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More and more people are using ad blockers when surfing the web, meaning that nearly one in four paid ads never reach their audience. This has reshaped the marketing landscape and resulted in the need for a more creative solution.
Enter Affiliate Marketing. This strategy has led to companies tapping into the networks and reliability of influencers, content creators, and advertising experts to find leads out in the wild.
Let’s take a look at some of the most successful affiliate strategies around, and see what they can teach us about crafting an effective campaign.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a trusted VPN and internet security software that allows users to protect their identity online. Operating their affiliate program for years has helped them grow tremendously.
- Cookie Life - 30 days
- Commission Levels - New Monthly Subscriber 100%, New Yearly Subscriber 40%, Renewals 30%
- Added Features - Global tracking and SEO support
This program, along with its other initiatives, was able to turn NordVPN into the largest VPN service in the world.
Lifetime Revenue Share
NordVPN boasts a set rate for their affiliates on all future renewals of their software. This means no matter how long someone uses the VPN, the affiliate who brought them in will receive a commission.
This strategy encourages affiliates to find leads that will use and enjoy NordVPN far into the future, steadily building the brand and keeping a source of income long-term. The company enjoys top-notch leads, and the affiliates are happy.
Shopify
Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that allows users to create an online store easily. Their affiliate program offers a set commission rate and a wide range of promotional materials to help affiliates succeed.
- Cookie Life - 30 days
- Commission Levels - $58 per sale
- Added Features - Lead tracking and content resources
With a team of dedicated affiliates, Shopify has become one of the most recognizable names in e-commerce.
Top Affiliate Exposure
Shopify rewards top-performing affiliates with market exposure and brand growth. This boosts brand loyalty and brings in more revenue for both the affiliate and Shopify.
New affiliates are encouraged to innovate and grow their network, hoping to become part of this elite group of marketers. This is an easy way for Shopify to use its reach as a global brand to incentivize quality work from its affiliates.
WP Engine
WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting service that offers a fast and reliable platform for websites. With a generous commission, exclusive promotions, and personalized support for affiliates, their affiliate program has been super successful.
- Cookie Life - 180 days
- Commission Levels - $200 or first month's payment (whichever is higher), bonuses for volume of referrals
- Added Features - Exclusive coupons and discounts for leads
With a highly reputable service and a strong affiliate program, WP Engine has grown in popularity and become a top choice for WordPress hosting.
Two-Tier Tracking
Affiliates can not only refer leads to WP Engine but also new affiliates. This system means that any time the new affiliate makes a sale, the person who brought them onto the team also makes $50.
By incentivizing bringing on more affiliates, WP Engine can increase the amount of leads they have coming in, and ensure their affiliates are top-notch. It ultimately leads to more revenue and happier affiliates.
LastPass
LastPass is a password management software that offers users a secure and convenient way to store and manage their passwords. Their affiliate program goes beyond referrals and strives to make partners out of their users.
- Cookie Life - 45 days
- Commission Levels - 25%
- Added Features - Content and branding materials, help from experts
Through its effective affiliate program, LastPass has seen exponential growth in users, serving over 33 million people.
Partner Training
LastPass stands out from the affiliate program crowd with its “LastPass University.” This portal offers affiliates high-level training for sales and technical support, helping them move from affiliates to experts offering help and solutions to their audience.
This system helps attract driven affiliates who want to grow along with their business. It also raises a swath of industry professionals who are all working with LastPass and promoting their brand.
Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft Office 365 is a suite of productivity tools that has become a staple in many workplaces and homes. By allowing niche creators and affiliate marketers in on the action, they have been able to consistently stay on top of the competition.
- Cookie Life - 14 days
- Commission Levels - $5 for monthly subscription, $10 for annual
- Added Features - Simple sign-up and management
As a well-known and highly trusted brand, Microsoft Office 365 has seen great success through its affiliate program, reaching a wide audience and increasing its customer base.
Years of Trust
Microsoft’s affiliate program is unique because they come to it with years of experience and a household name. This means they can offer lower commission rates hinging on the idea that affiliates will be able to bring in multiple leads.
Lots of people use Office 365 already, so it’s a relatively easy sell that doesn’t require as much from affiliates. If you’re already extremely well-known within your niche, you may be able to take a page from their book and keep commissions lower.
LifeLock
LifeLock is a leading identity theft protection service that offers comprehensive solutions to keep personal information secure. With competitive commissions, customized ads and banners, and easy-to-use tracking tools, their affiliate program is one to watch.
- Cookie Life - 30 days
- Commission Levels - $8 - $100 depending on subscription plan
- Added Features - Custom content and exclusive customer promotions
This, along with their strong reputation and reliable services, has helped make LifeLock a household name in the identity protection industry.
Data, Data, Data
LifeLock ensures all their affiliates have access to as many performance stats as they could possibly need. This means they can see exactly what’s working, and which leads might need a little more convincing.
This kind of data helps affiliates test out strategies and find what works best. If one kind of promotion consistently leads to higher-value leads, that information makes everyone’s jobs easier and leads to more revenue for both LifeLock and its affiliates.
Moosend
Moosend is a popular email marketing platform that offers a user-friendly interface and advanced features for businesses of all sizes. Their affiliate program provides competitive commissions, real-time tracking, and a dedicated affiliate manager for support.
- Cookie Life - 90 days
- Commission Levels - 30% - 40% lifetime commission
- Added Features - High earnings per click and huge affiliate resource center
This program has played a crucial role in Moosend's growth and reputation in the email marketing industry.
Lasting Cookies
Moosend makes use of a longer-than-average cookie length. Customers have nearly three months to consider subscribing before affiliates lose out on that cash.
This is highly effective when attracting high-level affiliates because they know there is a longer time limit on their ads working.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a sales CRM software that helps sales teams organize and manage their pipelines. With several tiers to their program, they can provide proper support to anyone hoping to market their SaaS.
- Cookie Life - 90 days
- Commission Levels - 30% - 40% lifetime commission
- Added Features - No fee or minimum sales, no cap on earning
This has helped Pipedrive gain traction in the market and has made it a go-to choice for businesses looking to streamline their sales processes.
Tiered System
Pipedrive’s Affiliate program features several offshoots to encompass various types of partnerships. From resellers to integrated businesses to traditional affiliates, everything is run through the same system.
This allows Pipedrive to keep a handle on all of its affiliate marketing efforts while providing a space for more lucrative partnerships to form. With flexibility and drive, they’ve been able to keep everything in one place and find success across the board.
Teachable
Teachable is an online platform for creating and selling online courses. Their affiliate program offers a recurring commission, custom tracking, and a 90-day cookie window.
- Cookie Life - 90 days
- Commission Levels - 30% year-long commission
- Added Features - Campaign data, unique tracking code
With a growing demand for online courses, Teachable's affiliate program has helped drive their success and attract even more creators to their platform.
In the Know
Teachable sends out a monthly newsletter to keep their affiliates informed about any updates and new content on the site. This acts as a continual reminder to keep them on the grind and also ensures everyone is using up-to-date info to bring in more leads.
With current information to draw them in, more leads turn into customers. Teachable’s affiliates also benefit from reminders of their side hustle until talking about the platform becomes a habit.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is an accounting software that prides itself on ease of use. This philosophy is carried over into their affiliate program, with tons of resources and guides for brand-new affiliates to utilize.
- Cookie Life - 120 days
- Commission Levels - $10 per free trial, $200 per subscription
- Added Features - Extra protection from referral poaching
With their strategy, FreshBooks has brought in over 30 Million customers.
Fresh Content
FreshBooks has designed banners, videos, and infographics for their affiliates to share. This content helps all their affiliate marketers achieve a polished, uniform look. It also makes the program more accessible for anyone who hasn’t done affiliate marketing before.
To aid new affiliates even more, they have crafted an Affiliate Promotion Guide, which helps users generate ideas and start on their marketing journey.
The Bottom Line
Affiliate marketing can be challenging, especially when countless other companies are vying for top affiliates’ attention. By taking the time to learn from the success of others, your team can set up a campaign that brings in top talent and makes it as simple as possible for everyone to find those leads that convert.
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