Affiliate Marketing NZ
Affiliate marketing is becoming a popular way for businesses to grow their online presence and reach new customers in New Zealand.
Internationally, affiliate marketing is common-practice for many businesses and there is a whole ecosystem around it, and NZ is slowly catching on to the effectiveness of it. Now is a great time to learn about affiliate marketing and find out if you want to get involved.
In this article, I'll share my knowledge and insights on affiliate marketing, and break down what it is, how it works, and how you can get started making money online with affiliate marketing.
I'll also be providing a list of some of the top affiliate platforms available in New Zealand to help you get up and running.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a way of earning money by promoting other people’s products or services online. You get paid a commission for each sale that you generate through your affiliate links.
Essentially, it's a way for a company to sell its products by partnering with other people (affiliates) who promote their products. The affiliates earn a commission on each sale they make.
It's a win-win situation for both the company and the affiliates. The company gains increased exposure and sales, while the affiliates earn money for promoting the company's products.
For example: If a company selling shoes has an affiliate program, it could allow influencers, bloggers, or website owners to promote their shoes on their own platforms towards their audience.
When someone clicks on the affiliate's link and makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission. The company benefits from increased exposure and the affiliate earns money for their efforts.
Not only is it great for businesses to help them gain exposure, generate leads, and sell more products, it also provides a great opportunity for people to make money online.
Whether you're a small business owner looking to increase your online visibility or an experienced marketer or entrepreneur seeking to add another income strategy to your arsenal, affiliate marketing is a rewarding and exciting opportunity that is definitely worth exploring.
I've been doing affiliate marketing both in New Zealand and international markets for many years. Being an SEO specialist able to generate a lot of organic traffic it just makes sense to do so.
Affiliate marketing has been a great way for me to test my skills and try out new opportunities while also monetizing the assets I build.
NZ Affiliate Networks
Affiliate networks, or affiliate marketplaces act as the middle-man between affiliate marketers, and businesses looking for affiliates to promote their products or offers.
Affiliate networks typically provide a platform that facilitates the tracking of clicks, sales, and commissions, as well as the management of the affiliate program.
They make it a lot easier for both parties. If you are getting started in affiliate marketing, then affiliate networks are one of the first things you should check out.
As an affiliate, I tend to prefer affiliate networks because you often find a lot of variety, and you can apply to many affiliate programs all in one place. You can also track and monitor all of your earnings from them all in there too.
Affiliate networks also make it much easier for businesses to get started with running an affiliate program. They do much of the heavy lifting, and already have the tools needed to help you get started. Plus you have the bonus of their affiliate database to send your offer to.
Top New Zealand Affiliate Networks
There are two main affiliate platforms dedicated to New Zealand. You can find a large amount of companies in their networks to apply and become an affiliate for by signing up to any of these platforms.
1. Link Shop NZ Affiliate Network:
Linkshop is one of the best New Zealand affiliate programs. It offers tracking, reporting, payments and helping you connect to online partners via its growing network of affiliates.
Some of its affiliate partners include AceMax NZ, Ama Balm, Beyond Bling Jewellery and more.
To sign up as an affiliate with Linkshop, you need to provide your name, email, legal entity type, company, individual, and website name.
Your request will be reviewed and once approved, you'll be able to sign in and start applying to the various affiliate programs they have in their network.
2. S.L.I.C.E Digital NZ Affiliate Network
Slice Digital is another New Zealand affiliate network that connects advertisers and publishers. They offer a range of services to help their clients maximize the impact of their affiliate marketing programs.
This includes affiliate program setup and management, affiliate recruitment and activation, creative and content development, reporting and analytics, and more.
It has over 100 affiliate programs from various categories such as fashion, travel, health, beauty and more.
SLICE Digital Affiliate Network
3. Commission Factory Affiliate Network
I also recommend Commission Factory. Although it is not a dedicated New Zealand affiliate network, it does have a good amount of New Zealand affiliate programs on offer.
Many of the affiliate programs from Commission Factory are for Australian companies, but there is a pretty good mix of local and international offers.
I like using Commission Factory personally and prefer it over the others. It would be great if there were more New Zealand affiliate programs on there though, but it is well worth taking a look.
Commission Factory Affiliate Network
4. Impact Affiliate Network
Impact is a renowned global affiliate network that collaborates with over 2,500 advertisers, including 400+ New Zealand companies, covering a diverse range of affiliate niches such as beauty and travel.
While Impact primarily works with "traditional" affiliate marketers, like website owners and bloggers, the network also welcomes other content creators, including influencers who can negotiate exclusive terms.
You can find just about any type of affiliate offers to promote through Impact. It is easy to sign up and get started, but sometimes I've found that certain affiliate programs take a while to get approved.
I like Impact and have found it to have some really great brands and generous commission rates for them. Some local brands include: Lenovo, Hello Fresh, MyRepublic, and Clearly, making it an attractive choice for both established and aspiring affiliates in New Zealand and beyond.
5. Rakuten Affiliate Network
Rakuten is an affiliate network with a focus on finance, retail, travel, and direct-to-consumer affiliate programs. Its affiliate network is utilized by over 150,000 active affiliates and some of the most well-known brands globally, including Wells Fargo, Benefit, Sixt, and Virgin Holidays.
The company utilizes AI-powered matchmaking to connect its affiliate partners with relevant offers and programs, allowing publishers to leverage innovative personalization features capable of tailoring relevant content based on individual user preferences.
Rakuten is highly respected and well-known in the affiliate industry, and a trusted place to look for offers to promote such as Microsoft, Lorna Jane, boohoo, Chemist Warehouse, Glassons, and the Nile.
Rakuten is an excellent choice for affiliates looking to expand their reach in New Zealand and beyond.
Best New Zealand Affiliate Programs
Below is a list of some great New Zealand affiliate programs you can become an affiliate for and start making money by promoting their products or offers.
1. Mighty Ape Affiliate Program
It is safe to say that if you are from New Zealand, you have surely heard of Mighty Ape. But what you may not have known is that they have an affiliate program allowing you to make money promoting their products.
Mighty Ape is a popular ecommerce store based in New Zealand. Mighty Ape began by selling video games, but has since diversified its product range to include PC hardware, books, music, toys, and much more. With a catalog of over 800,000 products, Mighty Ape is essentially New Zealand's version of Amazon.
Mighty Ape’s affiliate program pays a flat 5% commission on all sales, with commissions being paid in store credit. However, earnings can be converted into cash and transferred to a bank account with no penalty or minimum threshold. Some low-margin products are not eligible for commissions, but 99.97% of all products are commissionable.
To qualify for the affiliate program, you must have a website, blog, or social media account with a “significant” and relevant following. Applications are reviewed within two working days.
As a Mighty Ape partner, you’ll have access to a vast range of pre-designed banners and widgets to help promote the retailer’s products on your platform.
- URL: Mighty Ape Affiliate Program
- Commission rate: 5% per sale
- Payment methods: Store credit (Transferrable to cash via bank deposit)
- Niche: Ecommerce Products
2. Haka Tours Affiliate Program
Haka Tours is an adventure and snow tour provider in New Zealand that offers personalized packages for travelers aged 18 to 70. With an average group size of just 12 people, customers can enjoy an intimate and authentic experience.
Haka Tours offers over 70 optional activities that customers can add to their tour and they can also change their tour or date for free up to 45 days before their itinerary begins.
The Haka Tours affiliate program is managed through the Commission Factory affiliate network. It offers a generous 90-day cookie window and a base commission rate of 7.5%, which increases to 10% if you drive three or more sales within 30 days.
Affiliate partners can access a range of 16 digital banners to help them promote and increase conversions. Payment options include bank transfer, Payoneer, and PayPal.
If you're interested in promoting adventure travel packages and earning commissions through Haka Tours, apply to their affiliate program today.
- URL: Haka Tours affiliate programme
- Commission rate: 7.5% (10% for 3 or more sales in 30 days)
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payment methods: Bank transfer, Payoneer, PayPal
- Niche: Travel and Tourism
3. Macpac Affiliate Program
Macpac is a retailer that sells outdoor gear and clothing for activities such as mountain climbing, hiking, and camping. Sustainability is a key focus for Macpac, and it only uses 100% Fairtrade-certified cotton in its T-shirts.
Macpac's affiliate program is available through the AvantLink affiliate network and is open to affiliates with primarily NZ or Australia-based audiences.
The program has a 30-day cookie duration and pays commissions of 3% on non-Macpac gear and 7% on Macpac products, with gift vouchers and clearance items excluded. Macpac provides various affiliate marketing tools and resources, including custom assets upon request.
- URL: Macpac affiliate programme
- Commission rate: Up to 7% per sale
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment methods: ACH, direct deposit, PayPal
- Niche: Outdoors, camping and hiking products
4. EcoWarehouse Affiliate Program
EcoWarehouse is an online store that offers a wide range of sustainable and eco-friendly items across various categories, from health and beauty products to gadgets, art, and camping gear.
They are committed to sustainability and use minimal and recyclable packaging in all shipments.
EcoWarehouse's affiliate program offers a flat 10% commission on all purchases and even provides an affiliate account bonus of NZ$5 for new partner signups. Commissions are paid monthly for sales generated in the previous month, with a minimum threshold of NZ$50.
EcoWarehouse affiliates have access to various tools and resources to drive traffic and revenue, including text links and banner ads.
- URL: EcoWarehouse affiliate program
- Commission rate: 10% per purchase
- Payment methods: Bank transfer, store credit
- Niche: Eco-friendly, Sustainable products
5. Tiger Brokers Affiliate Program
The Tiger Brokers Affiliate Program offers commissions of $50 to affiliates who refer users to their platform and use a funded account.
Tiger Brokers provides a trading app that allows users to trade stocks in Australian, American, and Asian markets with no minimum deposit and low commission rates.
With over 9 million registered users worldwide, Tiger Brokers has a reputation for providing next-gen technology and an innovative, user-friendly trading app.
The company focuses on empowering investors by providing knowledge and opportunities to help them reach their full potential.
Affiliates can earn commission for every user they refer to Tiger Brokers through their unique referral link.
- URL: Tiger Brokers Affiliate Program
- Commission rate: $50 per funded account
- Niche: FX Trading app for stocks in Australian, American, and Asian markets
What Skills Do I Need to Become an Affiliate Marketer?
To be successful in affiliate marketing, there are a few prerequisites that can help make things a lot easier for you. These things can of course be learned, but if you already have some or all of the below, it will fast-track your path for success in affiliate marketing.
- Knowledge of your niche
- A platform or audience to promote your affiliate offers to
- Marketing skills
- Patience and persistence
- A willingness to learn, test, and adapt
1. Knowledge of your niche:
Having a deep understanding of your niche, including your target audience, their needs and interests, and the products or services that they are most likely to buy.
2. A platform or audience to promote your affiliate offers to:
Whether it's a blog, a YouTube channel, a social media account, or any other platform, having a place to promote your affiliate products is a must. This platform should ideally have a large and engaged audience that is interested in the products or services you're promoting. If you don't have a platform or an audience, you will need to build one. I recommend
3. Marketing skills:
Affiliate marketing requires a certain level of marketing skill, as you need to be able to effectively promote products and reach your target audience. This can include skills such as writing, design, video creation, and social media management, among others.
A great skill to have is the ability to create websites, and optimize them for Google or other search engines.
4. Patience and persistence:
Affiliate marketing can take time to produce results, so it's important to have patience and persistence in order to achieve your goals.
5. A willingness to learn, test, and adapt:
The affiliate marketing landscape is constantly changing, so it's important to stay up-to-date with new trends and strategies in order to remain competitive.
Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing in New Zealand
How you should begin with affiliate marketing will vary depending on what stage of the journey you are at, and also your skill level.
There may be a bit of a learning curve as you gain an understanding of affiliate programs, going through application processes, knowing the rules, learning how to promote your products, generating affiliate links and more.
For many people, the process should be fairly straight-forward. And for those who already have a good audience or source of traffic, it could be a matter of simply finding a few good affiliate programs that are relevant and applying to them.
The below is some of the basics that will help get you on your way towards affiliate marketing.
Choosing a niche
Before you start promoting products, you need to choose a niche that you are interested in and have some expertise in. This will make it easier to create high-quality content and build trust with your audience.
Finding affiliate programs in New Zealand
As we listed above, there many affiliate programs available for New Zealand, and utilizing affiliate networks such as SLICE Digital, Link Shop, or Commission Factory are a great place to get started.
Building a website or blog
A website or blog is essential for promoting affiliate products. You can create a website using a content management system like WordPress or a website builder like Wix.
Creating high-quality content
Creating high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your niche is essential for building trust with your audience and driving conversions
Driving traffic to your website
There are many ways to drive traffic to your website, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and paid advertising. It's important to have a strategy in place for driving traffic to your website and for converting that traffic into sales.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
Building trust with your audience
Building trust with your audience is key to success in affiliate marketing. This means creating high-quality content, being transparent about your affiliate relationship, and only promoting products that you believe in.
Promoting products you believe in
Picking the products that have the potential to make you the most money can come back to bite you if you don't seriously believe in them. It can be much harder to stay motivated and invested in your projects if you don't believe they are providing value to anyone.
Promoting products that you believe in helps build trust with your audience and maintain your reputation as an affiliate marketer. It's also more likely to result in higher conversions, sales, and a positive experience for your audience.
Disclosing your affiliate relationship
Disclosing your affiliate relationship is not only a legal requirement in many places, but it's also important for building trust with your audience. Make sure to include a disclosure on your website and in your promotional materials.
Be sure to read through the terms and conditions for the products you promote. They can have different requirements around disclosures.
Tracking your results and optimizing your strategy
Tracking your results is essential for understanding what is and isn't working in your affiliate marketing strategy. Use analytics tools to track your website traffic, conversions, and earnings, and make adjustments to your strategy as needed.
Staying up-to-date with industry changes and trends
Affiliate marketing is a constantly evolving industry, so it's important to stay up-to-date with changes and trends. This can include following industry blogs and publications, attending conferences and networking events, and staying informed about new affiliate programs and tools.
Tips for Further Success in NZ Affiliate Marketing
Choosing the right products to promote
Choosing the right products to promote is essential for success in affiliate marketing. Look for products that are relevant to your niche and have a good reputation.
Creating engaging content that converts
Creating engaging content that is relevant to your niche and promotes the products you are promoting is key to success in affiliate marketing. Use a variety of content formats, such as blog posts, videos, and social media posts, to keep your audience engaged.
Work on building an email list
Even if email isn't the primary source of your focus with affiliate marketing, developing an email list is a great way to ensure that you have a solid database of relevant people interested in what you are promoting. This way you can continuously engage with them and provide further value, or tell them about new products.
Solid email lists can be a great source of additional affiliate marketing revenue.
Building a strong social media presence
Social media can be a great way to promote your affiliate products and build your audience. Focus on building a strong social media presence by creating engaging content and interacting with your followers.
Depending on what you are promoting, and what type of affiliate marketer you are, you may use social media in a wide range of ways. From simply using it as a retargeting tool with paid ads, through to developing a large, loyal following. There is no set rule that social media is a requirement, but it is always a good idea to not rely on one source of traffic.
Fostering relationships with other affiliates, affiliate managers, and industry leaders
Fostering relationships with other affiliates and industry leaders can be a great way to learn from others and stay up-to-date with industry changes and trends. Developing good communication with your affiliate managers can also enable you to get customized deals and commission rates based especially if you are generating a good amount of sales and conversions.
Taking advantage of seasonal and holiday trends
Seasonal and holiday trends can be a great opportunity for affiliate marketers to promote relevant products and drive sales. Make sure to plan ahead and create content that is relevant to the upcoming season or holiday.
Affiliate Marketing NZ: Conclusion
Discovering the top affiliate programs in New Zealand is only the beginning. Ensuring a stable flow of traffic and sales is a whole different ball game.
There are countless ways to achieve success in affiliate marketing, in my opinion, the most reliable approach is to establish an affiliate website. This enables you to evade the uncertainty of constantly evolving social media algorithms in order to reach your desired audience.
By building an affiliate website, you can create a reliable platform to showcase your content, products, or services to your audience, all while having full control over the presentation and functionality of your site. An affiliate website can assist you in building your brand and reputation, which will in turn increase the trust and loyalty of your audience towards your offerings.
Having an affiliate website provides you with the flexibility to diversify your income streams, experiment with different marketing strategies, and collaborate with various brands and products that align with your niche and target audience. This ultimately leads to higher potential for growth and increased profitability in the long run.
