11 Best Wholesale Affiliate Programs and Networks [2024]

Unlike retail affiliate programs that make an opportunity for affiliates to promote products directly from retailers to customers, wholesale affiliate programs make it possible for associates to directly work with the primary manufacturer. What makes them lucrative is that customers are assured that the affiliates work directly with a bigger, more recognizable company, rather than a lesser-known small retailer.

Because of this, we are taking the time today to explore wholesale affiliate programs and networks, how they work, how you can choose one, and how you can promote them properly.

What Are Wholesale Affiliate Programs and How Do They Work

Wholesale affiliate programs are programs belonging to big manufacturers, or wholesalers that want to expand their business and sales through the help and influence of affiliates.

Whenever a customer clicks on your affiliate link, they will be redirected to the wholesale program website, and from there, they can make a purchase. This way, you can easily make a commission based on the percentage specified from the price of the products sold.

Wholesale affiliate programs are also more open to collaborating with more affiliates since they are either working more globally or on a more extensive basis. Unlike retailers, you can trust working with a wholesaler since you won't be working with any middlemen, and the company that is supposed to pay you is the wholesale program itself.

Plus, you have the opportunity to promote various types of products ranging from different categories like home appliances all the way to electronics and even third-party products produced by small businesses. Therefore, there is no limit on the niche you come from. You can still promote wholesale offers if you can find ones suitable for your audience.

What Types of Products Can You Promote

As mentioned before, there are various types of products across different niches that you can promote in wholesale affiliate programs. Just to get you started, here is a list of 10 different types of products you can promote in wholesale affiliate programs ranging across various niches.

• Electronics and Gadgets: Wholesale electronics include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and various gadgets. These products are sold in bulk at discounted prices for retailers to resell.
• Home Decor and Furnishings: Wholesale home decor products encompass furniture, decorative items, rugs, and more. Retailers can purchase these items in large quantities to stock their stores.
• Fashion Accessories: Wholesale fashion accessories consist of jewelry, handbags, belts, and scarves. Retailers can buy these items in bulk to offer a variety of trendy accessories to their customers.
• Pet Supplies: Wholesale pet supplies include pet food, toys, grooming products, and accessories. Retailers can purchase these products at lower prices to cater to pet owners' needs.
• Outdoor and Camping Gear: Wholesale outdoor products comprise camping equipment, hiking gear, and outdoor clothing. Retailers can buy these items in bulk for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Beauty and Personal Care Products: Wholesale beauty products cover cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and grooming items. Retailers can stock a wide range of beauty essentials for their customers.
• Kitchenware and Cookware: Wholesale kitchenware includes utensils, cookware sets, and small appliances. Retailers can offer a comprehensive range of kitchen products to their customers.
• Toys and Games: Wholesale toys encompass a wide variety of children's toys and games. Retailers can stock up on toys for different age groups and interests.
• Fitness and Sports Equipment: Wholesale fitness products include gym equipment, sports gear, and athletic apparel. Retailers can cater to fitness enthusiasts and athletes.
• Stationery and Office Supplies: Wholesale stationery covers pens, notebooks, organizers, and office essentials. Retailers can provide various stationery options to students and professionals.
• Art and Craft Supplies: Wholesale art supplies include paints, canvases, brushes, and craft materials. Retailers can offer a diverse selection to artists and crafters.
• Baby Products: Wholesale baby products consist of baby clothing, diapers, feeding accessories, and nursery items. Retailers can cater to new parents' needs.
• Party and Event Supplies: Wholesale party supplies include decorations, tableware, and party favors. Retailers can stock up on supplies for different celebrations.
• Automotive Parts and Accessories: Wholesale automotive products include car parts, accessories, and maintenance items. Retailers can cater to car owners' needs.
• Industrial and Construction Tools: Wholesale industrial tools encompass equipment, safety gear, and construction materials. Retailers can provide tools for various industries and projects.

Payment Models in Wholesale Affiliate Programs

To become familiar with affiliate programs and how they work, it's essential to understand the different payment models used to compensate affiliates. Various programs have multiple payment models, and this section will explore the payment models used by each program in this niche to pay its affiliates. One common payment model is revenue share, where affiliates earn a predetermined percentage of the product's value. For example, if the product costs $100, and the commission rate is 10%, you receive $10 for successfully selling the product. Another popular model is cost per sale (CPS), where you receive a flat commission for each sale, which does not depend on the price of the product sold. This model is typically used in programs with one or two types of products or services.

What to Consider When Choosing a Wholesale Affiliate Program

Before you get started with working with the wholesale affiliate program it's better to keep in mind a couple of factors that might affect your earnings or your performance. So make sure you filter out all the programs in front of you based on these factors.

Your Familiarity with the Products

As an affiliate, it's crucial to have familiarity with the product you're promoting. You should never endorse a product you're not familiar with or don't possess any knowledge about. If you're unsure about the product, you can always research online reviews or learn more about it through YouTube videos or other resources. Promoting a product without any knowledge of it can lead to a loss of trust from your audience, which is something you definitely don't want to happen.

Commission Rate

Before choosing an affiliate program, it's important to consider whether the commission rate is fair based on the product prices. Commission rates can range from 5% to 70%, so it's up to you to decide whether you want to work with programs that offer anything lower than the minimum commission rate in the niche. Keep in mind that high commission rates don't necessarily mean the program is great, and low ones may not be a dealbreaker either. It's also worth paying attention to the price of the products you'll be promoting and determining whether the commission rate will make you a lot of money or not.

Brand Recognition

When promoting products, it's crucial to only endorse brands that have a good reputation and are of high quality. This ensures that customers are satisfied and don't blame you for their purchase. To assess a brand's credibility, you can read reviews on unbiased websites, ask questions on forums like Quora or Reddit, or reach out to other affiliates to learn about their experiences with the program. By gathering all the information, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to work with that brand.

Cookie Duration

Did you know that cookies can help you save user data on your browser? This is particularly useful when you refer a potential customer to an art website or online shop and they change their mind but return later. Cookies can help remember that you referred them to the website, and in turn, the website will count you in for a share of the sale. It's important to note that the longer the cookie duration, the better. Some affiliate programs offer cookie durations up to 30, 60, or even 90 days, while others have a shorter duration of just one hour. To maximize your earnings, it's best to aim for programs with a longer cookie duration.

Minimum Payout

It's crucial to consider the minimum payout when choosing an affiliate program. It's understandable to have trust issues when joining a new program, especially when it comes to receiving payment. The minimum payout is a term in the program's conditions that determines when you can withdraw your earnings. Some programs may require you to reach a minimum payout of $50, $100, or even higher. A lower minimum payout is preferred, as it can help establish trust with the program before beginning work. If a program has an unusually high minimum payout, it may indicate that they are more interested in profiting from you rather than paying you what you deserve.

Affiliate Trackers

When you're an affiliate, it's important to have a clear understanding of your performance and how your sales are trending. Affiliate trackers are a great tool that can help you achieve this. These trackers can help you understand how many referrals you've made, the number of sales you've generated, and how long it takes for users to make a purchase after clicking on your link. Some affiliate programs provide their own affiliate tracker, while others require you to use a third-party app. Before choosing a program, be sure to check if they offer an affiliate tracker to make your tracking process easier.

Marketing Assets and Resources

When it comes to joining affiliate programs, it's important to consider the resources and tools that are available to you. Many programs offer a variety of marketing assets and resources that can help make your job easier. From premade emails and newsletters to updated product feeds, these resources can be a valuable asset to your marketing efforts. When choosing an affiliate program, it's important to look for those that provide these resources, as it shows that the program is invested in supporting and helping their affiliates succeed. Remember, the more resources and support a program offers, the more likely you are to make more money.

Affiliate Support

If you're a new affiliate and you're looking for more support or guidance, it's important to make sure that the program you choose offers active and accessible support through chat or email. Many programs on the list provide excellent affiliate support, but it's always a good idea to check with others on an affiliate forum. Some programs even offer a dedicated affiliate manager who sends regular emails and provides tips on how to increase your income. Additionally, you may receive regular newsletters that keep you informed of the latest promotions and products available to promote, including occasional promotions and seasonal event notifications. It's important to choose a program that provides the level of assistance you need, so make sure to do your research before committing.

Application Process Time

When considering an affiliate program, it's important to take note of the processing time for your application. Some programs take a while to review and approve your application, while others offer immediate access to their affiliate area. To avoid wasting your time on programs that may not be suitable for you, choose one that offers quick processing times. This way, you can start your affiliate journey right away and not have to wait for weeks just to get started.

Performance-Based Bonuses

If you're looking to maximize your earnings as an affiliate, it's worth considering programs that offer rewards and bonuses based on performance. These incentives can provide an extra boost to your commissions and help you reach your sales goals faster. Keep an eye out for programs that offer these types of rewards and make sure to take advantage of them if you qualify.

Promotions and Discount Codes

A great way to motivate your audience as an affiliate is to provide them with promotional deals or a discount code. To do this, you should search for affiliate programs that allow you to create your own custom discount code. Many programs offer this opportunity and provide guidance on how to create a discount code that your audience will love. However, some programs do not have any policies regarding discount codes and will not provide one. To make sure you can offer your audience the best incentives, it's important to filter out programs that don't offer this option and choose the right program accordingly.

Top Traffic Sources for Wholesale Offers

Now that you know different ways to find a good wholesale affiliate offer, let’s talk about the top traffic sources that you can utilize to drive traffic more quickly and make more money.

Social Media

Social media traffic is one of the best methods to drive traffic when it comes to wholesale offers. In this way, you can get on social media and talk about different products, review them, compare them together, and try to get more audience by promoting the exact products you want to promote. In this case, wholesale products have almost no difference from other types of products. So basically, whatever method works for you in e-commerce or working with retailers, will again work for you in this niche as well.

That is exactly why the same way that you can showcase certain products on social media or talk about their benefits, you can get the same views and audience to find interest in your wholesale products as well.

The best thing about this is that you get to link directly to the wholesale affiliate program, and in many cases, people will be able to trust what you’re promoting. Plus, you might even be able to create a page on the wholesale website and just ask people to check some of the products you have to promote from there.

Another method for getting traffic via social media is paying influencers and other affiliates to promote your product for you. The way it works is that the social media influencer has to drive traffic to your page or website first, and from there, you can drive traffic to the main affiliate program. The great thing about this is that the returns are very high, and if the influencer does their job correctly, you can make a lot of returns on your investment. It might cost you a couple of hundred dollars to pay an influencer, but it might have thousands of dollars in returns. Plus, you get some organic and direct traffic to your website, which can really affect your search visibility or other performance-related aspects of your website.

Website Content

The next most common and important way for you to promote wholesale affiliate programs is your affiliate website. Search engine optimization and quality content that compares and reviews different products that you are promoting can really affect your reputation.

Another great reason why you should have a website and promote your affiliate content on it is to be able to redirect people from other websites to it directly. On your website, you can publish various forms of articles, ranging from best of articles, lists, articles, comparisons, articles, products, reviews, and all sorts of articles in your own niche.

Plus, this gives you the opportunity to promote other affiliate programs that are related to your niche, and not just wholesale ones. One of the best places that you can get a lot of use for your affiliate website quickly is through offering guest posting services. The way that you can message other blocks and websites and ask them to do some free content writing for them based on your old expertise or about the products you are promoting. This way, you can quickly get your website known and get a few backlinks along the way as well.

Email Marketing

One of the benefits of having a website is that you can do email marketing through it. This means that you can ask your readers or your audience to sign up on a main list or subscribe to it so you can always send them more deals and opportunities. These incentives are great and allow your readers to get a quick discount on your site. Plus, you can promote a free resource or file if they sign up with an email. This way, you can make yourself your own email list and drive lots of traffic from there.

There are also services like MailChimp that provide you with an already-created email list of people who might be interested in the services you’re offering. Therefore, you can easily send them some promotions and discount codes. However, you should keep in mind that these people probably don’t know much about your business. Therefore, your email might end up in their spam folder, and affiliate programs usually don’t like the traffic that you might make from that method. So keep in mind not to ever use this method.

Paid Ads

Another great way to quickly find your audience is through paid ads. Depending on your exact product, you can promote your offers through paid advertisement. For example, if more of your audience is on search results, then it is wise to use Google ads to show up on Google search results. You can also use Ad Spy tools for more information on what works for your competitors.

Tips to Promote Wholesale Affiliate Offers Successfully

Now that you know all the traffic sources for wholesale affiliate programs, let's check out some of the tips and tricks that can help you drive even more traffic and make more money.

Find Effective Platforms

First and foremost, you should find platforms that are more effective for your audience. You should avoid spending your time on platforms where your audience does not exist at all. For example, promoting wholesale offers on Twitter can be absolutely in vain because your audience does not exist on that platform. However, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and even Facebook are great to choose as social media platforms for promoting these offers. Websites and blogs are also great for promoting them. What you can do is experiment or ask around on different affiliate forums whether a platform is good enough or not.

Keyword Targeting

The next thing you should do to make sure you will receive the visibility you need is to use your keywords evenly throughout the texts on your blog or website. For example, if you want to talk about certain beauty products from a wholesale offer, you can write an article and use the exact keywords specific to the users of that product. So for example, instead of using keywords like “beauty products for women” use keywords that are long tail like “concealer for sensitive skin” that properly narrows down the keyword to what a person who searches in order to buy a product would search.

Here are some keywords that are great in the wholesale Niche for starting your website. However, keep in mind that these are just examples and in order to find the right keywords, you need to do extensive keyword research through tools like SEMrush, Google Trends, and so on.

• Best wholesale deals on [product category]
• Affordable wholesale [product name] suppliers
• Where to buy wholesale [product category] online
• Discounted [product name] bulk orders
• Wholesale prices for [product category] in [location]
• Bulk buying [product name] for resale
• Wholesale [product name] with free shipping
• Bulk purchase [product name] for businesses
• Low minimum order wholesale [product category]
• Wholesale suppliers for [specific market/niche]
• Exclusive wholesale offers for [product category]

Trends

Every once in a while, a certain product becomes popular all across the Internet. That is the best time for you to make some content, either in video format or written, and talk about that product, review it, and give users an incentive to shop using your link. An incentive could be a discount code, or some other form of bonus that users can catch as opposed to just purchasing that product from the main manufacturer. Plus, you yourself can make a trend by finding the best product and talking about it.

If you want to stay in the loop of what trends are ongoing at the moment, you can always check the latest hashtags on different social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Keep in mind that depending on the type of product, the place to advertise them is different too. For example, for products that have a younger audience interested in them, you should seek out the audience on social media platforms, and for other products that are targeted at older people, you can make blog posts and explain the benefits and drawbacks of a product for people who would like to read them and decide.

Review Products

A well-structured and informative product review section can make a world of difference to potential buyers. When assessing this section, there are a few critical aspects to pay attention to.

Firstly, consider the depth of the reviews. A good review should provide comprehensive details about the product, going beyond the basic 'I like it' or 'I don't like it.' The best reviews explain the reasons behind these opinions. Look for specifics such as the ease of use, durability, design, and functionality of the product. Also, pay attention to whether the product fulfilled the customer's needs and expectations.

Secondly, consistency is key. Multiple reviews echoing the same praises or complaints are usually a good indicator of a product's strengths or weaknesses. While one review may be subjective, if a multitude of reviews highlight the same issue, it might signify a recurring problem or, conversely, a feature that truly stands out.

Thirdly, beware of suspiciously perfect reviews. These could indicate artificial boosting, especially if they are written in a very similar style, lack specifics about the product, or seem too enthusiastic without stating any downsides. Authenticity is essential in a product review, and real customers will often share their honest experiences, both good and bad.

Additionally, pay attention to the reviewer's experience level with the type of product in question. A tech-savvy user might have different expectations from a smartphone than a novice user, for example. This can give you a better idea of whether the product would suit your level of expertise or requirements.

Finally, the timing of reviews is worth noting. If a product has been on the market for a while but all the reviews are very recent, this might raise a red flag. Similarly, if a product has had consistently poor reviews for a long period, and suddenly there are glowing reviews, it is wise to be cautious.

Focus on SEO

Search engine optimization or SEO is very important. You should use the keywords you choose evenly throughout your texts, titles, and images. If you don't use your keywords at all, there's a good chance nobody on the Internet or at least through search engines can find you. However, with the right keywords, even the most normal forms of content about the most common topics, have the chance to show up on the first page of Google search results.

An excellent tool for you to optimize your keywords throughout your articles is the Yoast SEO plugin on WordPress.

Focus on Your Niche

One of the biggest mistakes that beginner affiliates make is that they want to expand their products across various niches. Of course, there are lots of different types of products available in wholesale stores and marketplaces. That does not mean that you should be promoting all of them. For example, you don't need to promote sporting goods if your niche is health and beauty. So try to stick to your niche and don't immediately jump to a new niche. People usually want to trust an affiliate or influencer that talks about one certain topic or product. If you plan to make a website and talk about different products, make sure you secure a large audience base before you move on to different niches and generalize your website topic.

Also, avoid starting at a general niche. For example, don't just start out with health and beauty, and promote both medical offers and beauty offers. You should always try to start with the sub-niche rather than the actual niche. Starting out small can benefit you a lot in the long term because it allows you to focus on one topic and try to get to one form of audience. In order to make sure that you are not going to miss out on any customers, make sure you choose a profitable niche in the first place and then stick to it until that one niche is successful.

Conclusion

Now that you know how wholesale affiliate programs and networks work, and you know which one to choose, it's time for you to get started by choosing your product or niche, and making content. Plus, if you work in a certain niche and you're looking for the exact product in your niche that can be good for your audience, you can definitely check out other affiliate programs and networks in our directories.