Affiliate marketing is a superb world where publishers can make endless money. Okay, maybe not endless amounts. But each publisher can earn even more with each layer of effort added. If a publisher truly commits, they can set themselves up for life!

While working to earn the most you can is great, not all affiliate publishers work like that. Different types of digital publishers promote in a bunch of ways. You get the types of publishers who put in all their effort. Then you get the types of affiliate publishers that only do the bare minimum.

Where you fall on the spectrum as a publisher depends on how and how much you advertise. Each publisher has a different niche, uses various platforms, and has a distinct way of talking to users. It’s okay if you don’t know what publisher type you are or what you want to be.

Take a look at the common affiliate publisher types to get an idea of what you can choose from!

The World of Affiliate Marketing

As an affiliate marketer, you have to know the different types of publishers and what a publisher is. You also have to know how affiliate marketing works.

Affiliate marketing is when different types of publishers promote their own affiliate content.

The affiliate partner pays publishers based on how many user actions they bring in.

User actions can range from clicking on links to becoming a member; others include:

  • Signing up for emails or newsletters;
  • Buying products;
  • Utilizing affiliate services;
  • Referring other users;
  • Sharing content and links.

 
Affiliate links are vital to their publishers. Each link has a unique tracking code that links it back to its publisher.

That way, any traffic coming through the link will go right back to the advertiser. No one else can use your link and take the commission!

The affiliate network can provide you with two types of links: standard links or deep links.

Standard links make less money as they only take users to the affiliate’s home page.

Deeplinks are where the real money is. These affiliate links take users straight to content or product pages.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to sign up as an affiliate marketer, try out Admitad.

The Admitad Partner Network is great for any affiliate publisher type who is looking for popular brands. Even seasoned affiliate publishers are welcome to enjoy Admitad’s tools and tracking system.

Admitad has great features, like generating affiliate links. Any publisher can generate standard or deeplinks instantly through Admitad Partner Network.

Admitad also has a Store where you can browse through all the available advertisers. Once you’ve gotten the hang of promoting your initial advertiser, you can start marketing for other brands like:

Join Partner Network Now!

 

Different Types of Affiliate Marketing Publishers

If we had to put a number to it, we can name nine digital publisher types. There are other types of digital publishers, but these are the ones you’ll see the most:

  1. Blogger and content publisher;
  2. Loyalty and cashback publisher;
  3. Comparison publisher;
  4. Social media publisher;
  5. Email marketing publisher;
  6. User-generated content (UGC) publisher;
  7. Mobile app publisher;
  8. Software publisher.

 
Affiliate publisher types come in all shapes and sizes.

Some publishers work five or six days a week, for the entire day. Others only work once or twice a month, if that much. It all depends on what you’ve specialized in and what you have to promote.

Publishers aren’t limited to only being one affiliate publisher type, either. A single publisher can be many or all of the above-mentioned publisher types.

If you’ve got the time for all of them, what’s stopping you? The more ways you can earn an income, the less you have to worry about the future!

1. Blogger and Content Publisher

A blogger is characterized by advertising through mostly written content. Blog articles can have images and videos attached as resources for the text.

Affiliate blog articles link back to the advertiser’s content or product pages.

Bloggers and content publishers both focus on creating high-quality content. This content requires detailed research or experience with the products. Content publishers can also make use of websites as a platform.

A content publisher’s website can passively or actively promote their advertisers.

A passive affiliate website is where the publisher creates and uploads personal content. Affiliate links and products are placed across the site as secondary ads.

The main focus is the publisher’s content.

An active affiliate website is completely dedicated to the respective brand. There can be a page for each product that redirects customers back to the brand’s site.

You can even make up a mock store for the brand. If they want to buy a product, they must do so through the brand.

2. Loyalty and Cashback Publisher

There are types of publishers who generate income by giving users gifts for buying items. This works in two ways: either through loyalty points or a cashback system.

A cashback publisher offers users the chance to have a percentage of their payment paid back to them.

Cashback systems have terms and conditions that the user must adhere to before they are paid. As long as users follow the rules, they can get their money back!

The other way is through the loyalty publisher type.

A loyalty system works similarly to a cashback system, except users don’t get any money. Instead, users earn loyalty points that they can use to buy other products.

Loyalty and cashback publishers earn a good income as they give users rewards. Offers like this are seen as a sign to buy a product, for some people!

3. Comparison Publisher

Comparison publishers are one of the more common types of digital publishers. Comparison publishers focus on comparing affiliate products and content. Whether it’s between competing brands or within the same affiliate product range.

Comparison publishers manifest in the form of online ecommerce stores. The comparison publisher doesn’t sell any products directly. Comparison publishers show users where they can buy it from. All the products are from the publisher’s various affiliate websites.

The comparison publisher then goes to work creating recommendations and round-up reviews. Even single product reviews are included for more details.

A recommendation post has a topic and a list of the best services or products relating to that topic. The affiliate links will naturally be in the list for users to find and click on.

4. Social Media Publisher

A social media publisher is a digital publisher type that earns a lot compared to others. We can distinguish between three types of social media publishers:

  • Common social media publisher;
  • Influencer;
  • Collaborator.

 
Your average social media publisher uses social networks like any other user. The accounts are rarely converted to business accounts. They mainly consist of affiliate marketing ads and personal content.

An influencer is an upgrade where you develop the power of persuasion. Influencers can convince an entire audience to buy a product. Influencers make their marketing strategies very personal.

Collaborators work hand-in-hand with other publishers, influencers, and brands. Collaborators benefit from the expanded audience reach.

All types of social media publishers should monetize their accounts wherever possible.

ConvertSocial is a platform to join if you want to instantly monetize your account. From social media networks to messaging apps, ConvertSocial can monetize:

 
All social media publishers need some communication skills when talking with users. Social media comments take a strong person to deal with them!

5. Email Marketing Publisher

Email marketing publishers are great examples of the different types of web publishers. Email marketing publishers use an older but reliable method of sending out emails. These emails can be sent to potential clients or loyal customers.

Email marketing, or sending out newsletters, is a refined publisher skill. It takes a special type of affiliate publisher to market through mass emailing. Especially since emails have become so ignored. Barely anyone looks through their spam emails anymore.

You have to be placed in the “important” folder of the user’s inbox if you want to get their attention. Then you’ll need to think up perfect subject lines that always grab your viewers’ attention.

If you think that email marketing is easy, think again. You need persistence and wit if you want to make a proper living off of it!

6. UGC Publisher

User-generated content publishers are exactly what they sound like. These publishers promote content made by users. This type of affiliate publisher throws conventional business methods out the window.

There is a lot of time needed to create professional content. While this type of content is great for advertising, not everyone has the time to make it. That’s why certain affiliate publisher types rely on the input of the users around them.

Every affiliate product has been reviewed somewhere down the line. Whether it’s by the manufacturers or the actual buyers. UGC comes in many forms, such as:

  • Social media uploads;
  • Reviews and testimonials;
  • Blog articles;
  • Live streams;
  • Q&As;
  • Social media comments.

 
There is user generated content all around you, if you know where to look for it. Any publisher can use this information, as much of it isn’t copyrighted.

While you may need permission from the person who wrote or said it, you can then use it in any way you need!

7. Mobile App Publisher

The mobile app affiliate publisher type relies on user interactions with apps in order to make an income. A mobile app publisher can create the following types of apps:

  • Free app with upgrade;
  • Free app with adverts;
  • Free app with subscription;
  • Paid app (once-off);
  • In-app purchases.

 
Many mobile app publishers start off with an app that’s free to download. Any purchases come after you’ve installed it. The first type of free app involves advertising across the app’s pages. This generates passive income every time a user opens the app.

The next type of free app includes an upgrade to the full version. The free version or trial period leaves customers wanting more. The upgrade can also include removing any ads.

The last type of free app is similar to the upgrade, except you have to keep paying for the full version to stay open. This can either be a monthly or yearly payment.

The paid app is a once-off purchase of the entire app. These apps don’t include a free version, and customers aren’t always sure what to expect.

Lastly, in-app purchases can be included in any of the above app models!

8. Software Publisher

The final type of digital publisher we’ll discuss is the software publisher. A software publisher is quite similar to a mobile app publisher. Except a software publisher isn’t limited to just phones.

A software publisher sells programs for any type of device, including:

  • Laptops;
  • Desktops;
  • Tablets;
  • Phones;
  • Music players;
  • Machinery software.

 
Every device we use on a daily basis has some sort of software inside it. Otherwise, the devices wouldn’t respond when we clicked on the buttons or screens! Certain types of affiliate marketing publishers decided to take advantage of this software.

Thus, software publishers arose from the affiliate marketing world. Software publishers earn commissions off of user installs as well as in-app purchases.

A software publisher can apply any of the mobile app monetization ideas to the software.

Conclusion

When you first start advertising, it’s hard to tell what type of affiliate marketing publisher you are. It takes time to learn which promotion style works best for you. It takes even more time to find the platforms you enjoy advertising on.

Take your time when you’re setting up your affiliate marketing foundation. If you already know what type of publisher you are and you’re battling to make money, try another type. There is always room for improvement when it comes to working online.

The Internet, just like its trends, changes from moment to moment. If you’re too slow, you could fall behind, and your income will be compromised. It’s important to stay on top of things if you want to keep making money every month. Working this month doesn’t ensure your affiliate marketing for next month!

Affiliate marketing asks you to take the world head-on and prove why your content is better than others’. Find the strength and courage inside yourself; that way, you’ll earn your viewers’ respect.