You’ve set up your affiliate program, but now you need to grow your network of affiliates. The key to the success of an affiliate program is finding the right affiliates to promote your brand effectively. So, where can you find them? Let’s explore targeted ways to recruit affiliates and boost your brand’s reach.
Here we'll talk about:
Why Finding New Affiliates Is Important
Finding the right affiliates is like finding your brand’s ambassadors. These people will speak to your audience, drive conversions, and increase sales. While promoting your affiliate program helps, it’s equally important to proactively seek out affiliates who naturally fit your brand and goals.
Here’s how you can expand your affiliate network.
1. Look at Your Competitors
One of the easiest ways to find new affiliates is to research your competitors. They’re likely already working with influencers, bloggers, or niche affiliates. You can use SEO and competitor analysis tools like SpyFu or SEMrush to see where competitors are getting their traffic from, which can give you ideas on potential affiliates in your niche.
Tip: Check out websites where competitors list their affiliate programs and find affiliates interested in your offer.
2. Explore Niche Communities
Rather than broad social media platforms, narrow down your search to niche-specific forums, Facebook groups, Slack communities, and Reddit threads where people in your industry hang out. These communities are full of enthusiasts, bloggers, or influencers who might want to promote your product.
For example:
Reddit is great for in-depth niche discussions (e.g., beauty, tech, finance).
Slack groups for industry professionals often have spaces for sharing resources and opportunities.
Facebook groups can also be a fantastic space for both learning and recruiting.
Source: Reddit
However, you need to actively participate in these communities before approaching people with your offer.
3. Connect with Content Creators
Many content creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are looking for ways to monetize their content. Identify creators who align with your niche and reach out with a personalized offer to join your affiliate program. Personalize your message by explaining how their audience would benefit from your product.
Example: A skincare brand might look for YouTubers or beauty bloggers who review similar products and have engaged followers.
Source: Youtube
4. Explore Influencer Networks
Influencer platforms like AspireIQ, Influencity, or Heepsy can help you connect with influencers who could also become affiliates. While influencers typically work with paid collaborations, many are also open to affiliate deals, especially if your product resonates with their audience.
Source: Influencity.com
5. Collaborate with Bloggers
Blogs still play a decisive role in driving affiliate traffic. Look for bloggers writing in your niche who have a loyal following. Reach out to them directly with your affiliate program offer. Platforms like Blog Meets Brand can help connect you to bloggers looking for affiliate partnerships.
Source: Blog Meets Brand
Closing Thoughts
Finding affiliates is an ongoing process, but you can grow your network strategically by leveraging the right tools and spaces. Whether engaging in niche communities, researching competitors, or exploring affiliate networks, the key is to focus on quality over quantity. Find affiliates who align with your brand, and you’ll be set up for long-term success!
Check-list
Competitor Research:
□ Use SEMrush or SpyFu to identify the top 50 competitors
□ List 100 affiliates currently working with competitors
□ Compile a list of 20 websites where competitors list their affiliate programs
Niche Community Exploration:
□ Join 5 relevant Facebook groups in our industry
□ Participate in 3 active Slack communities related to our niche
□ Subscribe to 10 relevant subreddits and engage in discussions
□ Identify 50 potential affiliates from these communities
Content Creator Outreach:
□ Find 100 YouTube creators in our niche with 10,000+ subscribers
□ Identify 50 Instagram influencers with engagement rates above 3%
□ List 25 TikTok creators making content related to our products
□ Send personalized outreach messages to the top 50 creators
Influencer Network Utilization:
□ Set up accounts on AspireIQ, Influencity, and Heepsy
□ Use these platforms to identify 200 potential affiliate influencers
□ Reach out to 50 influencers with affiliate partnership proposals
Blogger Collaboration:
□ Create an account on Blog Meets Brand
□ Compile a list of 100 bloggers in our niche with monthly traffic over 10,000
□ Reach out to the top 30 bloggers with our affiliate program offer
Quality Assessment:
□ Develop a scoring system to rate affiliate alignment with our brand
□ Evaluate and score all potential affiliates identified
□ Select the top 50 highest-scoring affiliates for priority outreach
Outreach and Onboarding:
□ Prepare personalized outreach templates for each affiliate category
□ Contact all selected affiliates with program details
□ Set up the onboarding process for new affiliates
□ Successfully onboard at least 20 new high-quality affiliates