What is an Affiliate Network and How to Make the Most of It

An affiliate network is a platform that acts as a middleman between the publisher (the affiliate) and the advertiser (the merchant). It provides website publishers with an easier way to find and join affiliate programs that are suitable for their website, while also allowing websites that offer affiliate programs (usually online merchants) to reach a wider audience by promoting their affiliate programs to all publishers participating in the network. Recent trends in affiliate marketing show that more than 80% of advertisers have an affiliate program, with around 40% of merchants citing it as their main customer acquisition channel. This means that content creators, bloggers, and publishers have more opportunities to make money online.

The difference between an affiliate network and an affiliate program is that a program usually refers to a single brand, while an affiliate network consists of thousands of programs that creators can discover and join. Companies are increasingly turning to affiliate marketing to promote their products, and affiliate networks have developed their offerings to meet this demand. When looking for the best affiliate network for you, consider the top platforms available. For example, CJ has more than 16,000 stores to choose from, so no matter what your niche is, you'll find a product category or an affiliate product for you.

The platform also offers a wide range of commission rates, from 1% up to 300%. If you're a beginner in affiliate marketing, FlexOffers is a great option for you. It accepts free blog websites such as WordPress, Wix, Blogger and BlogSpot as traffic sources and has an impressive cookie lifespan of 30 days.

Avangate Affiliate Network

stands out from other networks because it offers the possibility of using a geographically segmented shopping cart.

This means that if you're trying to reach a specific market location, you can link it directly to a localized cart.

Rakuten Advertising

, formerly known as Linkshare, is another big name in the industry that has been around since the 90s. It's easy and intuitive to navigate and is ideal for those who want to promote big brands.

AffiliaXe

, based in Israel, is a global affiliate marketing network that offers a VIP service to everyone from entrepreneurs and freelancers to small online businesses.

It also provides access to more than 150 direct-to-consumer and e-commerce stores in various vertical markets.

GiddyUp

is another great option for those who want to get started with affiliate marketing for no money. It helps maximize profits with innovative tools and real-time data, as well as providing access to creative resources regardless of the traffic source. Now that you know what types of affiliate networks exist and who would benefit most from them, you can start trying them out for yourself. Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative earning opportunity but it's important to understand how each network works before diving in.