If you've ever thought about taking your love of arts and crafts to the next level and wonder what an affiliate is or does, then stay with me. I'm going to be covering some basics about how to become an affiliate and what that entails. Although affiliates come from many other skill sets and industries, my primary focus will be on the craft and hobby industry, as that is where my personal experience lies. I am by no means an expert, but am happy to share what I do know, in the hopes that you can make that choice for yourself and decide if this is something that would be a good fit for you.
(FTC Disclosure: as an affiliate for various companies in the craft industry, I will receive a small commission for purchases made through my convenient affiliate links, at no additional cost to you.)
So, what is an affiliate? They come from all walks of life. If you have any interaction with social media, whether it be a company site or a craft group on Facebook, then you've probably interacted with an affiliate. An affiliate is someone who has an affiliation or relationship with a company, to sell and promote their products. It might be a DIY blogger, a design team member or an avid fan of the product.
Not all companies have an affiliate program. Some reserve that right specifically for their design team. However, many do. The programs vary, as do the requirements to become an affiliate. The burning question is, "How do I get started?".
Keep in mind, most companies are looking for someone who has an active presence on social media. It never hurts to be a fan and user of the product but you will need to have a plan on how you're going to promote the product for the company, in order to be accepted as an affiliate.
There are so many different affiliate programs with different requirements. One site, that houses multiple companies under it's roof, is Shareasale.com. I'm an affiliate for Shareasale and it's a wonderful program. You'll find so many articles and information for new affiliates on their blog. In fact, if you sign up as an affiliate through my link above, I will receive a lead commission, once you have generated $20 in commissions. I would be remiss if I didn't share that with you!
Why should you sign up at Shareasale? Well, it's the hub for a ton of craft companies. This is where you go if you want to become an affiliate for brands like:
See what I did there? I linked my affiliate link to each company above and yes, I'm an affiliate for all of them and several others, through Shareasale!
You will need to fill out an application at Shareasale which involves adding your bank account information and your tax information. This is required. As you earn commission, the money accrues in your Shareasale account. There is a lock date for disbursement of commissions earned ($50 minimum) once a month and it is direct deposited into your bank account. I don't want to confuse you and throw too much information out there at one time, but you do need to know these requirements when applying. Once you've filled out your Shareasale application and linked all the required information then, you must be approved by Shareasale.
Once you're approved, you can then do a merchant search on the site for any brands that you're interested in becoming affiliated with. You will then fill out an application for that brand, who will require a plan of action on how you plan to promote their products.
Keep in mind, you may or may not be approved. Depending on your plan of action (promoting on your various social media channels, sharing sales, new releases and promotions, etc.) a company may automatically approve your application, may consider your application and notify you at a later date, or may even refuse your application.
Honestly? I've never had a company refuse me as an affiliate. I'm selective about who I chose to become affiliated with. I also will only apply as an affiliate if I absolutely love the brand or company. If you don't love a product or brand, it will show. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a relationship with the brand. That may be the key factor in whether or not you're accepted as an affiliate.
There are other companies who have their own affiliate programs through other sites. Typically, you can scroll to the bottom of a company corporate page and find a link or informational page to apply to their affiliate program (as pictured in my 2nd graphic).
Some companies will want to know the links to your social media, how many followers you have on Pinterest or YouTube, for example. Whether you have 500 or 10,000 followers, that's not necessarily a deal breaker in being accepted. Some companies simply want the information for tracking purposes and reports.
There is so much information out there on affiliates, so many different programs, and so many unique ways to share your love of a product and perhaps earn a few bucks in the process.
I know a lot of crafters who have turned this into their full time job. Each one will tell you, it's a lot of hard work, albeit, work that they love! Although I work a full time job outside this industry, I've chosen to do affiliate work on the side. As a part time craft blogger (but full time lover of all things stamping and paper!), I spend many evenings each week and some weekends, creating and in preparation for promoting my projects on social media. Most of the projects and work I do are affiliated projects. However, I also do other projects that are not affiliate related but simply because I love the product.
The bottom line is this. If you wish to become an affiliate in this industry, I believe there are 3 key components that every affiliate should strive for, in addition to being tech savvy. Let's face it, if you don't understand how technology works, this is not for you. There is a learning curve involved, but if you have the will and desire, you can make it happen! So, here it is:
- Relationship. Having a relationship with the brand is key. Being active in their forums, groups, etc and interacting with others who are like minded, gets your name out there and recognized.
2. Determination. If you don't have the desire or drive to continually be involved with the brand, interact with others and promote, promote, promote, then affiliate work may not be for you.
3. Quality. Let's be honest. If you love what you do, it shows. However, as an affiliate, you have to not only love what you do, but you have to put your best foot forward. That means, putting out quality work and imagery. If you want someone to purchase a product, imagery sells. Imagery is not only a top notch project, but excellent lighting and staging of your project. You are not only selling the product, but you are selling yourself as well. That's a whole other topic for another day!
So, let's wrap this up. Does it take money to make money? Some companies will send you products free of charge, or in exchange for product reviews. I still purchase stamps, paper and supplies that I love. The bonus factor in becoming an affiliate is some companies allow you to make a commission off your own purchases through their affiliate link. It's just a small way to offset the cost of outright buying the product at full price.
You do need to know this; there are laws and guidelines in place for affiliates. The federal trade commission requires that you make FTC disclosure and notify others that you are receiving product or commission on purchases made through your affiliate links. This is in place to avoid deceptive practices. You can learn more about FTC disclosure, here. If you'll notice under the first paragraph of this blog post above, I always place FTC disclosure! You also need to disclose affiliate status when sharing on other social media, whether it be a simple "affiliate" mention somewhere in the post, or a "paid sponsorship" post.
You also need to be aware of laws in your state. For example, I live in what's considered a Nexus state. That means a law has been passed that requires any company who does business in that state to pay online taxes. This can affect whether you are accepted as an affiliate on a commission basis or per click basis. Because I live in a Nexus state, some of my commissions are per click. That means if you click any of my affiliate links, I will receive a less than 0.25 cent commission, whether you make a purchase or not. You have no idea how much I appreciate you clicking those product links!!
The laws are different in each state and each company sets their own commission, so commission rates will vary.
Do I make a boatload of money? I wish the answer was yes! What I do make is about enough to buy a handful of Starbucks drinks for myself and a friend, every month! It's all about time. The more time you put in, the more work you put in, the more relationships you develop with others, the more you receive. Being an affiliate, for me, is not about the money. What I do make helps offset the expense to run my blog, giveaways on social media and technology expense that is often involved for the creative process. There are free apps out there for editing photos but good quality photos often need the assistance of a paid program or software.
I've probably gone way over my time limit here. If you've hung out until the end, then God bless you! I know I've thrown a lot at you and I hope this is invaluable information to you. I hope I haven't scared anyone off!! Listen, if you are a lover of a product, just start out with one company. See if they'll take you on and give it a go. Learn all you can and then just blossom from there. Good luck and I would love to hear your comments below, if this information was helpful.
Have a great day and stay crafty, my friends! Terri
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