How to be an Etsy Affiliate

I recently got back from Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas. It was really neat getting to meet and interact with so many different brand reps and learn about their various affiliate programs. This post contains referral links to brands we’re really excited about! 

I know that affiliate marketing is a difficult one to jump into. We see the immediate dollar signs associated with sponsored posts, it’s guaranteed income, where affiliate marketing can seem hit or miss.

Here’s the thing though. While you might only make $5-$20 a month on a post featuring your affiliates, over time that is WAY better than a one time fee that you get from a sponsored post. Sponsored posts give you income once, and then you’re done, unless you make another deal with that same company…but then you still have to write another post.

What I love about affiliates is that it helps you build up a passive income for yourself. One of my goals for this year is to have a full time, passive income. Then, all the sponsored posts and everything else I do is just extra, and I don’t have to stress myself out with deadlines when I don’t want to. There are several ways to create a passive income, but affiliates is one thing that I’m really working to grow so that I can make that passive income.

I learned several new strategies at affiliate summit, and I’m excited to share them with you over the next few weeks.

Of all the brands I met there was one that really stood out. I met with one of the leaders of Affiliate Window and was impressed with how they pay special attention to both the bloggers and the brands.

You sign up with affiliate window and they will check out your blog to make sure you are legit. After your approval, you have the opportunity to join a number of affiliate programs, all through the one hub, affiliate window.

They had some great programs available, including one that I am asked about all the time… ETSY!

I’ve found the approval process for the individual programs to be quite simple. There’s a trust level that the brands have when working with Affiliate Window because AW vets the affiliates before allowing them in, so the brands don’t have to do as much legwork to approve you to join their programs.

There is also lots of communication with reps with each individual program. I’ve already received emails from several of the brands I joined as an affiliate through AW, and they are giving me help with how to use their affiliate program. I love the open interaction that is fostered there. It’s been really neat. I’m just getting started with them, but I couldn’t wait to share it with you because so many of you had been asking me how to join these specific affiliate programs!

In addition to Etsy you can also be an affiliate with other big brands like: fiverr, skin care, pet supplies, legoland, LOTS of travel related things (they work with many european retailers and travel companies), sportswear, movie tickets… I could keep going. There are a lot of programs they have now, and I asked about a few and heard they are in talks with a few new things that I am excited to see happen!

You can sign up with Affiliate window here, set up your profile and begin applying to work with brands as soon as you are approved (I found the approval process to be really quick!).

They also have a plugin that you can use, that will automatically make old links on your blog affiliate links. So if you’ve linked to etsy or other sites that you are an affiliate with now through Affiliate Window, you don’t have to go back through and edit every link. You’ll just monetize all those links with a simple click. Um. amazing.

A quick note, there is a $5 “fee” when you apply. They immediately credit it back to your AW account, but it’s just an extra security precaution so they know people are not spammers joining. On the one hand I know that’s annoying, but it’s information I’d give them anyway to receive payment and I do appreciate how careful they are about keeping spammers out. It enables the brands to keep open communication with us bloggers because they aren’t being bombarded by spammers at every turn. I’ve already done the $5 payout and seen it credited back to my account.

Over the next few months are planning on featuring a different affiliate program (stand alones, and through programs like affiliate window, share a sale and commission junction) and giving you ideas on how to feature them on your blog. Getting started can be the hardest part, so we are here to help you through that…wouldn’t it be great if every one in this group had a substantial passive income by the end of the year? Let’s work together to make that happen!