Websites using Shareasale

Okay, let s break down ShareASale, a popular affiliate marketing network.

ShareASale Overview

ShareASale is an established affiliate marketing network that connects merchants (businesses wanting to sell their products or services) with affiliates (publishers, bloggers, influencers, etc., who promote those products). It acts as a middleman, providing the platform and tools to manage these relationships and track sales.

Key Features:

• Vast Merchant Base: ShareASale hosts a large variety of merchants across various niches, from fashion and home goods to technology and digital services.
• Diverse Affiliate Programs: Affiliates can find programs with different commission structures (e.g., percentage of sale, flat fee per lead), promotional materials (banners, text links, coupons), and payout methods.
• User-Friendly Interface: While not the most modern looking, it s generally considered easy to navigate and understand, especially for beginners.
• Reporting and Tracking: Offers robust tracking capabilities to monitor clicks, conversions, and earnings.
• Payment Reliability: Known for its consistent and timely payouts to affiliates.
• Real-Time Tracking: Allows both merchants and affiliates to see performance data promptly.
• Data Feeds: Provides product data feeds that affiliates can use to automatically import products to their websites or platforms.
• Training & Support: Offers some training resources and support to both merchants and affiliates.

Revenue Model

ShareASale primarily makes money through two main avenues:

• Merchant Fees: Merchants pay ShareASale fees to access the platform, list their programs, and use tracking and reporting services. This is typically a setup fee, monthly fees, and sometimes a small transaction fee.
• Affiliate Fees: While affiliates don t directly pay for access to the network, ShareASale takes a small commission or cut from the earnings generated by affiliates. This is usually a small percentage of the commission merchants pay to affiliates.

ShareASale Revenue

ShareASale doesn t publicly release specific revenue figures. It s a privately held company owned by Awin. However, it s well-established and known as a major player in the affiliate marketing space, suggesting substantial annual revenue. Industry analysis and reports indicate that it processes a very large amount of transactions.

Alternatives to ShareASale

Several other affiliate networks offer similar services. Here are some popular alternatives:

• CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction): One of the largest networks, known for its wide range of merchants and sophisticated tools.
• Awin: ShareASale s parent company and a major global affiliate network, especially strong in Europe.
• Rakuten Advertising (formerly LinkShare): Another large and established network with a diverse selection of advertisers.
• Amazon Associates: While only for Amazon products, it s hugely popular due to Amazon s massive reach.
• ClickBank: Specializes in digital products, such as eBooks and online courses.
• eBay Partner Network: Focuses on products sold on eBay.
• Impact: Known for its sophisticated automation and flexibility, often preferred by larger companies.
• PartnerStack: A SaaS-focused network, popular for software affiliate programs.

Choosing an Alternative:

The best alternative depends on specific needs. Factors to consider include:

• Niche: Does the network have merchants in your particular niche?
• Commission Rates: How competitive are the commission structures?
• Tools & Features: Which platform has the most robust reporting and marketing tools?
• Ease of Use: Is the interface user-friendly?
• Payout Options & Frequency: Does the network offer convenient and timely payouts?

ShareASale Pricing

ShareASale s pricing structure for merchants is not publicly disclosed in detail. However, it generally includes:

• One-time Setup Fee: A fee to create a merchant account and launch a program.
• Monthly Network Access Fee: A recurring fee for maintaining the program.
• Transaction Fees: A percentage or small flat fee on each commission paid to affiliates.

Affiliates do not directly pay to join or use the platform. ShareASale earns a small commission from the commissions that the merchants pay.

Specific Pricing Details:

It s crucial for merchants to contact ShareASale directly to get a quote and understand their current pricing structure, as these can change.

Customer Care Details

ShareASale offers customer support for both merchants and affiliates:

• Support Channels:
  • Email Support: Available for general inquiries and technical issues.
  • Help Center/Knowledge Base: Extensive documentation covering various topics and processes.
  • Phone Support: Available to merchants only during business hours.
  • Account Managers: Assigned to larger merchants to provide more personalized assistance.
• Response Time: Response times are typically reasonable, but can vary depending on the complexity of the issue.
• Community: While not a very active community forum compared to others, there is a knowledge base available.

General Feedback on Support:

• Positive: Generally considered reliable and helpful. Users often praise the help documentation.
• Areas for Improvement: Some users have noted that email support responses can be slow at times, and phone support is only available to merchants.
• User Reviews: Feedback is mixed in terms of speed of response and ease of resolution. However, their platform is generally considered to be very reliable.

In Conclusion

ShareASale is a reputable and established affiliate marketing network with a large merchant base and a wide range of programs for affiliates to promote. It s a solid option for both merchants looking to expand their reach and for publishers looking to monetize their content with affiliate marketing.

Remember, it s essential to carefully research and compare different networks to determine which is the best fit for your individual business or affiliate marketing strategy.