When planning out your marketing budget, you’ve probably factored in digital ads, social media, and influencer partnerships. But have you explored affiliate marketing? Affiliate marketing is like having a team of brand ambassadors working around the clock. They’re passionate about your products and ready to share your brand with their audiences. By partnering with the right creators and publishers, you can boost your brand’s visibility and drive sales. Let’s dive into the basics of affiliate marketing.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where your brand partners with influencers, bloggers, and online publishers to promote your products. These partners, aka affiliates, share unique links or codes with their audience. When someone makes a purchase through that link, the affiliate earns a commission and you get a sale. It’s a win-win: your brand gets new customers, and the affiliate get paid for driving sales.
Why should your brand consider affiliate marketing?
From a social media perspective, affiliates already have a loyal following. By partnering with them, you can tap into a ready-made audience that’s already invested in your niche. Those affiliates help build brand recognition and trust by sharing authentic product reviews and experiences. You can even leverage that user-generated content for other marketing channels. Another benefit of affiliate marketing is that it’s performance-based; you only pay when a sale is made, so the ROI can be higher than traditional ads.
From a public relations perspective, affiliate marketing is necessary to gain press coverage for your products. Most, if not all, major publications incorporate affiliate links in their shopping and e-commerce content (think holiday gift guides and shopping roundups). This means that they gain a direct commission for any purchases made through their articles. While brands can still secure founder profiles and thought leadership opportunities without affiliate links, they are 100% necessary to be included in shoppable articles.
What are the different affiliate marketing models?
There are three common models for affiliate marketing programs:
- Pay per sale (PPS): Affiliates earn a commission for each sale generated through their unique link.
- Pay per lead (PPL): Affiliates are compensated for generating leads, such as email signups.
- Pay per click (PPC): Affiliates earn a commission for each click on their affiliate link.
How do you build a successful affiliate program?
Use the right affiliate network. The two affiliate networks we always recommend to fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands are Amazon and Skimlinks. Because Amazon is so accessible to everyday customers, it’s become the go-to affiliate network for both influencers and media outlets. If you want your products featured in national publications and on social media, Amazon may be right for your brand. Skimlinks is also an excellent option, as the platform is easy for emerging brands to navigate. Many publications look for brands that are available on Skimlinks, so if Amazon isn’t available to you, Skimlinks is the next best affiliate network to use.
Choose the most aligned affiliates. Not all affiliates are created equal. Look for partners who align with your brand values and whose audience matches your target market. You should also select partners who genuinely love your brand and can authentically represent your products.
Support your partners. First, offer your affiliate partners a generous commission rate, as this will incentivize them to post about your brand consistently. We recommend a commission rate of at least 15-20% to attract your ideal content publishers. Once they begin to post, maintain open communication with your affiliates to build trust and long-term relationships. Make sure they have access to high-quality product images, descriptions, and promotional materials so they can create the best content.
Our final thoughts
Affiliate marketing can be a powerful tool for growing your fashion, beauty, or lifestyle brand. By partnering with the right creators and providing them with the necessary resources, you can significantly increase your sales. Are you ready to unlock the potential of affiliate marketing for your brand? Let’s work together to create a strategy that delivers results.
About Rani Public Relations
We are Rani Public Relations, a boutique PR agency for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and interior design businesses. Powered by a decade of passionate PR experience and heart-centered storytelling, we turn startups into standout national brands.
