How to Make Money with ShareASale

Affiliate marketing is a powerful way to make money from your blog and build a passive income stream. Personally, I find it incredibly rewarding!

However, there’s a crucial factor you can’t ignore: understanding your audience and promoting the right products strategically. Simply endorsing every product and hoping for a $50 payout won’t work. This approach is ineffective and can be disheartening despite your hard work. Shareasale, like other popular affiliate networks, has over 15,000 advertisers in various niches. The key is to start by choosing the right programs for you.

While I’ve only joined a few programs myself, I’ve managed to earn a decent income.

In this guide, I’d like to walk you through the steps of making money with Shareasale. 

What is ShareASale?

ShareASale stands out as one of the largest affiliate networks around. With almost two decades of experience, it’s well-known for its affiliate marketing services.

Their goal, as stated on their website, is to provide users with an advanced Affiliate Marketing platform.

Since January 2017, Awin, a global affiliate network, has acquired a significant portion of ShareASale’s affiliate operations. This partnership has expanded ShareASale’s reach and opened up new opportunities for international affiliates looking to grow their businesses. Even in places where access to ShareASale was previously limited, affiliates and publishers can now join in.

ShareASale is based in Chicago, Illinois, and is a member of both the Performance Marketing Association and the Illinois Technology Association.

For merchants, ShareASale offers access to a vast pool of over 3,900 affiliate programs. Their website features numerous popular merchants like Weebly, Johnston & Murphy, Sears Parts Direct, and many more.

How to Get Paid on ShareASale?

One of the things I really like about ShareASale is that they offer multiple payment methods for affiliates. Each month, you’ll earn a combined commission for all the successful transactions made through your affiliate links. So, when someone makes a purchase through your link, you’ll get your earnings. Plus, the dashboard provides valuable insights into your expected earnings based on your performance.

Here are a few convenient options for getting paid on ShareASale:

1. Direct Deposit: If you’re in the United States, direct deposit is a straightforward way to receive your earnings directly into your bank account.

2. Mail Checks: If you prefer traditional checks, ShareASale can send your earnings via mail.

3. Wire Deposit: This is another option for receiving your earnings securely.

4. Payoneer: If you’re not located in the US or other specific countries, Payoneer is a fantastic choice. It’s flexible and speedy. Once your earnings are in your Payoneer account, you can easily withdraw them to your local bank.

How Much Does It Cost to Join ShareAsale?

The great news is that signing up with ShareASale won’t cost you a penny – it’s absolutely free. All you need to do is apply for the programs that match your niche.

Now, here’s a pro tip: While some big advertisers may not approve every affiliate application, you can improve your chances by having a solid profile, excellent blog content, and an engaged audience. In many cases, even if your blog is relatively new, you can still get approved as long as your content is engaging.

When you apply to join any network, here’s a handy trick: create a standout profile. Give them all the details about your blog and your target audience. Show them why you’d be a great affiliate partner for brands like ABCD. These are the kinds of things that can speed up your approval process on almost any network. So, dive in without worrying about any upfront costs!

How To Make Money with ShareASale in 5 Steps

Building a solid income with ShareASale or any affiliate network takes time and effort. It’s all about fostering a strong connection with your audience and earning their trust.

However, if you stay committed to your audience, you’ll see your hard work rewarded.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

Step 1: Apply for Your Affiliate Account

Let’s keep it simple and straightforward. Here’s how to sign up for a ShareASale account:

1. Choose Username and Password: Pick a username and password, and let them know where you’re located.

2. Create Your Main Affiliate Website: This is important for ShareASale to verify your account. Keep in mind that ShareASale has some rules about what types of affiliate marketing sites are allowed, and adult content is a no-go.

3. Use Your Domain Email: It’s better to use an email address like @yourdomain.com instead of a free one like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.

4. Payment Details: Provide your full contact details and specify who you want affiliate checks to be made out to.

5. Choose Your Payment Method: Note that there isn’t a PayPal option.

6. Review and Agree: Read through their terms and conditions, agree to them, and then click the confirmation email to submit your application.

Typically, ShareASale takes about a day or two to approve an account, excluding weekends and holidays. In my experience, my application was approved in just 24 hours, which was quicker and simpler than other networks I’ve tried. You should be able to complete your application in about 15 minutes or less.

For a quick look at the ShareASale affiliate account homepage, check out the video below.

Step 2: Find Affiliate Products to Promote

Now, let’s get into the fun part: finding affiliate products to promote!

ShareASale offers nearly 4,000 different affiliate programs, covering a wide variety of categories. This makes it super easy to choose programs that align with your interests. Whether you’re into fashion, business, eco-friendly products, or home and garden, there’s something for everyone.

The commission you earn can vary from program to program. Some companies offer commissions as low as 3.00%, while others are quite generous, going up to 30% or more. Keep in mind that some programs offer flat fees, like $20 for each lead or $40 for every sale.

Currently, ShareASale boasts 5,921 pay-per-sale programs and 333 pay-per-lead programs on their website. Plus, they keep adding new programs regularly, so you’ll always have fresh options to explore.

Don’t be fooled by lower commission percentages; they don’t necessarily mean lower quality. Some programs come with extra perks like sophisticated sales banners and links to help you succeed.

The more appealing the offers on your platform, the more likely your readers will click through to the merchant’s website. This not only makes your job as an affiliate easier but can also boost your earnings, especially if you run pay-per-click sites.

ShareASale features a wide range of high-quality products from well-known brands. While the specific brands may change over time, here are some top names available at the moment:

• Weebly
• Reebok
• MyPillow
• Brooklinen
• Erin Condren
• Smile Direct Club
• Sun Basket

Moreover, ShareASale offers a diverse selection of top-notch niche offers. Unlike some networks with spammy or low-quality programs, ShareASale maintains high standards, putting it on par with other reputable networks like Flex Offers and Commission Junction. 

Step 3: Create Affiliate Links

Creating affiliate links on ShareASale is a breeze, as you’ll discover.

1. First, head to the top navigation menu and click on “Links,” then select ‘Get a Link/Banner.’

2. On the next screen, simply click on ‘Get Links.’

That’s it! You’re all set. Now, you just need to decide what type of ad creative you want, whether it’s a text link, a banner, or something else. Then, grab the HTML code provided.

ShareASale offers some nifty ways to create affiliate links:

• Custom Link Tool: This in-house tool lets you whip up short links in a snap.

• Make-A-Page: Want to create product galleries? Make-A-Page has you covered.

• Product Showcase: You can also design banners that display specific products.

ShareASale earns high marks for innovation in this department.

Step 4: Promote Your Chosen Products

Now that you’ve selected the products you want to promote and gained approval from the advertisers, it’s time to roll out your promotion plan on your website or social media.

To earn commissions from the sales you generate, it’s crucial to have your affiliate links prominently displayed on your website. There are various ways to promote these products, depending on how you want to present them. You have options like product feeds, attention-grabbing display banners, money-saving coupons, and custom links (deeplinks).

Two essential tools every content creator should know about are deeplinking and promotional graphics and banners. These tools provide everything you need to start promoting products your audience will love – clickable affiliate links and attractive affiliate images.

If you’re a content provider like an influencer, blogger, or have an editorial site and want to promote specific products individually, consider creating product links directly from the advertiser’s website. Our handy Product Discovery Bookmarklet can assist you with this by helping you create trackable links right from the merchant’s site.

On the other hand, if you run a price/product comparison or a shopping directory and want to link to numerous different products without the hassle of generating a deeplink for each one, you can grab a comprehensive list of products and advertiser offers. This list includes the product name, description, price, and a deeplink to that product page. You can do this through Create-a-Feed or Product Feed List Download.

Moreover, you can promote via banners and codes, which you can find in your ShareASale account under LINKS > GET A LINK/BANNER and LINKS > COUPONS/OFFERS.

Step 5: Keep an Eye on Your Performance

Tracking how well you’re doing on ShareASale is a must. It helps you fine-tune your affiliate strategy and boost your earnings. Here’s how to do it with ease:

• Reports Galore: ShareASale offers various reports to help you understand your performance. These reports cover everything from clicks and sales to the commission you earn from each link.

• Activity Details Report: This report gives you a quick overview of your recent affiliate link activity. You can see clicks, sale amounts, commissions, and more all in one place.

• Merchant Summary Report: Need info on a specific merchant partner? This report has all the key details you’re looking for.

• Invalid Links Report: Broken links are a no-no. This report helps you spot them and tells you why they’re not working. It includes info like Merchant ID, Banner ID, and the referrer.

To make the most of these reports, you can watch a helpful YouTube tutorial provided by ShareASale.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your EPC (Earnings Per Click). It’s a metric I always pay attention to. If your EPC isn’t meeting or surpassing the average EPC of other affiliates in the same program, it’s a sign that you might need to adjust your strategy. It could mean the product you’re promoting isn’t resonating with your audience, or you need to improve how you encourage clicks and purchases. It’s a smart way to fine-tune your approach for better results.

Learn more: Best Affiliate Marketing Courses

Final Thoughts

ShareASale is a reputable affiliate marketing network to help you make money online. Once your program is in motion, you may be pleasantly surprised by the income it generates.

Think of affiliate marketing as a business venture. Successful businesses prioritize customer service and meeting their customers’ desires. Shift your focus from what you want to write about to what your readers want. Find a specific target audience, cater to their needs, and reap the rewards. It’s that straightforward.

Remember to identify the need, meet it, and enjoy the rewards. ShareASale can lead to fruitful results!

If you need more guidance, sign up for my online business coaching.