8 Best Affiliate Programs for Podcasters to Make Money (2024)

There are so many different ways to monetize your podcast, so what makes affiliate marketing worthwhile? 

Firstly, it’s easy and there’s very little risk or pressure involved. This makes affiliate programs particularly attractive to podcasts with a niche or small following. Plus, if you play your cards right, there can be very high potential for lucrative returns. 

In this article, we walk you through exactly how podcast affiliate marketing works and the best programs out there for you and your podcast. 

TL;DR 

• Podcast affiliate programs are a great way to monetize your podcast. All you need to do is sign up, start promoting the service or product, and ensure your listeners purchase through your unique link. 
• The three main reasons to go for affiliate marketing are that it’s easy, low-pressure, and you can make good returns if you do it right. 
• Riverside’s affiliate program is a no-brainer for creators using the platform to make their podcast. 

What is a podcast affiliate program?

Let’s start by looking at what affiliate programs actually are. An affiliate program is a scheme that allows podcasters to make money by promoting products or services on their show. 

Joining an affiliate marketing program is one of the easiest ways to make money from your podcast. These kinds of programs are very simple: you join, start promoting the company’s service or product, and you get a cut if your listeners purchase through your affiliate link. 

Why should you use affiliate marketing for your podcast?

If you’re unsure about using affiliate marketing to monetize your podcast, here are a few reasons why you should: 

Easy 

Affiliate marketing doesn’t require too much extra from you as the creator. Even beginners can be successful with affiliate programs. All you need to do is plug the service or product in question, include your affiliate link in the show notes and on your website, and see if any of your listeners bite. 

Low barrier to entry 

Since there’s no risk involved for the company in question, newer podcasts with a smaller following can still join affiliate programs. This means affiliate marketing has a super low barrier to entry and is also one of the quickest ways to start monetizing your show. 

Mutual win-win

With podcast sponsorship deals, there can be a lot of pressure riding on your promotion of your sponsor’s product or service. This is because they pay you  up-front. In podcast affiliate marketing programs, it’s the inverse. The company doesn’t pay out until they receive a purchase from one of your listeners. 

How many followers do you need to join an affiliate program?

The specific eligibility requirements will depend on the affiliate program you’re looking at. However, as we touched on earlier, the barrier to entry should be lower than other types of podcast monetization like sponsorship. If you’ve got a solid base following – around 5000 followers – you should still be able to join an affiliate program. 

How to work with a podcast affiliate program

Most podcast affiliate programs are fairly ‘anonymous’ in a sense. You won’t necessarily have direct contact with anyone from the company or business in question. All you need to do is sign up and promote their product or service. They’ll pay your commission on a set payout schedule after your listeners make their purchases. 

Some affiliate programs have different commission structures depending on what kind of purchase your listeners make. 

8 Best Podcast Affiliate Programs

Here are some of the best podcast affiliate programs out there: 

Riverside’s Affiliate Program 

Riverside’s affiliate program is open to any and all podcasters - however big or small your following. All you need to do is create content talking about Riverside and why it’s worth using. 

Requirements to Join: 

There are no requirements, so anyone can join the Riverside affiliate program. 

How it works: 

• There are no caps on payouts

• You’ll get your own unique referral link

Commission: You’ll get 20% of commission on all payments for any customers you refer to Riverside. 

Best for:  Riverside’s affiliate program is perfect for podcasters and video creators of all levels. Since there are no joining requirements, you don’t have to worry about being eligible. Simply sign up and start monetizing your content! 

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Audible Creator Program 

The Audible Creator program is an affiliate marketing program to promote Audible, Amazon’s audiobook platform. Audible works on a subscription basis and allows users to download and listen to audiobooks, just like they might enjoy a podcast. This affiliate program will appeal to a wide range of creators because of how applicable it is to all kinds of audiences. 

Requirements to join: 

To join the Audible Creators Program, you must sign up for the Amazon Associates program. The Amazon Associates program has a few joining requirements including: 

• A website with original and recent content 
• A ‘substantive number of organic followers’ 

How it works: All you need to do is promote the Audible 30-day free trial and direct your listeners to sign up via your custom URL. Every one of your listeners can get a free audiobook, and you get a $15 commission every time someone signs up via your custom URL. You need to hit the $30 monthly threshold to get paid. 

Commission: You earn advertising fees which are called ‘bounties’. The value of a ‘bounty’ varies depending on whether your listeners sign up for a free trial or membership. 

Best for:   Creators who are are podcasting about anything related to audiobooks. This could be a good way to promote our own audiobook, or one that’s discussed in your show.

Skillshare associates

Skillshare offers thousands of different online classes and tutorials. They currently have over 800K members and 34K classes and feature everything from digital illustration classes to entrepreneurship masterclasses. You can promote their platform for a 40% commission. 

Requirements to join: 

• A unique channel and audience aligned with Skillshare’s brand
• You must have a free Skillshare account and create an account through Impact to be able to track your referrals 

Commission: 

You earn 40% commission up to a cap of $67 for every new paying customer that you refer to Skillshare. 

How it works: 

• You get a unique referral link 
• You’ll receive payouts 30 days after the end of the month 

Best for:   The Skillshare affiliate program is a good choice for creators who have other existing monetization streams. For example, podcasters who might have a course on Skillshare already or want to gift their audience the chance to learn something new. 

Squarespace affiliate program 

Squarespace is a well-known website builder. Its affiliate program is well-designed to support you in promoting their platform. They provide all the creative assets you need (and update them regularly). They also send out a regular newsletter that keeps you in the loop about all new features and updates. 

Requirements to join: 

Squarespace works with websites that are relevant to their products and that don’t contain any offensive materials. 

How it works: There’s no limit on how much commission you can earn. So in theory, you can benefit from unlimited referrals. You’ll get custom links and banners to include your website. 

Commission: You’ll get payouts on any first-time Squarespace customer that builds a website or buys a subscription. The payouts you’re eligible for depend on the type of purchase that your listeners make. For instance, if they sign up for a paid subscription, you could receive up to $200 for that order. 

Best for:    If you’ve got a podcast site built on Squarespace it makes sense for you to join the Squarespace affiliate program.

Amazon Associates 

Amazon Associates is a super flexible affiliate marketing program because you can link to any product on Amazon. This makes promoting products that make sense with your content really easy. 

Requirements to join: 

• You need to make at least 3 qualifying sales within the first 180 days after signing up. The Associate Team will check your account once these sales happen. 
• The Associate Team will look at all the sites and platforms you provide to them. They’re looking for ‘robust original content’  and a ‘substantive number of organic followers’. 

How it works: 

You sign up and start promoting products listed on Amazon via your affiliate links. Once you’ve made 3 qualifying sales, the Associate Team will check and verify your account. 

You get paid 60 days after the end of the month in which you earned your commission. 

Commission:  You can earn up to 10% commission on all qualifying purchases, as well as when a listener signs up to qualifying programs. 

Best for:   Creators looking for flexibility. The Amazon Associates program is ideal for podcasters who don’t want to be limited to promoting just a single product. With the millions of products available on Amazon, finding some products you feel comfortable promoting will be far easier. Plus, you can change things up every episode, depending on what aligns with your content. 

Redbubble Affiliates 

Redbubble is an online store that sells everything from t-shirts to phone cases and wall art made by independent artists. 

Requirements to join: 

• When you sign up to the Redbubble affiliate program, the team reviews your application to see if you’re a good fit. 

How it works: 

• You get to choose from Redbubble’s extensive catalog of products, so you can promote only the things that make sense for you and your audience 

Commission: 

You get 10% commission on any purchases made via your unique links. And there’s a 30-day attribution window. 

Best for:   Creators who want a flexible and lucrative affiliate program. Since Redbubble has a diverse and varied catalog, there should be something for all kinds of podcasters (and their listeners). It makes a lot of sense to promote Redbubble if you have merch yourself on the platform. 

Fiverr affiliates 

Fiverr is a freelancer marketplace where you can connect with people offering all kinds of services. Fiverr also has several different platforms under its umbrella, from Fiverr Learn to Fiverr Business. The commission structure is a little different for each one, so depending on your choice, you can expect different incomes. 

Fiverr also offers a lot of support to its affiliates: you get access to professional support, tutorials on how to promote Fiverr, and a management dashboard. You can also use their pre-made creative assets to help you get started. 

Requirements to join: Anyone can become a Fiverr affiliate. There are no eligibility requirements. 

How it works: 

Fiverr’s affiliate program has different commission plans depending on which of their products you promote. 

Fiverr

You choose between two commission plans: 

• Fiverr CPA. Offers $15 - $150 CPA depending on what service your first-time buyer purchases
• Fiverr Hybrid. $10 CPA and a 10% revenue share. This is a fixed commission per first-time purchase combined with a revenue share for 12 months. 

Fiverr business 

Fiverr business has one set commission plan: 

• $100 once the account has spent $100 and 10% of the revenue for one year. 

Fiverr affiliates 

You get 10% of every referred affiliates earnings for life. 

Fiverr learn 

You will receive 30% of every course order.

Best for:   Creators who want scalability. Fiverr offers big earning potential and scalability. Plus, there’s no earning cap. 

Apple’s Performance Partners Program 

Apple’s Performance Partners program lets you make money from promoting a range of Apple’s products including Apple Music, the App Store, Apple TV, Apple News, and Apple Podcasts. 

Requirements to join: 

The Performance Partners Program only accepts a small number of affiliates based on quality performance and how much volume they can drive to Apple’s products. 

How it works: 

You get access to the Apple Services toolbox, which gives you everything you need to promote the platform you want to market. 

Commission: 

Most partners are on the Standard Program. Only those who are invited can join the ‘Premier Program’. 

Standard Program: 

You’re on a 60 - 90 day payment cycle on the Standard program. The commission rate varies depending on which service you’re promoting. You’ll either get a one-time payment when one of your listeners becomes a member of a certain Apple product or a 7% commission on sales revenue. 

Premier Program:

Only affiliates who can ‘drive trials at scale’ and ‘maintain desired conversion rate’ can join the Premier Program. You can get paid for each trial and also get access to more assets and exclusive support. 

Best for:   

Podcasters with a big following and high-guaranteed conversion. Though there’s big earning potential with the Apple Performance Partners program, you also have to fulfill their joining requirements, which may exclude some podcasters. 

Best practices for choosing a podcast affiliate program 

Just because a podcast affiliate program is easy to join doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Here are a few things to think about when you’re weighing up different options: 

• Make sure it aligns with your brand & audience. If you’re promoting a product or service that doesn’t quite match up with your podcast brand or values, it’s likely your audience won’t really resonate with it. This means you won’t see many successful conversions and, therefore, will only get a low income. 
• Make sure you actually want to endorse the product/service in question. Promoting a product or service you don’t believe in can be difficult. Opt for affiliate programs that let you share a product you actually want to put your name behind. For instance, if you record your podcasts with Riverside, joining the Riverside affiliate program makes sense!
• Read the terms and conditions. Reading the small print before signing up to an affiliate program is always good. Check how the payment structures work and whether there are any other requirements you need to fulfill to get your paycheck. 

FAQs on Podcast Affiliate Programs

How do I promote my podcast affiliate links?

You should definitely make sure to include your affiliate links in your show notes. And during your affiliate marketing segment, point your listeners to your show notes to find the right link. It’s also worth including your affiliate links on your website (and blog if you have one). 

How much money can you make from podcast affiliate marketing?

As we’ve seen, some affiliate programs include an earning cap that limits how much you can make. But if you play your cards wisely and opt for an unlimited earning program, then you can make substantial returns.