Writers have a great opportunity to make money beyond just selling articles or books. Thanks to affiliate networks like ShareASale, it’s possible to turn your love of writing into a stream of passive income. Even if you’re new to affiliate marketing, taking the right steps can help you match your writing style with the kind of promotions that actually pay off.
Affiliate marketing with ShareASale lets you team up with brands who match your niche and audience. As a writer, you can recommend products or services within your blog posts, newsletters, ebooks, or even social platforms, then earn commissions when readers make a purchase through your special links.
This guide covers the process step by step. I’ll walk you through applying to ShareASale, picking profitable products as a writer, weaving affiliate links naturally into your content, building trust with your audience, and using analytics to give your results a boost. Along the way, I’ll also sprinkle in extra tips to help you make the most of your unique voice, build meaningful connections, and set yourself up for long-term affiliate income success.
Step 1: Understand What ShareASale Offers Writers
ShareASale is one of the largest affiliate networks around, connecting publishers (that’s you, the writer) with thousands of merchants. When you join, you get access to tons of affiliate programs in categories like books, software, courses, and more. Pretty much anything you can imagine. Plenty of these programs are a natural fit for freelance writers, bloggers, copywriters, or anyone who creates written content online.
How ShareASale Works:
- Writers apply for a free account and browse available merchants.
- After joining specific programs, you generate unique affiliate links for products or services.
- When people click those links and make purchases, you earn a percentage of the sale.
What’s handy is that ShareASale takes care of all the tracking, payments, and reporting. You don’t need any advanced technical skills—just bring your writing talent and a willingness to learn how to connect readers with great offers.
Step 2: Get Accepted and Set Up Your Writer Profile
The sign-up process for ShareASale is easy. You’ll need a website or active blog to get approved, since merchants want to see where you’ll be placing their links. If you don’t already have a blog, you can create a simple one using platforms like WordPress or Medium. If you write for multiple sites or have a newsletter, mention them as well when signing up.
Tips to Improve Your Application:
- Show off a clean, professional site—even basic, relevant content helps.
- Add an ‘About’ section explaining who you are and the topics you write about.
- Use your real name and contact info for credibility.
After approval, fill out your profile completely. Merchants sometimes check publisher profiles before approving you into their program, so having samples of your writing and a brief bio can make a big difference. Insert links to your best articles or published portfolios to stand out.
Remember, taking the time to build a thorough, authentic profile will help you get accepted by more affiliate programs, especially those that want to partner with genuine, skilled writers.
Step 3: Pick Affiliate Programs That Fit Your Writing Niche
The real trick to making money with ShareASale as a writer is picking programs that your readers actually care about. Promoting random stuff rarely pays off. Instead, focus on products and services related to what you’re already writing about. This relevance is vital for reader trust and better conversion rates.
Finding the Right Programs:
- Browse ShareASale’s directory by category (books, tools for writers, educational software, online courses, etc.).
- Check commission rates—higher isn’t always better, but it’s worth considering.
- Give a once-over to merchant websites to make sure they look reputable and trustworthy before you recommend them.
Examples for Writers:
- Grammar and editing software
- Bookstores (print or digital)
- Productivity and notetaking tools
- Online course platforms for writing or freelancing
- Website hosting and design services
I’ve found that genuine recommendations go a lot further than whatever “pays the most.” It feels more natural, and your readers can tell when you’re recommending something you actually put to work yourself.
Keeping your affiliate offer tightly aligned with your usual content topics builds authority, shapes your reputation as a trusted source, and makes future collaborations with merchants much easier to land.
Step 4: Write Content That Pairs Naturally With Affiliate Links
Sneaking links in at the end of a blog post rarely works. What really helps is creating content where an affiliate product or service is actually helpful to the reader. Here are some ways I’ve woven affiliate links into my writing without sounding salesy or forced.
Content Ideas That Perform Well:
- Tutorials or how-to guides (for example, “How I Outline My Articles Using [Tool]”)
- Product reviews from a writer’s perspective
- Comparisons between writing tools or services
- Resource lists (like “The Best Apps and Courses for Freelance Writers”)
- Personal stories where a product solved your writing problem
Whenever you include an affiliate link, make sure it feels like part of the solution and is actually relevant, not just there to get a commission. For example, if you’re reviewing a grammar tool you actually use in your process, readers are more likely to trust and click.
Experiment with mixing in links naturally throughout your content, such as in step-by-step guides or case studies. Share screenshots, explain your workflow, or provide examples—anything that makes your recommendation practical for readers.
Step 5: Stay Transparent and Build Reader Trust
Earning with affiliate links is about trust. Always disclose that you might get a small commission if someone buys through your link. I like to keep this simple, just a quick sentence at the top or bottom of my posts does the trick. Not only is this required by law in most places, but it also builds trust with your audience.
Don’t go overboard with promotional content. I try to keep a healthy balance between informational content and affiliate offers. If every post is a sales pitch, readers tend to look elsewhere.
Showcasing your real experiences (good and bad) with products, being open about affiliate partnerships, and sharing honest opinions all make a difference. Building a loyal audience means treating readers like friends you want to help—trust is the foundation for continued affiliate success.
Step 6: Get Traffic to Your Affiliate Content
Affiliate marketing income depends on people actually seeing your content and clicking those links. This is where learning some basic SEO (search engine optimization) and content promotion comes in handy.
Ways to Get More Eyes on Your Work:
- Write keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions so people can find your posts through search engines.
- Share posts on social platforms where writers and readers hang out, like Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Facebook groups.
- Send your best affiliate articles to your email list.
- Repurpose content into different formats (ebooks, PDFs, guest posts) with affiliate links included.
Organic search takes time, so I also like to mix in a bit of outreach by posting in forums (where allowed) or guest blogging with a relevant link or two pointing back to my content.
Networking with fellow writers, leaving helpful comments, collaborating on projects, and joining writing communities can also get the word out. The more places your content can be found, the more potential clicks and commissions you’ll see.
Step 7: Use ShareASale Analytics to Fine-Tune Your Strategy
ShareASale gives publishers a dashboard full of useful stats such as clicks, sales, conversion rates, and more. I’ve found these metrics pretty handy for figuring out which merchants or content types actually deliver the best results.
How to Use Analytics:
- Spot which links get clicks but don’t convert, and tweak your call to action or messaging.
- See which topics or posts turn into commissions, then create more articles like those.
- Experiment with different placements for your links; try out buttons, in-text links, or banners to see what works best.
Trying new ideas, tracking results, and making improvements each month helps you get better over time. That’s when affiliate earnings really start to stack up and your strategy turns into solid, passive income.
Common Questions and Handy Tips for Writer Affiliates
How soon can I make money after joining ShareASale?
It depends. Some see results in a few weeks; for others, it takes a few months. The more focused and helpful your content, the faster you’ll likely see your first commissions. Stay consistent and keep refining your approach.
What if my audience is small?
You don’t need a massive following to get started. A smaller, engaged group of readers who trust your recommendations can convert at a surprising rate. Start small, foster strong relationships, and watch your influence grow over time.
Are there rules about where I put my affiliate links?
Almost any written format works—blogs, newsletters, ebooks, guides, or even social bios. Just make sure you respect the disclosure requirements in your country. Be transparent at all times to keep things above board.
Remember, consistency is key. Keep learning about your niche, listen to reader feedback, and keep an eye out for new products and affiliate opportunities to keep your content fresh and valuable.
Your Action Plan for Affiliate Earnings With ShareASale
- Sign up for a ShareASale publisher account and set up your profile as a writer.
- Pick two or three affiliate programs that actually fit the topics you already write about.
- Brainstorm content ideas where those products add real value to your audience.
- Write, publish, and promote your posts using SEO and social sharing to get more eyes on your work.
- Monitor performance, adjust your strategy, and build on what works best for long-term growth.
Affiliate marketing with ShareASale brings an extra layer of income and value to your writing career. By choosing the right products, adding helpful content, and being transparent with your readers, you can build a steady, long-term income stream around what you love most: writing. Stick with it, keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to try new ideas—you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish by making the most of your writing passion and affiliate opportunities.
