ShareASale Review for Merchants and Affiliates: Is it legit?

👉 Introduction #

Are you a content creator looking to get into affiliate marketing? Are you looking for a trusted affiliate marketing platform where you can earn up to 30%? If so, ShareASale is the best platform for you.

With over 20 years in the affiliate marketing landscape, ShareASale has established itself as a trusted name in the industry. With a network of 4,800 merchants, 270,000 active affiliates, and over 25,000 brands across all sectors, ShareASale provides content creators unparalleled opportunities to monetize their content effectively.

Last year alone, affiliates earned a staggering $1.3bn through the platform. In this article, we’ll take a close look at ShareASale. We’ll discuss what makes it unique, how you can earn money with it, and share all the important details you need to know. This review is based on our own research and experiences.

👉 Understanding ShareASale #

What is ShareASale? #

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects merchants with affiliate marketers. Founded by Brian Littleton in 2000 and based in Chicago, ShareASale plays a significant role in affiliate marketing, especially for content creators.

It provides a platform for merchants to promote their products or services through affiliate marketers, who earn a commission for each sale or lead they generate. 

ShareASale’s role in facilitating these partnerships helps businesses of all sizes reach a broader audience and drive more revenue while providing affiliate marketers with opportunities to monetize their online content.

👉 Who can be the affiliate on ShareASale? #

Anyone with an online presence and a desire to monetize their content can become an affiliate on ShareASale. This includes 

• Bloggers
• YouTubers
• Social media influencers
• Website owners and other content creators

ShareASale welcomes affiliates from various niches and industries, allowing them to promote products or services that align with their audience’s interests.

👉 Unique Selling Points #

1. Affiliate Diagnostics #

ShareASale’s affiliate diagnostics tool is a comprehensive feature that allows you to monitor and analyze their campaign performance in real time. This tool provides detailed data on impressions, clicks, and sales. 

By having access to this data, you can identify which aspects of their campaigns are working well and which need improvement. This level of insight is crucial for optimizing marketing strategies and maximizing earnings.

2. Real-Time Click Tracking #

Real-time click tracking is a standout feature in ShareASale’s platform. It allows you to see the performance of their links as soon as they are clicked. This immediate feedback is invaluable for affiliates who need to adjust their campaigns quickly. 

For example, if an affiliate notices that a particular link is not generating the expected traffic or conversions, they can swiftly change their approach or focus on more successful links. This agility is a key advantage in the fast-paced world of affiliate marketing.

3. Custom Link Creation #

ShareASale’s custom link creation feature allows you to tailor promotional links to specific products or pages on a merchant’s website. This is particularly useful for affiliates who want to promote individual items or specific promotions. 

By creating custom links, you can direct their audience to the most relevant and appealing content, which can significantly increase the likelihood of conversions and, ultimately, commission earnings.

4. Power Rank #

The Power Rank feature within the Merchants Tab is a unique tool that highlights the top-performing brands on the ShareASale platform. This ranking helps you quickly identify which merchants are most successful and potentially profitable to partner with. 

By focusing on these high-performing merchants, you can align themselves with brands that have a proven track record of success, thereby increasing their chances of generating substantial commissions.

5. Cookie-less Coupon Tracking #

Privacy concerns are leading to increased use of ad blockers and cookie restrictions these days. ShareASale’s cookie-less coupon tracking feature is a significant advantage. This technology allows affiliates to track sales and earn commissions through coupon codes, even when cookies are not used. This ensures that affiliates can still be credited for their referrals, regardless of the user’s browser settings or privacy preferences.

6. Affiliate API #

ShareASale’s Affiliate API is a powerful tool that allows for extensive customization of the affiliate site. Affiliates can use the API to access a wide range of data points, links, and creatives, giving them the ability to tailor their site and marketing efforts to their specific needs and preferences. 

This level of customization is not commonly offered by other affiliate platforms, making it a standout feature for those who want more control over their affiliate marketing activities.

👉 What is the commission Rate in ShareASale? #

ShareASale offers a flexible commission structure that varies depending on the merchant. Commission rates can be based on a percentage of sales, a flat fee per sale or lead, or a hybrid model combining both. 

The commission rates are set by the individual merchants and are communicated to you through the ShareASale platform. You can view the commission rates for each merchant before choosing to promote their products or services.

Here are a few examples of high-paying niches:

• Fashion and Beauty: 5% to 20% or more, depending on the product and brand
• Health and Wellness: 10% and 30%, particularly for supplements and fitness equipment.
• Technology: 3% to 10% or higher, depending on the product.
• Home and Garden: Commissions in this category vary widely but often range from 5% to 15%.
• Finance and Insurance: These are often high-paying niches, with commissions sometimes exceeding 30% for certain financial products.
• Travel: 2% to 10% or more, depending on the booking type and provider.

👉 What are the main ways of earning in ShareASale? #

ShareASale offers three primary merchant marketing models, allowing you to earn commissions through affiliate marketing efforts. Understanding these models can help you maximize your earnings with the program:

• Pay Per Lead (PPL): In this model, you earn a commission whenever a site visitor follows your affiliate link to the merchant’s lead capture form and completes it. This is an effective way to earn money if you can drive targeted traffic to specific lead-generation pages.

• Pay Per Sale (PPS): With the pay-per-sale model, you receive a commission when a visitor follows your direct link to a product or page and makes a purchase. This model is ideal for affiliates who can effectively promote products and convince their audience to buy.

• Pay Per Click (PPC): In this model, you earn a commission based on the number of clicks generated from ads placed on your website. It’s a straightforward way to earn revenue, especially if you have a high-traffic website.

ShareASale pays out commissions monthly, and you can monitor your earnings anytime by logging into your account. The minimum threshold for cashing out is $50, ensuring you can access your funds as soon as you reach a reasonable amount.

ShareASale Product Category Details #

ShareASale has over 39 product categories for affiliates to find the best product based on their audience niche. Here are some examples:

• Accessories: Jewelry, handbags, belts, hats, etc.
• Art/Music/Photography: Art supplies, musical instruments, photography equipment, etc.
• Auction Services: Online auction platforms, bidding tools, etc.
• Business: Office supplies, business software, marketing tools, etc.
• Automotive: Car parts, accessories, maintenance tools, etc.
• Clothing: Apparel for men, women, and children, including casual wear, formal wear, and sportswear.
• Commerce/Classifieds: E-commerce platforms, classified ads services, etc.
• Computers/Electronics: Laptops, smartphones, tablets, audio equipment, etc.
• Domain Names: Web hosting, domain registration, website builders, etc.
• Education: Online courses, educational materials, tutoring services, etc.

For more details about merchants and categories, visit this page: ShareASale Merchant Preview.

👉 Pros and Cons of ShareASale #

🔹 Pros of ShareASale: #

Access to a Variety of Merchant Programs: With over 25000 merchants, ShareASale offers a wide range of affiliate programs, including big-name brands and high-ticket programs, as well as opportunities for smaller bloggers and merchants to partner with small businesses.

Easy Link Tracking and Alerts: ShareASale provides easy link tracking, allowing you to monitor their revenue easily.

Responsive Customer Support: ShareASale offers timely customer support and resources, including free webinars and educational materials, ensuring that affiliates and brands receive the assistance they need.

Invalid Link Reports: ShareASale actively safeguards affiliate links and provides reports on invalid links, helping you maintain the integrity of their campaigns.

Invitations to Join Programs: ShareASale’s platform is filled with invitations to join affiliate programs, making it easy for you to find partnerships that align with your interests and goals.

Monthly Payment Cycle: ShareASale pays affiliates monthly, with payments processed on the 20th of every month.

🔸 Cons of ShareASale: #

Relevance of Partnerships: While ShareASale offers a wide range of partnerships, some affiliates may find that not all partnerships are relevant to their niche or audience.

Merchant Responsiveness: Some merchants on ShareASale may not respond promptly to affiliate applications, requiring affiliates to be patient in seeking partnerships.

Minimum Payout Requirement: ShareASale has a minimum payout requirement of $50, which is lower than other affiliate networks but may still be a consideration for affiliates looking to reach higher payout thresholds.

Entry fee for merchants: ShareASale charges a significant joining fee of $625 and a recurring monthly platform fee of $35, which may be a barrier for small businesses or merchants with limited budgets.

👉 How to become a merchant on ShareASale? #

1. Visit ShareASale’s merchant page and click on Merchant Sign Up on the top right.

2. Now, you will be asked to fill in a form with your details, including basic information such as name, address, phone number, and company name. You must also provide publishing information, such as a valid website and email address. Additionally, you will be required to create a unique username and password to access your merchant account.

Once you fill in these details, click on Setup Wizard.

3. Now, here, you can begin setting up your account.

4. In ShareASale, you can select from two types of programs: one for sales and another for leads. Choose the program that best aligns with your business needs, or opt for both to maximize your affiliate marketing strategy.

5. When you select any program, you will be asked to enter commission rates and per-lead commissions.

6. Once you are done with that, there are a few more details that you have to fill in.

• Bio: Enter details about your program, product, and commission offered

• Keywords/Categories: You have to enter the targeted keywords here and select your product category

• Company logo: Here, you’ll be asked to upload logos

• Program Agreement and PPC Rules: You must write an agreement here and add keywords that affiliates should not target during their PPC campaigns. You can opt out of PPC campaigns if you don’t want affiliates to run a PPC program.

• Auto approval: This option will help you auto-approve affiliates based on their feedback score. This will save you time and ensure that your affiliates have good feedback scores and can promote your product.

• Responder: Here, you have to set auto email response when affiliates apply, and their application is either denied or accepted

7. Once you complete filling in all the details, you must install the tracker code. To add a ShareASale tracking code, choose your shopping cart (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento) on ShareASale and follow the provided instructions to install the tracking pixel. It’s recommended to have a web developer or admin handle this step. Once installed, test the tracker by creating a $1 dummy item on your store and completing a test transaction to ensure proper integration.

8. The final step in setting up your ShareASale account is the Fee and Payment Deposit. After completing this, you can begin uploading banners and approving affiliates to start your journey with ShareASale.

Key advantages for merchants

• Broad Affiliate Network: Access to a vast network of affiliates to promote products to diverse audiences.
• Performance-Based Marketing: Pay commissions only for sales, leads, or clicks, ensuring cost-effective marketing.
• Customizable Commission Structures: Flexibility to set up various commission models to align with business goals.
• Advanced Tracking and Reporting: Robust tools to monitor affiliate program performance and optimize strategies.
• Fraud Prevention: Mechanisms to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, ensuring the integrity of the affiliate program.

Here are some reviews from ShareASale’s merchants;

Yogendra: The best thing about ShareASale is that it provides instant results for launched merchants with excellent support and exclusive affiliates, driving high-quality traffic.

Ashina: The best thing about ShareASale is its professionalism, thanks to being part of Awin and its prompt support. It focuses on premium affiliates rather than influencers, which sets it apart from other networks.

Jillian: Most bang for your buck. ShareASale is the most affordable affiliate network.

How to register as an Affiliate on ShareASale?

1. Visit ShareASale’s affiliate page and click on Affiliate Sign Up on the top right.

2. Here, choose a username (which cannot be changed later) and a password. Select your country of residence. Now, click on Step 2

3. You’ll be asked to provide details about your main website for affiliate marketing. Answer questions about using PPC (Pay-per-click) advertising, coupons, and site ownership. ShareASale does not allow affiliates to place ads on sites they don’t own.

4. Now, add your primary email.

5. Next, you’ll be asked to fill in contact details like name, address, contact number, and a brief site description.

Also, you will be asked a few other questions as well.

Once you answer them, move ahead with the next step.

6. Now select your payment method. Choose from Check via Postal Mail, Check via FedEx or Direct Deposit. You can change this later in your settings.

7. Agree to the Terms and verify your email. Now, you are all set to partner with merchants and promote their products.

Key Advantages for Affiliate  #

• Diverse Merchant Selection: Access to a wide range of merchants across various industries, allowing affiliates to choose programs that align with their niche and audience.
• Transparent Reporting: Real-time tracking and detailed reporting tools to monitor clicks, conversions, and earnings, enabling data-driven decisions.
• Reliable Payments: Timely monthly payments with a minimum threshold of $50, ensuring affiliates are compensated regularly for their efforts.
• Variety of Commission Models: Options to earn through pay-per-sale, pay-per-lead, or pay-per-click, providing flexibility in monetization strategies.
• Marketing Support: Access to various promotional tools, including banners, text links, and product feeds, to help affiliates effectively market products.

Here are some reviews from ShareASale affiliates:

Michael: ShareASale stands out for its fresh, clear layout, wide range of merchants in various niches, and efficient data feed integration with fewer errors. 

Maria: ShareASale impressed me with its straightforward setup process and seamless campaign management. The platform’s features are particularly valuable for those looking to kickstart their affiliate or partner programs.

Larissa: For me, ShareASale stands out for its ease and transparency in affiliate payments. The platform offers a user-friendly merchant sub-site for creating customized links, grabbing coupons, and tracking sales and commissions. Additionally, access to thousands of other merchants is a significant bonus.

Key Metrics:

• Total merchants: 25000+
• Active merchant or Advertiser: 4800+
• Active publishers: 270000+
• Number of brands: 25000+
• Revenue generated for clients: $17 Billion (2023)
• Earnings by affiliates: $1.3Billion (2023)

👉 Is ShareASale a legit or scam affiliate platform? #

Yes, ShareASale is a legitimate affiliate platform. Since its establishment in 2000, ShareASale has built a strong reputation in the affiliate marketing industry. With over two decades in the industry, the platform has proven to be reliable and effective for both affiliates and merchants. This long history shows that ShareASale is a trusted partner in the affiliate marketing world.

Positive reviews from users also support ShareASale’s credibility. Affiliates and merchants have praised the platform for its user-friendly interface, transparent reporting, and timely payments. These testimonials highlight ShareASale’s commitment to creating successful partnerships and ensuring user satisfaction.

Also, ShareASale’s impressive key metrics further confirm its legitimacy. With over 4,800 active merchants, 270,000 active affiliates, and $1.3 billion earned by affiliates in 2023, the platform’s performance is undeniable. These numbers demonstrate ShareASale’s significant impact on the affiliate marketing industry and its ability to provide substantial earning opportunities for its users.

👉 Conclusion #

ShareASale stands out as a highly reliable and effective platform for both affiliates and merchants in the affiliate marketing industry. With its user-friendly interface, a diverse range of products, and a comprehensive support system, it provides ample opportunities for content creators to monetize their online presence. 

The platform’s impressive track record, positive user reviews, and substantial key metrics further solidify its legitimacy and success. For those looking to venture into affiliate marketing, ShareASale offers a trustworthy and lucrative platform to explore and grow their business.

Are you looking to build a platform like ShareASale? Contact EnactSoft Team to leverage our expertise in affiliate software development and bring your vision to life with cutting-edge solutions. Let’s make your idea a reality!

FAQ’s

1. Can influencers use ShareASale?

Yes, influencers can use ShareASale to monetize their online presence.

2. Is ShareASale legit?

Yes, it is a legitimate platform and not a scam. ShareASale has a 20-year-long track record of transparent operations and positive user experiences. It has consistently paid affiliates($915 million in 2023) and provided a platform for merchants to grow their businesses through affiliate marketing. 

3. What’s the payout cycle of ShareASale?

ShareASale pays affiliates monthly, with payments processed on the 20th of every month.

4. What problems is ShareASale solving and how is that benefiting you?

ShareASale solves the problem of connecting merchants with relevant affiliates, benefiting users by providing opportunities to earn commissions through partnerships.