Earn money from your writing with ShareASale (now Awin)! This comprehensive guide shows writers how to join ShareASale, monetize content through affiliate marketing, choose the best programs, and maximize earnings with SEO, content strategy, and social media. Real examples, ethical tips, and a step-by-step roadmap are included. Turn your words into income today!
Imagine waking up to find that your latest blog post earned you money overnight. It sounds like a writer’s dream, but it’s very much a reality for those who tap into affiliate marketing. For writers and bloggers, sharing genuine recommendations can become a steady income stream – and one of the most popular ways to do this is through ShareASale, an affiliate marketing network now owned by Awin. If you have a knack for writing, you have a golden opportunity to turn your words into earnings.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore how ShareASale can unlock extra income for writers. You’ll learn what ShareASale is and why it’s a game-changer for content creators. We’ll walk through step-by-step how to join ShareASale and get started, cover different ways to monetize your writing with affiliate links, and show you how to choose the best programs to promote. You’ll also discover proven strategies to maximize your earnings – from SEO tricks to content marketing techniques and social media promotion. Along the way, we’ll share real-life examples of successful affiliates (people just like you who earn from their blogs) and offer tips on doing affiliate marketing ethically and effectively.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear roadmap to start earning through ShareASale. Whether you write a personal blog, create niche websites, or produce online articles, affiliate marketing can reward your creativity with income. So, grab a cup of coffee and settle in. It’s time to learn how your writing can not only inspire and inform – but also put money in your pocket, even while you sleep.
What Is ShareASale (Awin), and Why Should Writers Care?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about what ShareASale actually is and why it’s such a powerful tool for writers to earn income. ShareASale is one of the largest affiliate marketing networks, boasting over 6,000 merchants (companies) that offer affiliate programs on its platform. In simple terms, affiliate marketing is a partnership: you, as a writer or content creator, promote a product or service using a special link, and when someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. It’s like getting a referral fee for recommending something you genuinely like.
Think of ShareASale as a huge marketplace connecting publishers (that’s you, the writer/blogger) with merchants (brands or retailers selling products). Instead of joining dozens of separate affiliate programs one by one, ShareASale lets you access thousands of programs all in one place. This is a big deal for a busy writer! With one login, you can find quality products in almost any niche – from fashion and home decor to software and web services – that align with your content. ShareASale has been around for over two decades and has built a solid reputation for reliable tracking and timely payouts. (In fact, ShareASale was so successful that it was acquired by Awin in 2017, becoming part of a global affiliate network. This means more resources and support for affiliates while still maintaining the user-friendly platform writers love.)
Why is ShareASale great for writers? If you’re a blogger or freelance writer, you already excel at creating content and engaging an audience. Affiliate marketing through ShareASale allows you to monetize that skill. Instead of displaying random ads that might not interest your readers, you can hand-pick products or services that fit your audience’s needs. For example, if you run a travel blog, you might join an affiliate program for luggage or travel insurance through ShareASale. If you write about parenting, you could promote a brand of educational kids’ toys available via ShareASale. When you weave these recommendations naturally into your writing, it feels helpful rather than salesy.
Another perk: convenience and variety. ShareASale provides tools to grab your affiliate links, banners, and even ready-made creatives from merchants, all in one dashboard. You don’t have to juggle multiple logins or payment schedules – ShareASale consolidates your earnings and pays you in one go (so if you earn commissions from five different merchants, you get one combined payout). For a writer trying to maximize income, this simplicity is wonderful. You can focus on crafting great content while ShareASale handles the tracking of clicks, sales, and commissions behind the scenes.
In short, ShareASale (Awin) is like a bridge between your content and the products your audience is looking for. It gives your words the power to generate revenue. Now that you know why this platform is worth your attention, let’s get you set up on ShareASale step by step.
Step-by-Step: Joining ShareASale and Starting Your Affiliate Journey
Ready to get started? Follow these steps to join ShareASale and begin your affiliate marketing journey:
- Prepare Your Website or Blog: If you haven’t already, set up a platform where you’ll share content (like a blog or website). Make sure it looks presentable with a few quality posts and essential pages (About, Contact, and a disclosure/privacy policy). You don’t need thousands of visitors yet, but having some content shows that you’re serious. This will help you get approved more easily by both ShareASale and the merchants you’ll apply to later.
- Sign Up for a ShareASale Affiliate Account: Head over to the ShareASale website to create a free affiliate account (you can sign up here). The sign-up form will ask for basic information: your name, email, password, and details about how you’ll promote (usually your website URL and niche). Since you’ll be earning money, you’ll also provide your mailing address and tax ID (like a SSN or EIN in the U.S.) for payment purposes. Don’t worry – signing up is straightforward, and there’s no cost. Just be honest about your site and content.
- Verify and Get Approved: After submitting your application, keep an eye on your email. ShareASale may send a verification email to confirm your address – click that to verify. The ShareASale team will review your application (this can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days). Most writers with legitimate sites get approved without hassle. Once you receive the approval email, you’re in! Log in to your new ShareASale dashboard and take a quick look around. (Tip: Once logged in, you might want to set up your payment preferences in the account settings – e.g., choose direct deposit or check – so that when commissions roll in, you can get paid smoothly.)
- Browse and Join Affiliate Programs: Now the fun begins. Inside the ShareASale dashboard, navigate to the Merchants section. You can search for companies by category or keyword. For example, try searching for topics related to your niche (“travel”, “writing tools”, “fashion”, etc.) to see relevant programs. Each merchant’s listing will show information like commission rate (e.g., 10% per sale) and cookie duration (how long your referral is tracked). When you find a merchant that fits your content, click “Join Program.” Some programs approve you instantly, while others might ask for a bit more info or take time to review your site. You can apply to multiple programs to have a variety of products to promote. Start with a few that really match your audience’s interests.
- Grab Your Affiliate Links: For each program that approves you, you’ll now have access to affiliate links and banners. ShareASale makes it easy – you can click on the merchant and use the “Get Links” or “Get a Link/Banner” option. You might see a general link to the merchant’s homepage or specific product links. Choose a link that makes sense for what you plan to promote. For instance, if you are recommending a specific product in your blog post, see if the merchant offers a deep link to that product page. Copy the affiliate URL (it will be a special link containing your ID). You can also download banners or images if you plan to use those in your site design, but for many writers, text links within your content are most effective.
- Add Links to Your Content: Now, it’s time to weave those affiliate links into your writing. Write a blog post or article that genuinely discusses the product or service, or update an existing relevant post. Place your ShareASale affiliate link where it fits naturally – perhaps hyperlinked in a product name or as a “Learn more” or “Buy now” call-out in your text. Make sure the inclusion feels helpful, not forced. For example: “I recently tried X product, and it significantly improved my workflow [share your experience]. You can find it on their website [affiliate link].” Also, always disclose that your post contains affiliate links (e.g., a simple sentence like “This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”). Transparency is key to building trust with your readers. Once your content and links are in place, publish the post.
- Promote Your Content and Drive Traffic: After publishing, let the world know! Share your new blog post on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and with your email subscribers if you have a list. The more targeted readers that visit your content, the higher the chances that someone will click your affiliate link and make a purchase. In addition, ensure your post is optimized for search engines (SEO) so that people searching on Google can find it over time. (Don’t worry, we’ll cover SEO and promotion strategies in detail later.) The main idea is to get eyes on your content. As traffic grows, so will the potential for earning commissions.
By following these steps, you’ve effectively set up the foundation of your affiliate marketing system. You’ve joined ShareASale, partnered with suitable merchants, and integrated affiliate links into your writing. Next, we’ll explore all the creative ways you can monetize your content with those affiliate partnerships and how to pick the best programs to maximize your earnings.
Ways to Monetize Your Writing with ShareASale Affiliate Links
Once you’re set up on ShareASale, it’s time to get creative with how you make money from it. Being a writer gives you an advantage: you can incorporate affiliate links in a way that feels natural and valuable to your readers. Here are some effective ways to monetize your content using ShareASale:
- In-Depth Product Reviews: Write a detailed review of a product or service relevant to your niche. Share your personal experience, the pros and cons, and how it helped you. For example, if you have a tech blog, you might review a new gadget (say a graphic drawing tablet) that you found on ShareASale. Within the review, include your affiliate link where readers can purchase the item. A sincere, thorough review builds trust – readers feel like they got an honest opinion, and if they’re convinced, they’ll use your link to buy, earning you a commission.
- Top Lists and “Best of” Roundups: People love listicles like “Top 10 Tools for Freelance Writers” or “5 Best Kitchen Gadgets for Busy Moms.” Create a list of recommended items, each with a short description of why you love it. This format lets you include multiple affiliate products in one post. If you’re a travel writer, you might do a roundup of “Best Travel Accessories for Long Flights,” with each item linking to an affiliate product on a merchant’s site. These posts can perform well because they offer quick, bite-sized recommendations and cater to readers looking for suggestions.
- How-To Guides and Tutorials: Craft a tutorial that naturally features an affiliate product as part of the solution. For instance, a DIY home decor blogger could write a post on “How to Organize Your Closet on a Budget” and mention a specific set of storage bins or a closet organizer (with an affiliate link) available via ShareASale. You’re essentially teaching the reader something useful while pointing them to products that can help them accomplish the task. This is a soft-sell approach – the focus is on helping, and the product link is a helpful resource.
- Resources or Recommendations Page: Aside from individual posts, consider having a dedicated page on your blog for “Resources” or “Recommended Products.” This page can list out your favorite tools, services, or products related to your niche, all linked with your ShareASale affiliate URLs. As an example, a freelance writer’s resource page might include their favorite writing software, a grammar checking tool, a comfortable office chair, and a coffee subscription – each item linking to a vendor in ShareASale. Whenever a reader is curious about what you use or suggest, that page serves as a one-stop shop (and a passive income generator as it quietly earns commissions when someone clicks and buys).
- Banner Ads and Visual Links: While your strength is in writing, you can still use visuals to monetize. ShareASale provides banner ads and image creatives for many merchant programs. You can place a few banner ads on your blog’s sidebar or within posts, advertising products that are relevant to your audience. For instance, if you write about fitness, a banner for a sports gear store from ShareASale could catch readers’ eyes. Banners generally have lower click rates than text links within a genuine recommendation, but they can still bring in extra income without additional writing. Just be sure not to clutter your site – a couple of well-placed banners suffice.
- Email Newsletters and E-books: If you maintain an email newsletter for your readers (or if you write downloadable guides/e-books), you can incorporate ShareASale affiliate links there as well. Maybe you send a monthly roundup email, and you include a “Product of the Month” recommendation with an affiliate link, or you have an e-book on, say, DIY crafts that includes links to craft supplies from ShareASale merchants. Always apply the same principle: the recommendation should be relevant and genuinely useful to the reader, so it complements your content rather than feeling like an advertisement.
These methods show that there isn’t just one single way to earn as an affiliate – you can blend multiple approaches. For example, you might write a blog post that is a how-to guide and includes a list of recommended tools (two birds with one stone!). The key is to match the style to what your audience enjoys. If they like stories, weave your affiliate promotions into storytelling. If they prefer quick tips, use lists. No matter the format, your content can drive income as long as it’s aligned with what your readers need or want.
Choosing the Best Affiliate Programs and Products
With hundreds of programs at your fingertips, how do you decide which ones to promote? Choosing the right affiliate programs is crucial for success. The best products to promote are those that strike a balance between being relevant to your audience and offering a decent payout. Here are some factors and tips to help you pick winners:
- Relevance to Your Niche and Audience: This is number one. The product or service should be something your readers actually care about. If you run a cooking blog, kitchen appliances or gourmet ingredients make sense – pet toys or car accessories probably don’t. Think about your audience’s needs and interests. What problems are they trying to solve? What would make their lives easier or more enjoyable? Choose affiliate products that answer those questions. When the product is a natural fit, your content flows better, and your readers are more likely to click and buy.
- Quality and Trustworthiness: Only promote products you believe in. If possible, go for products you’ve tried yourself or that come from brands with a solid reputation. Your audience trusts your opinion; if you recommend something subpar and they have a bad experience, it can hurt your credibility (and they may not click your links again). Before joining a program, do a quick check: look at the merchant’s website – is it professional and secure? Check for product reviews or ratings online to ensure it’s well-regarded. In short, partner with merchants who will treat your referred customers well.
- Commission Rate and Earnings Potential: Different programs offer different commissions. On ShareASale, you might see some merchants offering 5% per sale and others offering 30% or even a flat dollar amount per lead or sale. Higher commission rates can be enticing, but also consider the product price and how likely people are to buy it. A 5% commission on a $1000 item ($50) can earn more than a 20% commission on a $50 item ($10). Also, check if the merchant has a good EPC (Earnings Per Click), which ShareASale often displays – it’s an indicator of how well that program converts on average. Use commission and conversion data as a guide, but don’t chase numbers blindly; relevance and quality still come first.
- Cookie Duration: Remember the cookie tracking we mentioned? This is how long after clicking your link a purchase can still earn you a commission. Cookie durations vary by program – some might be as short as 7 days, others 30 days, and some even 90 days or more. Longer is generally better (it gives your reader more time to decide and still credit you), so if you’re torn between two similar programs, the one with a longer cookie window might be advantageous. However, a short cookie isn’t a deal-breaker if the product is something people buy quickly on impulse.
- Merchant Support and Resources: A good affiliate program provides resources to help you succeed – things like banners, product images, data feeds, or even an affiliate manager you can contact. While this might not be obvious right when you join, you can often tell by the program description or once you’re accepted. If a merchant provides ample promotional materials and has a responsive affiliate manager, it might be easier to work with them. They may also run special promotions or coupon codes you can use to entice your readers, which can boost conversions.
Tip: Don’t overload yourself by joining too many programs at once. Start with a handful of carefully chosen ones. You can always expand later. It’s better to have a few high-performing affiliate partnerships than dozens of programs you barely remember you joined. As you create content and see what resonates with your audience, you’ll get a feel for which products sell well. You can then double down on those or find similar offers. Remember, the goal is to provide value to your readers with relevant recommendations – the commissions will follow naturally when you get that formula right.
Strategies to Maximize Your Affiliate Earnings
Getting everything set up is just the beginning. To truly maximize your earnings with ShareASale, you need to drive traffic and engage your readers so they trust your recommendations. Here are some key strategies to boost your results:
Leverage SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO is a fancy term, but it basically means making your content easy for people to find on Google (and other search engines). Why is this important? The more people who find your blog, the more potential clicks and sales for your affiliate links. Here are a few SEO tips for writers:
- Do Keyword Research: Think about what someone might search for if they were interested in the product you’re promoting. For example, if you’re promoting a particular brand of blender through ShareASale, a keyword could be “BrandName Blender Review” or “best blenders for smoothies“. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or even just Google’s autocomplete suggestions can give you ideas. Once you have a keyword, incorporate it into your post title, headings, and naturally throughout the content.
- Write High-Quality, Informative Content: Search engines prefer content that actually helps people. So, make sure your affiliate posts are thorough and genuinely useful (which, as a good writer, you’re likely doing anyway!). For instance, a 1500-word detailed tutorial or review with lots of helpful info is more likely to rank well than a 300-word skimpy post. The longer people stay and read (because your content is great), the better it looks to Google.
- Optimize On-Page Elements: This includes writing a catchy meta description (a 1-2 sentence summary of the post) that can appear in search results – it’s like an ad for your article, so make it enticing. Use descriptive filenames and alt text for any images on your post (e.g., “BrandName-blender.jpg” with alt text “BrandName Blender for smoothies”). This helps with SEO too. Also, ensure your site loads fast and is mobile-friendly – technical stuff, but important for SEO ranking.
- Build Backlinks Over Time: Backlinks are links from other websites to your post. They signal to Google that your content is credible. You can get backlinks by guest posting on other blogs, being active in communities and forums (in a non-spammy way), or creating content people naturally want to share. For example, if you wrote an ultimate guide that others find useful, they might link to it as a reference.
SEO may sound a bit technical, but at its heart, it’s about understanding what your readers search for and serving them the best content for those searches. Over time, good SEO can bring a steady stream of visitors (and earnings) to your site without you having to promote each post constantly.
Create Valuable Content (Content Marketing 101)
While SEO brings people to your site, great content keeps them there and builds trust, which is essential for affiliate conversions. Think of content marketing as a strategy where every piece of content has a purpose and adds value. Some tips:
- Tell Stories and Be Personable: People remember stories, not sales pitches. Instead of just saying, “This product is great,” share a story of how you used the product and how it made a difference. For example, if you’re promoting a standing desk, you might tell the story of how your back pain disappeared after you started using it while writing all day. By personifying your journey (maybe even naming your desk “Stan the Standing Desk” in a lighthearted way), you make readers feel connected and entertained. This keeps them engaged and more open to what you recommend.
- Solve Problems and Answer Questions: The best content often directly addresses a problem or question the reader has. If you are an affiliate for a grammar checking tool, a blog post titled “How to Eliminate Typos from Your Writing” would attract people looking to improve their writing. In the article, you can discuss various tips and naturally introduce the grammar tool as a helpful solution. By the time you mention the tool (with your ShareASale link), the reader already sees its value.
- Use Eye-Catching Formatting: A wall of text can be daunting. To keep readers’ attention, use clear headings (like we are doing in this article), bullet points, and images or screenshots if relevant. You can even create comparison tables for “Product A vs Product B” if you’re comparing options. Well-structured content is easier to read and more persuasive. For instance, a comparison table of two affiliate products can succinctly show the benefits, prompting a quicker decision by the reader.
- Include Calls to Action (CTA): Don’t shy away from guiding your readers on what to do next. A simple call to action at the end or within your content, like “If you’re ready to try this tool, click here to check it out,” can nudge them to use your affiliate link. Keep the tone friendly and helpful – you’re not demanding they buy, just reminding them the option is there. CTAs can be text links or even a styled button that stands out.
Content marketing for affiliate income is about balancing informative with persuasive. Your primary goal is to inform/entertain/assist the reader. The affiliate commission is a byproduct of helping them find something they need. When your content is genuinely good, readers won’t mind (and often appreciate) the recommendations.
Promote on Social Media and Beyond
Lastly, let’s talk about spreading the word. Even with SEO working for you, actively promoting your content can significantly boost your reach (especially when your site is new or if you want to spike traffic for a limited-time offer).
- Share on Platforms Your Audience Uses: Tailor your approach to where your readers hang out. If you have a career advice blog, maybe LinkedIn and Twitter are your go-to platforms to share your latest post. If you’re a food blogger, Pinterest and Instagram might be more effective since they are visual and popular with recipe hunters. When you share, write a catchy caption or teaser. For instance, when sharing a post about “10 Best Budget Travel Gadgets,” you might write: “Planning a trip? Check out these 10 budget-friendly travel gadgets that changed the way I travel! [link]”. This sparks curiosity without giving everything away.
- Engage with Communities: Join Facebook groups, subreddits (Reddit communities), or online forums related to your niche. Be a genuine participant – answer questions, offer tips, and share your expertise. When appropriate, you can share your content. For example, if someone in a forum asks, “How can I save money on office supplies?”, you might respond with helpful advice and mention you wrote a detailed guide on setting up a home office on a budget (with a link to your blog post that contains your affiliate recommendations). Always add value first, and make sure the group allows sharing links.
- Use Email Newsletters: We touched on this earlier. If you have an email list, don’t forget to promote your new posts to your subscribers. These are people who already showed interest in your content, so they are likely to engage with your recommendations. You might send a weekly or monthly digest of your latest articles or a special email when you have a particularly useful new post. Encourage readers to reply with feedback or questions – this can lead to more trust and even ideas for future content.
- Collaborate and Network: Consider collaborations with other content creators. This isn’t direct promotion of your affiliate link, but it can expand your audience. You could do guest posts on other blogs (where you might subtly mention or link to a resource on your own site that contains affiliate links) or co-create a piece of content like a podcast or webinar. By tapping into each other’s audiences, you both gain new readers. And more readers can mean more affiliate clicks down the line.
Between SEO bringing in steady traffic, high-quality content converting that traffic, and social/email promotion amplifying your reach, you’ll create a powerful cycle of growth. It might sound like a lot, but you can start with one strategy and add on as you get comfortable. For example, focus on publishing great SEO-optimized posts first, then gradually build your social presence, and then perhaps start a newsletter. Every bit of effort you invest in these strategies can pay off in more eyes on your affiliate links and more earnings for you.
Real-Life Examples of Success (Case Studies)
It’s one thing to talk about strategies and steps, but seeing how it works in real life can be really inspiring. Many writers and bloggers have turned their content into income using ShareASale. Let’s look at a couple of hypothetical yet realistic success stories that illustrate what’s possible:
Case Study 1: From Hobby Blogger to Steady Income
Meet Sarah, a full-time office worker who ran a small hobby blog about home organization on the side. Initially, Sarah was just writing to share tips on decluttering and DIY home projects. She had modest traffic – a few hundred readers a month – but they loved her practical advice. After learning about ShareASale, she decided to give affiliate marketing a try. She wrote a thorough blog post reviewing an eco-friendly storage solution (bins and shelves) that she personally used and included affiliate links to those products through ShareASale.
At first, nothing happened. However, Sarah shared her post on Pinterest and a popular home decor group on Facebook. Slowly, people found her article through Google as well (she had unknowingly picked a popular search topic!). One morning, Sarah checked her ShareASale account and saw her first commission – $8.50 earned while she slept! Encouraged, she wrote more content: a “Top 10 Home Organization Products” list (with ShareASale links to each item) and a step-by-step closet makeover guide featuring a few affiliate tools. Over the next six months, her traffic grew and so did her commissions – from that first $8.50 to hundreds of dollars per month. By the end of the year, Sarah was consistently making about $1,000 a month in affiliate income. It wasn’t “quit your job” money, but it was a fantastic side income from a blog that started purely as a passion. Sarah reinvested some of that money into advertising and better website design, which attracted more readers, creating a positive cycle. Today, what began as a hobby blog not only helps thousands of readers get organized but also provides Sarah with a reliable second paycheck.
Case Study 2: A Freelance Writer’s Affiliate Side Hustle
Mark is a freelance writer by day, crafting content for clients. In his spare time, he maintained a personal blog where he shared insights on freelance life and writing tools. Mark decided to monetize his blog through ShareASale after seeing fellow writers succeed with affiliate marketing. He joined affiliate programs for products he already used and loved – an ergonomic keyboard, a project management software, and a grammar checking app – all found on ShareASale.
Mark wrote articles like “5 Tools Every Freelance Writer Needs to Try,” where he talked about how each tool improved his workflow. He integrated his affiliate links naturally, as if recommending to a friend. Because his advice was genuine and came from his own experience, readers trusted it. Mark also started an email newsletter for writers and would mention his favorite tool of the month (with an affiliate link) in these emails. Over time, Mark’s consistent content and engagement paid off. In about a year, he grew his blog’s audience through SEO (many people found his tool reviews when searching for writing software recommendations) and social media sharing. His affiliate earnings started at a modest $50 a month and kept climbing. Eventually, Mark was earning an extra $500-$800 per month from his blog. This was significant for him – it covered his rent! The extra income also gave Mark the confidence to scale back a bit on taking low-paying freelance gigs so he could focus more on creating content he enjoyed. Now, his blog and freelance work together provide a comfortable income, and he’s aiming even higher.
What These Stories Teach Us: Sarah and Mark’s experiences show that affiliate success doesn’t happen overnight, but with patience, it grows steadily. Neither of them had huge followings to start with, but by choosing the right niche, creating honest content, and leveraging ShareASale’s diverse programs, they built income streams. Your results will depend on your niche, effort, and a bit of creativity, but these examples illustrate a key point: Writers truly can earn real money through affiliate marketing. Whether it’s enough to cover your monthly coffee habit, pay some bills, or even become a full-time revenue source, the potential is there. The journey is about consistent learning and improvement – and every small win (like that first commission) is proof that it’s working.
Tips for Ethical and Effective Affiliate Marketing
As you venture into affiliate marketing, it’s important to do it in a way that respects your readers and keeps your integrity intact. Here are some tips to ensure you’re being both ethical and effective as an affiliate:
- Be Transparent (Always Disclose): Honesty is non-negotiable. Let your readers know that your post contains affiliate links. This can be a simple note at the top of a blog post or a sentence before you share a link (e.g., “FYI: The links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy”). Not only is this required by regulations in many countries (like the FTC guidelines in the U.S.), but it also builds trust. Readers appreciate knowing the context, and most won’t mind as long as you’re upfront.
- Prioritize Your Audience’s Trust: Never sacrifice trust for a quick buck. If a product isn’t actually good or relevant, don’t promote it. It’s better to skip an affiliate opportunity than to recommend something you know is subpar or irrelevant just for commission. Think of it this way: if you wouldn’t excitedly tell your best friend about the product, why tell your audience? Keep your recommendations honest. If you review a product, feel free to mention drawbacks as well as benefits – this shows you’re objective. In the long run, maintaining your credibility will lead to more loyal readers (and thus more sustainable earnings).
- Don’t Overdo It – Content Comes First: Your blog or article should not read like an infomercial. Avoid stuffing every paragraph with affiliate links or constantly asking readers to “buy, buy, buy.” That can be a turn-off. Instead, focus on delivering great content. A good rule of thumb is the 90/10 rule for content vs. promotion: 90% valuable content, 10% promotion. For example, in a 1000-word article, perhaps 900 words are pure useful info and personal insight, and maybe 100 words (sprinkled in) relate to the product you’re recommending. By keeping the emphasis on helping the reader, you make the affiliate part feel natural.
- Respect Your Audience’s Privacy and Comfort: Use affiliate links in a user-friendly way. Don’t use sneaky tactics like forcing downloads or using misleading buttons that trick people. Also, ensure any data you collect (like emails for newsletters) is handled respectfully – don’t add people to lists without permission, etc. While this isn’t directly about links, it’s part of ethical online practice and creates an overall positive experience that makes people more likely to trust your recommendations.
- Stay Informed and Compliant: Affiliate marketing has some rules you’ll need to follow. For instance, some merchants might have policies about how you can advertise their links (like not bidding on their brand name in Google Ads, which might not apply to you as a writer, but it’s good to be aware). Read the terms of each affiliate program you join on ShareASale. Also, stay up to date with any changes in disclosure laws or platform policies. If ShareASale or Awin updates their terms, be sure to comply. It’s rare you’ll run into issues if you’re honest and relatively small-scale, but as you grow, these things matter more.
- Engage and Be Accessible: Part of being ethical is being present. If readers comment on your posts or email you with questions about a product you recommended, respond to them. Be helpful even after you’ve got the click. For instance, if someone asks, “Do you think product A is good for beginners or should I get product B?” take the time to give a thoughtful answer. This level of care helps not only that one person (who may then convert to a sale) but also anyone else reading sees that you’re not just about dropping links and leaving – you truly care.
- Be Patient and Persistent (but Not Pushy): Understand that affiliate marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. You might not see huge earnings in the first week or even the first month. That’s okay. Focus on creating quality content and improving your craft. Avoid the temptation to push irrelevant products out of desperation. Instead, steadily build your portfolio of content and affiliate links. Over time, your older posts can start earning as they gain traction, and new posts add to your earnings. Patience is an ethical virtue here – you’re playing the long game of providing value and reaping rewards gradually.
By following these principles, you’ll build a reputation as a trustworthy writer and affiliate. Ethical marketing isn’t just the “right” thing to do; it’s also smart business. Readers who trust you are far more likely to click your links and even seek out your recommendations proactively. In contrast, if someone feels duped or misled, they probably won’t return to your site. So treat your audience like you would a good friend: with respect, honesty, and their best interest at heart. Do that, and you’ll create a win-win situation where your readers get great recommendations and you earn income for your efforts.
Turn Your Words into Earnings
By now, you’ve seen that earning income through ShareASale is not only possible – it’s an exciting opportunity for writers to expand their horizons. We’ve covered how affiliate marketing works, why ShareASale (as part of Awin) is a fantastic platform, the steps to get started, creative ways to weave links into your content, strategies to bring in readers, and the importance of staying honest and reader-focused. The path is clear; all that’s left is taking action.
Remember, every successful affiliate marketer started with that first step. It might feel a bit daunting to begin, but imagine the reward: a blog post you write this month could still be earning you commissions next year. Whether you want to make a side income or turn blogging into a full-fledged career, affiliate marketing through ShareASale can help you get there.
So, are you ready to put your writing to work? If so, there’s no better time to begin. Take the leap and join ShareASale now – it’s free to sign up, and the potential is huge. Explore the countless affiliate programs waiting for you on the platform, and start crafting content that not only inspires your readers but also rewards you for your effort.
Your journey from writer to earner is just starting. With sincerity, persistence, and the tips from this guide, you can build an income stream that grows with every word you write. Here’s to your success as a ShareASale affiliate – may your stories be engaging, your traffic plentiful, and your commissions bountiful! Happy writing and happy earning!
Meta Description:
Earn money from your writing with ShareASale (now Awin)! This comprehensive guide shows writers how to join ShareASale, monetize content through affiliate marketing, choose the best programs, and maximize earnings with SEO, content strategy, and social media. Real examples, ethical tips, and a step-by-step roadmap are included. Turn your words into income today!
