10Aug
Which Affiliate Programs Fit My Website?
An affiliate program fits your website when its offer helps readers take their next step. Someone shopping for a backpack for their first multiday hike needs different recommendations from someone trying to adjust a backpack they already own. Before comparing commissions, look at what brings readers to each page.Start with the individual article
Take a hiking blog. In a comparison of backpacks for multiday hikes, an affiliate link to one of the featured models can be helpful. Readers can check the price and see whether the backpack is available in their size. The same link is less useful in a guide to adjusting a hip belt. People who land on that page probably already own a backpack and want help solving a specific problem.
Go through a few of your most-read articles and ask yourself what someone wants to know or do after reading. Where an offer makes that next step easier, it’s worth looking for a suitable affiliate program.
Check the offer from your readers’ perspective
Open the page you’d link to on your phone. Can you quickly find the product mentioned in the article? Does the store ship to the countries your readers live in? In a product comparison, linking directly to the relevant product page helps readers check the price, sizes, and availability right away.
Compare the terms before adding links
Check which action earns a commission, how that commission is calculated, and when it’s approved. Make sure the program allows the way you plan to promote the offer. A product comparison, a newsletter, and a coupon site may be subject to different rules within the same program.
A higher commission per sale is of little help if the store rarely has the recommended model in stock or ships to only some of your main markets. If two programs fit the article equally well, their terms can help you decide between them.
Try the program in a few articles first
Start with one or two articles where the offer fits naturally. After a while, check which links readers click and whether those clicks lead to approved sales or other qualifying actions. If the links get clicks but few conversions, first check whether the destination page still matches the article and whether the offer is available. With only a handful of clicks, give the test more time before deciding how well the program fits your audience.