20+ Best eBooks Affiliate Programs and Networks [2024]
As time goes on, fewer people are interested in buying physical books, and more people are buying books online. As a matter of fact, whenever we talk about buying a book, everybody thinks about buying their book on Kindle or Amazon or just purchasing the ebook on the website of Their favorite author.
If you want to talk about statistics, in 2021, ebooks made up 18% of the entire book market in the United States. This alone means that more and more people are buying books online rather than purchasing them in stores. Plus, ebooks are much cheaper than actual books and they're immediately accessible and you won't actually have to wait for them to arrive if you really want to read a book.
That is why, we are taking some time today to talk about ebooks and how affiliates can promote these offers and earn some of the money that is available to earn. As you know, it is usually hard for authors to sell their books especially if they are new. Therefore, they will definitely need the help of affiliates to help them achieve their sales goals. In this article, we'll talk more about what ebook affiliate programs are, how you can promote them, how you can choose the best ones, and how you can successfully earn more money through them.
What are eBooks Affiliate Programs and How Do They Work
Ebooks affiliate programs mostly make up programs and businesses that sell ebooks online. These can either be websites that are authors that sell their own books or stores that sell the books of various authors. Plus, there are various other types of products You can promote in this niche that are not just books.
Since these books are digital products, you can expect to be able to sell them in various ways. You might just refer somebody to purchase one of these books and earn a Commission, or you might have to refer somebody to sign up on the website that sells these books to read them for free. Anyways, there are various potentials for you to earn, and various models to earn by as well.
What Types of Products Can You Promote
By now, you're probably wondering what types of products or services you can exactly promote when it comes to ebooks. You might think it's just books and that's it. However, there are various other types of products available to promote that are not necessarily books or ebooks. Here's a list of all the different types of products available to promote in ebooks affiliate programs.
- Fiction eBooks: Fiction eBooks encompass a wide range of genres, including romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and literary works, providing captivating stories for readers to enjoy.
- Non-Fiction eBooks: Non-fiction eBooks cover a diverse range of subjects such as self-help, business, personal development, health and wellness, cooking, travel, history, and biographies, offering valuable information and insights to readers.
- Educational eBooks: Educational eBooks focus on various educational disciplines, including textbooks, study guides, language learning, STEM subjects, arts and crafts, and other educational resources for learners of all ages.
- Children's eBooks: Children's eBooks cater to young readers and feature engaging stories, picture books, educational content, and interactive elements to entertain and educate children.
- Self-Published eBooks: Self-published eBooks include works by independent authors and cover a broad spectrum of topics, providing unique perspectives and diverse voices in the literary world.
- Audiobooks: Audiobooks offer the convenience of listening to books in a narrated format, allowing readers to enjoy stories and knowledge while on the go or for those who prefer audio-based experiences.
- eBook Readers and Devices: eBook readers and devices like e-readers, tablets, and smartphones provide a platform for readers to access and enjoy digital books in a convenient and portable manner.
- eBook Subscription Services: eBook subscription services offer readers access to a vast library of eBooks through a subscription model, providing a cost-effective way to explore a wide range of titles.
- eBook Conversion Tools: eBook conversion tools enable authors and publishers to convert their written works into various eBook formats compatible with different devices and platforms.
- eBook Writing and Publishing Resources: eBook writing and publishing resources include guides, tutorials, courses, and software that assist aspiring authors in writing, editing, formatting, and self-publishing their eBooks.
Payment Models in eBooks Affiliate Programs
This section explains the payment models used by affiliate programs to compensate their affiliates. There are usually several payout models to choose from, and this section will focus on the models used by a particular program. The payment models include revenue share, cost per lead, cost per sale, and cost per action. By understanding these models, affiliates can determine how they will be compensated for promoting the program's products or services.
Revenue Share
The revenue share model in affiliate programs pays their affiliates a percentage of the product's value. The predetermined percentage is set in the affiliate terms. For instance, if the product's value is $100 and the program's commission rate is 10%, then a successful sale will earn you $10. It is important to note that more expensive products increase the potential to earn more money. This payout model is commonly used in these programs.
Cost per Lead (CPL)
The cost per lead affiliate payout model pays you a commission when someone becomes a lead for a business. This can involve activities such as starting a free trial, providing payment information, or signing up for a program that indicates they are a potential customer. The definition of a lead varies across programs, so it is important to understand the specific action that counts as a lead. The commission for a lead can range from $1 to $100 depending on the value of the product or service, but a safe average is $10.
Cost per Sale (CPS)
The cost per sale affiliate payout model is similar to the revenue share model, but instead of earning a percentage of the product value, you receive a fixed commission whenever someone purchases a product. The commission amount is the same regardless of the product's value, which makes this model ideal for programs with only a few products or services.
Cost per Action (CPA)
The cost per action model pays you a commission when a user completes a specific action on the program's website, which can include signing up, downloading an application, or registering for a free product. The amount you receive typically ranges from $1 to $10, but this can vary depending on the affiliate program's terms and conditions.
What to Consider When Choosing an eBooks Affiliate Program
When choosing an affiliate program in this niche, it's important to focus on those that will give you a good return on your time investment. Rather than working with all programs and reviewing their products, pay attention to key factors such as your familiarity with the products, the commission rate, brand recognition, cookie duration, payment frequency, minimum payout, affiliate trackers, marketing assets and resources, affiliate support, application process time, performance-based bonuses, and promotions and discount codes. By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about which programs to work with.
Your Familiarity with the Products
It's essential to have some knowledge of the product or a similar one before promoting it. Promoting a product you are not familiar with can lead to losing your audience's trust. If you don't have any knowledge about the product, you can check some reviews online or learn more about it through resources like YouTube videos to avoid losing your audience's trust.
Commission Rate
When choosing an affiliate program, the Commission rate is the second most important factor to consider, as a higher rate can lead to more earnings. However, it is important to note that the Commission rate alone may not guarantee high earnings. The average order value is also crucial in determining how much money can be earned with a revenue share model and its Commission. For instance, a Commission rate of 90% in a program with an average order value of $10 may not yield much profit, whereas a 10% Commission rate in a program with an average order value of $1,000 can still result in a profit of $100. Therefore, it is essential to also prioritize programs with high average order values when considering the Commission rate.
Brand Recognition
It's important to consider the credibility of the brand you want to work with. You don't want to advertise a brand that has negative reviews or gives customers a bad impression. It's important to ensure that the brand is of high quality so that customers are satisfied and don't hold you responsible for their purchase. You can evaluate a brand's credibility by checking online reviews on unbiased websites, asking on forums like Quora or Reddit, and even asking peers on affiliate forums about their experience with a particular affiliate program. After analyzing all the reviews, you can make a better decision about whether to work with that brand or not.
Cookie Duration
The cookie duration is a significant aspect of promoting an offer as it tracks a visitor's activity on a website. It refers to the duration for which the program tracks a user's activity on their website, and any purchases made by the visitor during this time will count towards your commission. For example, if a program's cookie duration is 30 days and a user visits the website twice, with a 20-day gap between visits, any purchase made during the second visit will also give you a commission. In general, longer cookie durations increase your chances of earning a commission. While most affiliate programs have a cookie duration of 30 days, it can be longer (like 365 days or a lifetime) or shorter (like a week or a day).
Minimum Payout
When it comes to affiliate programs, it's important to understand that some may have a requirement for the amount of earnings you need to accumulate before you can cash out. This is referred to as a minimum payout threshold, and it can vary from program to program. While some may require you to earn at least $50, others may have a higher or lower threshold. On the other hand, some programs may not have any minimum payout threshold at all. This means that you can withdraw your earnings at any time, regardless of how much you have earned. It's important to keep this in mind when choosing which affiliate programs to join, as it can affect your ability to access your earnings when you need them.
Affiliate Trackers
An affiliate tracker is a web-based software provided by the affiliate program that gives you information and statistics on how your visitors perform on the program. If the program is on a network, an affiliate tracker may be available on your dashboard. Here you can view information on clicks, signups, commissions, sales, and bonuses. This enables you to gain insight into your marketing and optimize your campaigns if necessary.
Marketing Assets and Resources
Affiliate programs these days offer a wide range of assets and resources, including logos, banner ads, text links, pre-written content, visuals, imagery, icons, and even ready-made landing pages and websites. These resources can help you earn more money for both yourself and the program you are promoting. While most affiliate programs offer some form of resources, there may be some that don't provide any, or only offer a link. To make your job easier, it's important to choose a program that offers a variety of imagery and content. This is especially important for programs with highly visual products, as it may not be possible for you to access images of their products. In such cases, it would be logical for them to provide you with photos of the products themselves.
Some affiliate programs even provide samples of their products for you to test out and review. This can have a significant impact on your audience and increase your credibility as an affiliate. It's worth noting that not all programs offer this service, so it's important to research and compare different programs to find the one that suits your needs best.
Affiliate Support
If you're new to affiliate marketing or just want some extra support, it's important to make sure that the affiliate program you're considering has active and accessible support. Many programs offered on our list have excellent support, but it's always a good idea to confirm this by asking other affiliates on a forum. Some affiliate programs provide a dedicated affiliate manager who sends regular emails with tips for increasing income. Others send newsletters with information about new opportunities and products to promote, including occasional promotions and seasonal events. To maximize your chances of success, it's important to choose a program that provides the level of support you need. Whether you're seeking guidance on how to get started or assistance with increasing your earnings, look for a program that offers the support you need to succeed.
Application Process Time
If you're eager to get started with an affiliate program and don't want to wait for days to get approved, look for programs that have shorter application processing times. Some programs take weeks to review applications, only to reject them. Others give immediate access to their affiliate area, allowing you to get started right away. To avoid wasting time filling out an application for a program that may not accept you, pay attention to this detail. Choose the ones that have faster processing times to get started quickly and easily.
Performance-Based Bonuses
Many affiliate programs offer rewards and bonuses to their top affiliates who generate a lot of sales, such as an increased commission or a large bonus upon reaching a sales milestone. Our list identifies which programs have performance-based bonuses, so keep an eye out for those if you're interested.
Promotions and Discount Codes
As an affiliate, having a promotion or discount code to offer your audience can be a great incentive. If this is important to you, make sure to seek out affiliate programs that provide custom discount codes. Some programs offer the opportunity to create your own code for your unique audience, while others may provide a code for seasonal events and promotions that can be used by all affiliates. However, there are also programs that have no policies regarding discount codes and will not offer them. If this is a priority for you, make sure to filter out those programs that do not offer discount codes or opportunities for promotional deals. By doing so, you can ensure that you are working with a program that aligns with your needs and goals as an affiliate.
Top Traffic Sources for eBooks Offers
After selecting a program in the eBook niche, it's important to understand how to generate the necessary traffic to promote the offers. Learn about the primary sources of traffic for promoting these offers here.
Website Content
The website content is one of the top traffic sources in these programs. Keep in mind that ebook affiliate offers are for users that are into reading. That should mean that your audience is probably not going to be on social media as much as the audience from other niches. Therefore, it's important for you to write articles that are mainly about ebooks and tools related to them.
You want to structure your website in a way that talks about various tools. So for example, other electronics and tech-related content can also fit on a website you have about ebooks. You can introduce books, introduce ebook readers, and other tools related to reading digitally. Therefore, product reviews and articles that include a list of different tools are one of the best ways to market your offers. The users are already on the search engines looking for a tool, and the best way for you to make that traffic yours is to target the right keywords. To target the right keywords, you need to do a lot of keyword research, which we will discuss in later sections.
All you need to know for now is to create a website that has all the resources about tools that are necessary for reading books digitally. One of the benefits of having such a website is that you can hook people in for other types of tools as well. People mostly read books online but they also engage in other activities online as well. This is exactly when you can check among other affiliate programs and affiliate networks to find offers that might be interesting to that audience, and then write content corresponding to those.
Another benefit is that you can hook people in by asking them for their email so you can send them promotional content and deals later on as well.
Besides the fact that you can monetize your website and place ads on it, which would mean that you could do it through an advertising network, Affiliate links are a great way to redirect people to such offers.
Keep in mind that some of the tools you'll be promoting are going to be free, so all you have to do most of the time is to get people to click on the links rather than purchase a specific service, but that totally depends on the program you're affiliated with.
Forums and Communities
One way to increase traffic to your website is through forums and communities related to eBooks. By providing helpful answers to other peoples' questions, you can build a reputation for yourself and earn points. You can also include website links to articles you've written about the topic they're asking about. However, you must be careful not to do it in a way that appears spammy. Affiliate links can also be included in your answers, but again, be subtle about it. Success through this method requires patience and familiarity with the forum's rules. Utilizing forums and communities is an easy and effective way to increase traffic to your website, as long as you are willing to put in the effort to provide value to the community instead of just promoting your own website.
Paid Ads
To quickly get traffic, you can use ad networks like Google ads, Facebook ads, YouTube ads, TikTok ads, Instagram ads, etc. The platform you choose depends on the type of content you want to promote. For visual content, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook ads are great options. If you want to direct people to your affiliate website or blog, Google ads are the best choice as you can target specific keywords and attract more visitors to your site. By doing so, you can increase your chances of people clicking on your affiliate links and making a purchase. Each ad platform serves a different purpose and you should choose the one that fits your goals. Using ad networks is a great way to boost your traffic and increase your chances of making a sale.
Tips to Promote eBooks Affiliate Offers Successfully
After learning the different ways to promote affiliate programs, it's important to consider some tips and tricks to boost website traffic and increase sales.
Find Effective Platforms
To ensure that you're reaching the appropriate audience, it's crucial to pinpoint the platforms where they spend the majority of their time. If you're not experiencing enough interaction on one platform, it's worth investigating others. Likewise, if your website isn't attracting a sufficient amount of visitors, prioritize producing valuable content on other social media platforms. For this particular area of interest, the audience is active on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, so it's imperative to customize your content to entice viewers and increase traffic.
Keyword Targeting
If you plan on building a website in your field, it is highly recommended that you conduct thorough research on relevant keywords and integrate them properly into your content.
Here are some suggestions for keywords to use in the ebook niche:
- Best eBook reader for PDFs
- How to publish an eBook on Amazon
- Free eBooks for Kindle
- How to format an eBook for Kindle
- Best eBook reader for Android
- How to convert PDF to eBook format
- eBook cover design software
- Best eBook reader for comics
- How to market your eBook
- eBook reader with text-to-speech
The use of such keywords can significantly boost your visibility on search engine results pages when users search for them. You can explore additional long-tail keywords with high search volumes in your category to further enhance your website's relevance and exposure.
Trends
Marketers should pay attention to trends in order to drive traffic. Similar to promoting products during seasonal deals or promotions, marketers should also capitalize on trends by creating content related to the trend and promoting it. By doing so, they can easily attract traffic because people are already searching for the trendy topic. Social media is a particularly important platform for trends, so marketers should monitor hashtags and trends in their target areas. Various tools like AnswerThePublic, ExplodingTopics, Google Trends, and other private tools can help marketers follow trends and hashtags.
Review Products
To ensure customer trust in your product reviews, there are certain guidelines you should follow. Firstly, make sure your content is unique and not just a rehash of information already available on the manufacturer's website. Providing first-hand experience or expert opinions is essential. If you lack first-hand experience, conduct thorough research on the product from various sources to gain knowledge. Honesty and uniqueness are key in affiliate marketing.
Secondly, highlight the pros and cons of the product to enable customers to compare it with similar products easily. Mentioning obvious product features is not sufficient; you must clearly outline the advantages and disadvantages of the product.
Thirdly, visual aids are crucial in product reviews. If you are creating video content, use your own footage of the product instead of stock footage. In written content, use images as well. Visuals help to create a better understanding of the product and its features.
Lastly, communicate clearly that you are promoting a product you have tried before. This will help to establish credibility and trust with the audience. Ensure that you include links to your affiliate website in your social media reviews and beneath every product on the review article.
In summary, when reviewing products, it is essential to provide unique and honest content and highlight the pros and cons of the product. Visual aids help to create a better understanding of the product, and it is crucial that the audience knows that you have tried the product before promoting it. By following these guidelines, you can establish trust with your audience and make effective product reviews.
Focus on SEO
To drive traffic to your website, you need to prioritize search engine optimization. Even if your website has great content, it won't gain any audience without SEO. To optimize your website, make sure to use your chosen keyword evenly throughout your content, titles, image descriptions, and other relevant areas.
Engage with Your Community
To succeed in this field, it's critical to interact with your audience and inquire about what they desire to see from you. Continuously keep them informed and avoid promoting something that you know they won't appreciate.
Conclusion
Now that you know almost everything about ebook affiliate programs and how you can promote them, it's time to fill out a website, and get started with promoting these offers. At first, it might be hard because there is a lot of competition in this field, but that doesn't mean that it is going to be impossible.
One of the greatest ways to earn a lot of passive income is to introduce a lot of tools and products in a series of articles like product reviews and list articles, and just optimize those articles based on SEO and other methods in order to make them stand out on the first page of the search results. That can already guarantee you a great amount of passive income, as some of these programs might even have recurring commissions. So just make sure you put enough dedication into creating your website content and make them count. In this niche, quality is much more important than quantity. So the higher your content quality and the better the tools you introduce, the higher your chances of earning a commission. So just use the tips mentioned in this article to get started right away.
