Understanding LinkShare: Should You Use It for Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to promote products online. With millions of potential customers browsing daily, this approach offers merchants a golden opportunity to reach a wider audience and increase their revenue. For affiliate marketers, it also presents a chance to earn full-time income from home without the typical demands of a traditional job.

Affiliate marketing benefits both parties: merchants earn more as their products reach larger markets, while affiliates gain commissions on sales generated through their efforts. However, finding the right affiliate programs or partners can be challenging, especially for beginners. That's where affiliate networks like LinkShare come into play.

What is LinkShare?

LinkShare, one of the leading affiliate networks, serves as a bridge between merchants and affiliates. By joining this network, merchants can list their affiliate programs, and affiliates can browse through various opportunities, comparing products, commission rates, and perks all in one place. LinkShare hosts a vast network of merchants across different industries and attracts over 6,000 affiliate sites.

Joining a network like LinkShare can simplify your entry into affiliate marketing. Whether you’re a merchant looking to expand reach or an affiliate exploring profitable partnerships, LinkShare offers a central location to connect with potential business partners.

Key Advantages of Using LinkShare

Convenience and Efficiency
LinkShare’s main draw is the convenience it offers. Affiliates can find numerous affiliate programs under one roof, eliminating the need to search individually. Merchants also benefit by accessing a ready pool of affiliates eager to promote products.
Easy Performance Tracking
LinkShare provides affiliates with detailed monthly reports on performance, sales, and commissions. This transparency allows affiliates to gauge which programs are most profitable, helping them make informed decisions about which relationships to maintain.
Simplified Account Management
For affiliates managing multiple merchants, LinkShare consolidates everything in one account. This makes it easy to track click-throughs, manage sales records, and receive commissions. Payments are distributed monthly as a single lump sum, which can be especially helpful for affiliates working with several partners.
Secure and Reliable Payments
LinkShare handles commission payments on behalf of merchants, offering affiliates peace of mind knowing that they will receive accurate payments on time. LinkShare’s platform is also secure, which protects affiliates from potential financial risks.

Potential Drawbacks of Using LinkShare

While LinkShare has many benefits, it also has some disadvantages to consider:

Lower Commission Rates
When affiliates partner with merchants through a network, the commission rates are often lower. This is because merchants incur extra fees for using LinkShare’s services, which can reduce the payout to affiliates. In a direct partnership, affiliates may receive higher commissions.
Possible Payment Delays
With LinkShare, payments may be delayed until the merchant pays LinkShare, which could occasionally extend beyond a month. This delay can be frustrating for affiliates counting on timely payments.
Limited Partnership Options
Some merchants only offer affiliate programs through networks like LinkShare, making it necessary for affiliates to join the network if they want to work with certain brands. This limits the ability to negotiate directly with the merchant and may restrict earning potential.

Is LinkShare Right for You?

Ultimately, whether you use LinkShare or not depends on your goals and the nature of the partnerships you seek. For affiliates, LinkShare provides a convenient, secure, and streamlined way to explore different affiliate programs. However, affiliates focused on maximizing earnings might explore direct partnerships when available.

Regardless of your choice, success in affiliate marketing relies heavily on effective promotional strategies, consistency, and commitment. Joining LinkShare can certainly help, but it’s your approach that will truly drive profits in the long term.