Bloggers can be affiliates for freebies! Shortly after I began blogging I learned that you can be an affiliate for Amazon.com and other retailers. By referring customers to those online stores you get a percentage of the purchases made through those links. Read more about affiliate programs at BlogCoach. I knew that these types of sales-based affiliate programs would probably not work for monetizing my blog since my focus is on how to get things for free instead of buying them.
Then one day (after over 6 months of blogging) I got an email from Logical Media telling me that some of the free samples I was blogging about were ones that I could be getting paid for with each sign-up through my links. I was pleasantly surprised and this began my journey as an affiliate for freebies.
Did you know that you can be an affiliate for free samples, coupons, enewsletters and sweepstakes? When you help spread the word about specific campaigns you get paid for each person that signs-up or prints. Each campaign has different criteria to determine how much you get paid for each successful sign-up (also called a conversion). I participate in a small percentage of the campaigns because I am particular about what types of free samples, coupons, enewsletters and sweepstakes I want to link to from my blog. Each blog has a different audience, and you need to decide which affiliate offers your readers would be most interested in. Here is an example of some affiliate offers:
I would love to refer you to some affiliate programs so that you can investigate if this is a way to monetize your blog. Here are my referral links for affiliate programs I use, with my favorites listed first:
Here are a few more affiliate programs you may want to try:
Coupons.com
ShareASale
more affiliate programs listed at BlogCoach
You do need to apply to these affiliate programs, and they each have different criteria for accepting new affiliates. My advice to you is not to be discouraged if you are at first not accepted. Wait a few months for your traffic to grow or your site to develop and then apply again. Don’t give up because the criteria for accepting new members is constantly changing.
Please share what affiliate programs you are using on your blog in the comments. Have a question about affiliate programs? This is the place to ask it to get a response from me and other bloggers.
I have been a product review blogger for over a year and the ONLY affiliates that I have ever earned from is Logical Media and My Media Savings. These are great for ANY blogger!
Hi Heather! I love your blog. I just registered w/ L. media. They asked for my SS#-which scares me a bit. :OWhen the terms pop up-I noticed that they say you can't do giveaways-does that mean only you can't offer prises to "click here"? Thanks for your help. Please respond back if you can!!!
I to am an affiliate, not necessarily for freebies but I earn about $300 + per month just referring people or as they call it “share and earn” I will be blogging about it today if I have time.
i also have created websites at another site….im only an amateur but also can create free webistes with http://www.bravehost.com
There are a lot of great affiliates out there. I would beware of some of the sites that offer you member ship for like one did to us for 39.99 a month and a free web site. They promise $500 in sales or your money back. However you have to return everything to them, but the time you spend postage both ways, it is easier to just keep the software and they count on that I think. We have had good luck with CJ. Logical Media, and Linkshare and have just stated with checking web sites and asking to join theirs on our own. It is a learning experience and you have to really work at it.Denysewww.turntrash2cash.comwww.delamarketplce.comwww.lasimppan.com
Thanks for this great list! I just started blogging and signed up with Logical Media. Your blogging advice has been really helpful!
I use commission junction with a lot of success. I want to check out Logical Media thanks for sharing. Also check out AllPosters.com They have a great selection! I also use linkshare which has great tools and lots of advertisers.
Thanks for the helpful list of affiliate programs, Heather. I will do some research on them and look forward to getting some on my blog soon!
Thanks so much for your advice! This helps a lot, as I am a newbie to the blogosphere. Rachelhttp://commoncentsical.blogspot.com
I will definitely check with BBB, but it means a lot when I know I can rely on someone else’s recommendation and personal experiences :)
Savvysuzie – Of course I have absolutely no control over what any of these affiliate programs do with the information you submit. I’m sure that they each have a privacy policy that you can read. I can tell you who I’ve received checks from for my participation in their affiliate programs: Logical Media, CPA Storm, Coupons.com, and Commission Junction. I do encourage you to do your own research if you have questions about these businesses. I would think that the Better Business Bureau would be a good place to start.Thanks for all the comments, I’m glad to share this information with you since I wish someone would have shared it with me sooner!
This is great information! Though I always get nervous when a site is asking for my SSN# online…are these sites you use actively and can verify it’s safe to give my info?
Thanks Heather, you have been so helpful to me as I get started blogging! I would love to learn more, and I will be sure to click through your links.
this is such an awesome bunch of information you’ve shared – thank you!! i just signed up this weekend for the affiliate program through the coupon clippers, and was planning in the next couple of weeks to see what other affiliate ideas were out there. it definitely takes some “due diligence” to make sure you’re affiliating yourself and your words with something that you can feel good about – thank you for listing so many in one place!
I love Logical Media! I’ve had good luck with them…. I’m too small for CPA Storm, and haven’t tried the others… You’ve given me more to explore (as always!) Thanks for spilling your trade secrets!