 will hover around $13 billion.
• Anticipated industry worth by 2027: a substantial $27.78 billion, marking an impressive 91% surge from 2020.
• A noteworthy 16% of online orders in the United States are attributed to affiliate marketing.
• There are 11,400 affiliate programs in the U.S. alone.

Why Choose an eCommerce Affiliate Program?

1. Passive Income: Affiliate marketing allows you to earn money even when you’re not actively working. Once you’ve set up your affiliate links and campaigns, you can continue to earn commissions as consumers make purchases through your links.
2. No Customer Support: As an affiliate marketer, you don’t have to deal with customer complaints or support. The seller or the company whose products you’re promoting will handle all customer-related issues.
3. Work from Home: Affiliate marketing can be done from the comfort of your home. You don’t need to go to an office or have a physical store.
4. Cost-effective: Starting with affiliate marketing doesn’t require a significant investment. You don’t need to create a product or maintain an inventory.
5. Convenient and Flexible: You have the freedom to choose which products to promote and can set your own goals and working hours.
6. Performance-based Rewards: Your earnings are directly proportional to the effort you put in. If you’re good at promoting and get more sales, you earn more.

Benefits of eCommerce Affiliate Marketing:

1. Significant Online Revenue: Affiliate marketing has proven to be a major source of online revenue. Brands and affiliate marketers have seen substantial growth in earnings thanks to this marketing strategy.
2. Growth in Affiliate Marketing Spend: The affiliate marketing expenditure in the United States grew from $5.4 billion in 2017 to $8.2 billion in 2022. This indicates the increasing trust and investment in affiliate marketing strategies.
3. Wide Reach: With the rise of influencers, bloggers, and various digital platforms, affiliate marketing can reach a vast audience. Influencers, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, have a significant impact on their followers’ purchasing decisions.
4. Multiple Marketing Channels: Affiliates use various channels to promote products, from blogs and social media to email lists and large media websites. This multi-channel approach ensures a broader reach and higher conversions.
5. Trust and Credibility: Affiliates who personally use and review products can build trust among their audience. This trust can lead to higher conversion rates.
6. Cost-effective: Businesses only pay commissions for actual sales, making it a cost-effective marketing strategy.
7. SEO Benefits: Quality backlinks from affiliates can improve a business’s search engine ranking.
8. Risk Management: Since businesses pay for actual sales, there’s minimal risk involved in terms of investment.

10 Best Affiliate Programs for eCommerce Businesses in 2024

Considering joining an affiliate network to boost your company’s revenue? You’ve got plenty of choices.

The top affiliate programs for eCommerce businesses offer competitive commission rates and impressive conversion rates.

With tiered commission rates, affiliates earn more as they make more sales.

Conversion rates, on the other hand, gauge the number of website visitors who actually make a purchase. Higher conversion rates mean affiliates are more likely to drive sales.

For eCommerce success, seek out programs that offer both high commissions and stellar conversion rates. This way, you can maximize your revenue potential.

Here are some popular eCommerce affiliate platforms:

1. Aasaan:

Aasaan is a zero-code AI headless COMMERCE platform that empowers SMEs to visually build lightning-fast modern shopping experiences quick and easy using our headless storefront builder and API driven commerce platform.

The platform de-risks shopping experiences for merchants by providing an end-to-end infrastructure with zero dev time.

Aasaan is on a mission to enable SMEs to build exceptional shopping experiences, fast and easy, with best-in-class technology .

Why Choose Aasaan’s Affiliate Program?

1. Unmatched Commissions: Join us, and you’ll get to enjoy up to a 20% commission for every new subscription that comes through your referral. That’s right, you could be making over ₹50,000 per month online. How’s that for a side hustle?
2. Tailored for Entrepreneurs: Whether you’re a business owner or an individual looking to make some extra cash, our program is designed to fit your needs. Sign up your fellow entrepreneurs and be part of the Aasaan family.
3. Transparency You Can Trust: We believe in 100% transparency. Our affiliates have access to intricate dashboards, features, reports, tracking, and payments through our platform. You’ll always know how you’re doing.
4. Lifetime Earnings: This isn’t a one-time deal. You’ll earn a lifetime recurring commission for every payment your referred retailer makes. Yes, you read that right—lifetime!
5. Generous Cookie Window: Anyone who clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase within 30 days becomes your referral. That’s two whole months to convert a lead!
6. High Conversion Rates: Aasaan is not just another eCommerce platform; it’s a user-friendly, feature-rich solution with competitive pricing. This ensures you’ll have a fantastic conversion rate.

How Does It Work?

1. Sign Up: Click here to register.
2. Refer: Use your unique affiliate link to refer Aasaan to businesses.
3. Earn: Sit back and watch your commissions roll in.

Ready to Scale Your Ecommerce Business?

With Aasaan, you’re not just earning commissions; you’re also becoming a part of a community that’s trusted by business owners across the globe.

So why wait? Sign up today and be part of our success story.

2. Shopify:

Shopify’s Affiliate Program is designed to help content creators, course educators, influencers, and review sites assist their audiences in launching successful businesses on Shopify.

By joining the program, affiliates can earn competitive referral commissions and position themselves as leaders in the industry.

Shopify provides resources to support content development and enhance the conversion rate of referral traffic.

Eligible partners also receive opportunities to expand their audience through Shopify and boost their referral revenue.

Criteria for Shopify Affiliate:

• Own and run an active website
• Have an established audience
• Create original content, such as online courses, blog posts, videos, or guides
• Have experience with commerce, entrepreneurship, Shopify, or other ecommerce platforms

Cookie Duration:

• The cookie duration for the Shopify Affiliate Program is 30 days

Commission:

• Previously, affiliates were paid 200% of the plan a merchant signed up for, paid monthly for as long as the merchant stayed with Shopify.
• Now, affiliates are paid a one-time $100 commission when a trial moves to a paid plan.
• There is no limit to the number of merchants you can refer.

Payment:

• The Shopify Affiliate Program supports payment by direct deposit to your bank account or PayPal.
• The program requires a minimum balance of $10 USD before withdrawals can be made. Affiliates can choose to be paid when their balance reaches a certain amount or on a bi-weekly basis.

3. Amazon Associates

The Amazon Associates Program is a free affiliate marketing program that allows website owners and content creators to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products on their websites and social media channels.

To become an Amazon Associate, you simply need to create an account and apply for the program. Once you are approved, you will be given a unique Associate ID that you can use to create affiliate links to any Amazon product.

When a visitor clicks on one of your affiliate links and makes a purchase on Amazon within 24 hours, you will earn a commission on the sale. The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but it is typically between 4% and 10%.

Amazon Associates Program Overview:

• The Amazon Associates Program is one of the largest affiliate marketing programs in the world.
• It helps content creators, publishers, and bloggers monetize their traffic.
• Associates use easy link-building tools to direct their audience to their recommendations on Amazon, and earn from qualifying purchases and programs.

Criteria for Amazon Associates Program:

• You need to own and run an active website or mobile app.
• You should have an established audience.
• You should create original content.
• You should have experience with commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms.

Cookie Duration:

• The Amazon Associates Program has a 24-hour cookie duration.

Commission Structure:

• Most advertising fees are calculated as a percentage of Qualifying Revenues based on the tables provided by Amazon.
• Advertising fee rates vary depending on the category of Products that are shipped, streamed, or downloaded (as applicable) in a given calendar month that constitute Qualifying Purchases.

Payment Method:

• Direct deposit, Amazon.com Gift Certificate, or check
• Approximately 60 days after the end of the month.

4. eBay Partner Network

The eBay Partner Network (EPN) is a free affiliate marketing program that allows website owners and content creators to earn commissions by promoting eBay products on their websites and social media channels.

To become an EPN member, you simply need to create an account and apply for the program. Once you are approved, you will be given a unique member ID that you can use to create affiliate links to any eBay product.

When a visitor clicks on one of your affiliate links and makes a purchase on eBay within 24 hours, you will earn a commission on the sale. The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but it is typically between 1% and 11%.

Criteria for Joining the eBay Partner Network

• You must have a website or social media channel where you can promote eBay products.
• Your website or social media channel must be in compliance with the EPN Program Policies.
• You must provide accurate and up-to-date contact information.
• You must agree to the EPN Terms and Conditions.

Cookie Duration

• The EPN cookie lasts for 24 hours after a visitor clicks on an affiliate link.
• If the visitor makes a purchase on eBay within 24 hours of clicking on the affiliate link, the member will earn a commission on the sale.
• If the visitor clicks on another member’s link before making a purchase, the commission will be credited to the second member.

Commission Rates

• The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but it is typically between 1% and 11%.
• There are also some special commission rates available for certain products and promotions.
• You can see the commission rates for different product categories in the EPN Program Policies.

Payment

• EPN members are paid by direct deposit, PayPal, or check.
• You just need to surpass ten units of your country’s currency e.g 10 pounds, 10 euros, 10 dollars, etc.

5. PinnacleCart

PinnacleCart is a fully hosted ecommerce platform that offers a wide range of features and tools to help businesses of all sizes sell online. It is known for its scalability, security, and flexibility.

PinnacleCart offers a free 15-day trial, and monthly pricing starts at $79. Transaction fees are 2.9% + $.30 per transaction.

Criteria for PinnacleCart Affiliate Program:

• You need to own and run an active website.
• You should have an established audience.
• You should create original content.
• You should have experience with commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms.

Cookie Duration:

• The PinnacleCart Affiliate Program has a 90-day cookie duration.

Commission Structure:

• Affiliates get $15 per qualified lead and 100% bounty on all new customers.
• Additionally, PinnacleCart is one of the only eCommerce platforms that extend their affiliate program to their professional services offering. They give you a 10% commission on every Professional Service sale they make, giving you the opportunity to make thousands with just one referral.

Payment Method:

• The PinnacleCart Affiliate Program supports payment via PayPal& other methods too.

6. Shift4Shop

The Shift4Shop Affiliate Program offers a golden opportunity to earn commissions by referring new customers to one of the world’s best eCommerce platforms, Shift4Shop.

The program is not only free to join but also doesn’t require any technical expertise to get started.

Criteria for Shift4Shop Affiliate Program

• Own and operate an active website
• Have an established audience
• Create original content
• Experience in commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms is a plus

Cookie Duration

The Shift4Shop Affiliate Program boasts a generous 120-day cookie duration. This means that any visitor who clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase within 120 days will be counted as your referral.

Commission Structure

• Earn between $5-$25 commission for each new signup
• Additional $100 commission when a visitor clicks through to Shift4Shop and signs up for any of their services

Payment Method

• Payments are made via check or direct deposit
• A minimum balance of $50 is required before withdrawals can be made

7. Squarespace

The Squarespace Affiliate Program is a unique opportunity that allows you to earn commissions by introducing new users to the world of Squarespace.

This program is a gateway for you to monetize your audience, free of cost.

It’s a platform where businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and content creators unite to educate and inspire their audiences about the wonders of an eCommerce platform like Squarespace.

Criteria for Squarespace Affiliate Program:

• You need to be the proud owner of an active website.
• You should have an audience that values your content and trusts your recommendations.
• Your content should be original and engaging.
• You should have a good understanding of commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms.

Cookie Duration:

• The Squarespace Affiliate Program offers a 45-day cookie duration.

Commission Structure:

• Affiliates earn a flat rate per referral. Note that you’ll earn a one-time commission on subscriptions. If a user renews their subscription at the end of the year, you won’t earn anything.
• The Squarespace affiliate program provides its members with an opportunity to earn $100 to $200 per new subscription that users purchase after following a referral link.

Payment Method:

• The Squarespace Affiliate Program supports payment by direct deposit or PayPal.
• The program requires a minimum balance of $10 before withdrawals can be made.

8. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an eCommerce platform with a drag and drop page builder and many free templates to start building a full-blown online store.

The BigCommerce Affiliate Program isn’t just another affiliate program; it’s a golden ticket to monetize your audience.

This program is where businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and content creators converge to educate and inspire their audiences about the transformative power of an eCommerce platform like BigCommerce.

Criteria for BigCommerce Affiliate Program

• Own an active website that’s more than just a digital placeholder
• Command an audience that not only consumes your content but also values your recommendations
• Produce content that’s not just original but also compelling and engaging
• Have a nuanced understanding of commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms

Cookie Duration

The BigCommerce Affiliate Program offers a generous 90-day cookie duration. This means you have a full three months to convert a click into a commission.

Commission Structure

• Earn a staggering 200% of the customer’s first monthly payment or a jaw-dropping $1,500 per enterprise customer
• The more you hustle, the higher you climb on the commission tier

Payment Method

• Payments are as flexible as they come, with options for PayPal and direct deposit

9. Wix Affiliate Program

The Wix Affiliate Program isn’t your run-of-the-mill affiliate opportunity; it’s a golden ticket to monetize your audience. This program is where businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and content creators converge to educate and inspire their audiences about the transformative power of an eCommerce platform like Wix.

Criteria for Wix Affiliate Program

• Own an active website that’s more than just a digital placeholder
• Command an audience that not only consumes your content but also values your recommendations
• Produce content that’s not just original but also compelling and engaging
• Have a nuanced understanding of commerce, entrepreneurship, or other e-commerce platforms

Cookie Duration

The Wix Affiliate Program offers a 30-day cookie duration. This means you have a full month to convert a click into a commission.

Commission Structure

• Wix offers a straightforward commission structure. For each sale you convert, you’ll receive a one-time $100 commission.
• It’s a straightforward payout system that makes it easy to calculate your potential earnings. For instance, if you generate ten sales in a month, that’s a cool $1,000 in your pocket.

Payment Method

• Payments are made via bank wire transfer, offering a secure way to receive your hard-earned commissions.
• Unlike other programs, Wix doesn’t offer PayPal or Payoneer as payment options.

10. Rakuten Affiliate Program:

The Rakuten Affiliate Program isn’t just another affiliate network; it’s a treasure trove of opportunities. This program is where businesses, bloggers, influencers, and digital marketers unite to create a symphony of profitable partnerships. With Rakuten, you’re not just earning commissions; you’re building relationships and expanding your digital empire.

Criteria for Rakuten Affiliate Program

• Active Digital Presence: You need to have an active website or blog that’s not just a digital billboard but a thriving community.
• Quality Content: Your content should be original, compelling, and offer value to your audience.
• Audience Engagement: You should have an audience that not only listens but also engages and trusts your recommendations.
• Niche Expertise: You should have a deep understanding of your niche, whether it’s fashion, tech, or anything in between.

Cookie Duration:

• The Rakuten Affiliate Program offers a cookie duration that varies depending on which program you apply for.

Commission Structure:

• The Rakuten Marketing affiliate program offers single-tier commissions, which means the affiliates earn commissions only on sales they generate.
• Moreover, the affiliate program offers a fixed commission structure, with a minimum payout of $50.

Payment Method:

• The Rakuten Affiliate Program supports payment via PayPal, direct deposit, or check.

7 Key Things Affiliate Marketers Should Avoid

Here are 7 key things affiliate marketers should avoid:

1. Promoting the wrong products/niche. It’s important to choose a niche and products that you’re passionate about and that you have some knowledge of. This will make it easier to create valuable content and build trust with your audience. You should also avoid promoting products or services that are low-quality or that you don’t believe in.
2. Not being organized. It’s important to be organized when it comes to affiliate marketing. This means keeping track of your affiliate links, commissions, and other important metrics. It also means having a system for creating and managing your content.
3. Not providing enough value. Affiliate marketers need to provide value to their audience in order to be successful. This means creating high-quality content that is informative and engaging. It also means being responsive to your audience’s questions and needs.
4. Not being transparent enough. Affiliate marketers need to be transparent with their audience about the fact that they are earning commissions from the products and services they promote. This means disclosing your affiliate links and explaining how you earn money.
5. Being too salesy. People don’t like to be sold to, so it’s important to avoid being too salesy in your content. Instead, focus on providing value and building trust with your audience. When people trust you, they are more likely to click on your affiliate links and make purchases.
6. Promoting products they haven’t used themselves. It’s important to only promote products that you have used and believe in. This way, you can honestly recommend them to your audience.
7. Not building an email list. An email list is one of the most valuable assets for an affiliate marketer. It allows you to stay in touch with your audience and promote new products and services.

In addition to these 7 key things, affiliate marketers should also avoid:

• Relying on organic traffic only. Organic traffic is important, but it’s also important to diversify your traffic sources. This could include paid advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.
• Not tracking their results. It’s important to track your results so that you can see what’s working and what’s not. This will help you to improve your campaigns over time.
• Not reusing content in various ways. You can repurpose your content in a variety of ways to reach a wider audience. For example, you could turn a blog post into a video, or you could create a social media infographic.
• Failing to scale their business. Once you’ve found a successful affiliate marketing strategy, it’s important to scale your business. This could involve increasing your traffic, adding new products or services, or expanding into new markets.
• Not treating affiliate marketing as a business. Affiliate marketing is a serious business, and it should be treated accordingly. This means putting in the time and effort to create a successful business plan and marketing strategy.

By avoiding these common mistakes, affiliate marketers can increase their chances of success.

Conclusion:

We’re confident this guide to top ecommerce affiliate programs is a game-changer. It’s your roadmap to high commissions and quality products.

Remember, ecommerce is booming. It’s a goldmine of opportunities waiting for you to dig in.

So why wait? Start promoting these stellar programs now and watch your earnings soar.

Get in touch with us today, and let’s work together to make your eCommerce business the success it should be.

Best E-commerce Affiliate Programs FAQ’s

1. Does ecommerce affiliate marketing work?

Absolutely, ecommerce affiliate marketing is a proven strategy that benefits both the affiliate and the business. Affiliates earn commissions for driving traffic and sales, while businesses increase their reach and revenue. It’s a win-win situation that has been effective for years.

2. Is affiliate marketing profitable?

Yes, affiliate marketing can be highly profitable if done correctly. The key is to choose the right products or services to promote, target the appropriate audience, and use effective marketing strategies. Many affiliates earn a full-time income, while others use it as a lucrative side hustle.

3. Which ecommerce platform is best for affiliate marketing?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce are often cited as excellent choices for affiliate marketing. They offer robust features, including affiliate management tools, and integrate well with various marketing platforms.

4. Is affiliate marketing part of eCommerce?

Yes, affiliate marketing is a subset of ecommerce. It’s a marketing strategy that ecommerce businesses often use to increase sales and visibility. Affiliates promote the ecommerce store’s products and earn a commission for each sale or action completed through their referral.

5. How can I start affiliate marketing with no money?

Starting affiliate marketing with no money is entirely possible. You can use free platforms like social media or a free blog to start promoting products. The key is to build a following and offer valuable content that encourages your audience to make purchases through your affiliate links.

6. How do I start affiliate marketing from zero?

Starting from zero means you’ll need to first choose a niche or industry you’re passionate about. Then, research affiliate programs in that niche. Once you’ve chosen a program, use free or low-cost marketing methods like social media, content marketing, or SEO to promote products and earn commissions.

Try it out now!