A few of my readers have let me know they have a hard time converting sales with affiliate marketing. Some niches are certainly harder than others. Pay per lead or referral marketing can often convert at a much higher rate in some instances. There is often no cost involved for a reader to sign up, therefore their financial situation is not an issue in the beginning. Many of these programs also offer some type of incentive making it more enticing. Some can even offer you recurring income.
There are numerous sites where you can get paid for referrals. Many of these will not only provide you with a unique referral link to post on your blog or send via email, they are also linked into social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. This can boost your earning potential greatly, provided you are not spamming your family, friends and followers. It’s also a great opportunity for passive income.
Get Store Credit for Referrals
Daily deal sites are big. You can usually earn a good amount of store credit or cash per referral. This is a great way to shop for yourself and the holidays for free.
- Groupon – $10 in Groupon credit for each referral when they make their first purchase.
- LivingSocial – Get your purchase free when 3 friends purchase through your link
- Totsy – Invite friends and earn $15 in Totsy credit
- ThredUp – This is a site to buy/sell children’s clothing and toys. Refer your friends and you both receive $5 in credit.
- Julep – Get a $15 credit for every friend who joins.
- StitchFix – this is my favorite styling service. Get $25 in credit for referring your friends.
Earn Cash and Gift Cards for Referrals
Note: In many cases you may need to use the service at least once before you will get paid to refer new members. Only join those programs you are truly interested in.
- Google Apps – $15 per referral
- MyPoints – You will earn 10% of your referrals’ points. When they make a purchase of at least $20, you both earn an extra 750 points.
- Ebates – $5+ for each qualified new member (get a free $10 gift card this month when you sign up)
- ibotta – Get $5 for registering and $1 for each per you refer.
- Swagbucks – earn 10% of your referral’s earnings for life
- CapitalOne 360 – Get $20 for every friend you refer, up to $1000
- Discover Card – Both you and your friend receive $50 in cashback when they sign up and make a purchase in their first 30 months
Referral Programs for Bloggers
The below programs may be available only to those with an online presence. If you are not yet blogging, check out my post here.
- LinkShare – This network is similar to Commission Junction. $1.50 per referral.
- ShareASale – This network is similar to Commission Junction. $1.00 per referral.
- VigLink – Provides a hands-off affiliate option. Earn 10% of your referrals’ earning during their first year.
- Skimlinks – Similar to VigLink, earn 10-12% of your referrals’ earning for their first year.
- Gazelle – earn $10 for each friend who’s approved as an affiliate
- Offer Juice – earn $2.50 for every new SSI affiliate you refer
Things to Know
The Federal Trade Commission requires all bloggers disclose when you are being compensated for promoting a product or service, that includes when you are sharing a link on social media. Always include the hashtag #ad or #sponsored on social media.
Where to Share My Referral Links
Social Media – Most of those programs that offer a refer-a-friend program make it easy to get the word out with social sharing buttons. You will usually find these on the website page that provides information on the program and your link. Facebook is probably the best choice for sharing, just don’t share too often. You may start losing friends.
Blog Post – If you are a blogger, you have a ready platform for sharing your recommendations naturally. Write up a post telling your readers about the program and why you like it. Share your personal photos of the product if applicable, and don’t forget to include your referral links for registering at the beginning, middle and end of the post.
Donna's Dollhouse says
Getting those conversions can be tough! These are nice alternatives!
Angie says
For sure, Donna! Especially when writing reviews and such is still so new. I had the worst time for quite a while. Once I started promoted a few things that were Pay Per Lead I started becoming a bit more confident. I may have only been making a dollar or two for a sign up, but I was earning something. I then knew that I could convert something at least, and I started experimenting more with my review style. I am not so nervous now.
Anna says
I didn’t realize you could do referrals through Paypal. I will have to check into that a little further.
I don’t think it’s widely advertised, but you can also become an affiliate for Crowdtap through zferral.com. This is separate from what you can earn for referring people on the actual site and is only for blog owners/webmasters. But they’ll give you $1 for each person who signs up if you post their banner on your page!
Great post as always, Angie 🙂
Angie says
Once logged into your PayPal account, do a search in help box for referral. It comes up there.
I hadn’t heard of zferral, Anna! Thanks. I knew some of you would know of some resources I wasn’t yet aware of. 😉
Chrystal says
My bookmark list is a mile long. I should really dust it off and check out what I have accumulated.
Angie says
Every once in a while you run across a big surprise. 😉
Miranda says
Commission Junction and Google Affiliate Network are two that I have been trying to find time to understand. But right now I am really happy with Google Adsense/Infolink and Zferral. But the more the better!
Angie says
Commission Junction is my favorite, and ShareASale has a few high paying Pay Per Lead programs that I promote with much success. I haven’t spent a lot of time in Google’s. Apparently I have been missing out on zferral!
Miranda says
I have installed the Vigilink (thanks to you) and I just went to check out my stats. I had no idea so many of my links offer a referral pay! well..I say so many, even though it has only been 11 clicks (in two weeks). The fact anything is on there surprised me! We will see if it results in any earnings. But I love the set it and forget it aspect!!
Angie says
I love VigLink! I know some affiliates don’t like it because you are giving up 25%, but I often don’t have the time to check everything or wait around for approval. I have earned a little bit, and I can see a few of those I referred are earning also. Best of luck!
Sharon says
I should go check out my Viglink account.
Swagbucks limits you to 1000 points on each referral, but depending on what you are redeeming for (such as Amazon gift cards) it works out to be about 10 bucks. 🙂
Jan says
Can people form South Africa also use these referral links you are talking about. Which one would you say is the best to start off with.
Angie Nelson says
Sorry, Jan. We are based in the U.S. and most of our leads are for U.S. residents.
dollsystore says
Linkworth is scam not paying to publishers.
After my complaints I can’t access linkworth. Now I have contacted paypal and their hosting company about this and I have sent all the proof “invoices and other copies” to paypal.
Paypal and hosting company told me that I should tell to all users that have issues with linkworth that they should send them to paypal. Publishers please be aware Linkworth is SCAM site.is SCAM site.
I know it’s not much but I still respect what I earn and most importantly to avoid other people scammed by linkworth like me.
Angie Nelson says
Thanks for sharing your experience, dollsystore. We will update our post to reflect the possible issue.