The affiliate marketing world constantly evolves, with new opportunities emerging daily. One of affiliate marketers’ most exciting and lucrative areas is the software as a service (SaaS) industry. SaaS companies offer a wide range of products and services, from marketing automation tools to customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and many of them have affiliate programs that can be incredibly profitable for savvy marketers.
What is SaaS affiliate marketing?
SaaS affiliate marketing involves promoting a SaaS company’s products or services and earning a commission for each sale or lead generated through your unique affiliate link. When a customer clicks on your link, makes a purchase, or signs up for a free trial, you earn a percentage of the sale or a fixed amount per lead.
SaaS affiliate programs can be desirable because they often offer recurring commissions. This means that if a customer signs up for a monthly subscription through your link, you’ll earn a commission for as long as that customer remains a paying subscriber. Over time, these recurring commissions can add up to a significant passive income stream.
Why I love SaaS affiliate marketing
There are several key benefits to promoting SaaS products as an affiliate marketer:
- High commissions: Many SaaS affiliate programs offer generous commission rates, often 20-40% of the sale price. Some programs even offer up to 100% commission on the first month’s subscription.
- Recurring revenue: As mentioned above, many SaaS products are sold on a subscription basis, which means you can earn recurring commissions as long as the customer remains a paying subscriber.
- Large market: The SaaS industry is growing rapidly, with more and more businesses adopting cloud-based software solutions daily. This means there is a large and growing market for SaaS products, with plenty of potential customers to reach.
- Valuable products: SaaS products are often essential business tools, meaning customers highly value them. This can make it easier to promote these products and generate sales.
My Favorite SaaS affiliate programs
So, what are some of the top SaaS affiliate programs available today? Here are a few of the most popular and lucrative options:
ArticleX (my favorite)
ArticleX is the #1 media repurposing suite. Users can repurpose valuable audio and video into written content in minutes. Their affiliate program offers a 30% commission for each new paid signup. This is also recurring, creating great passive income!
SEMrush
SEMrush is an all-in-one marketing toolkit with SEO, PPC, content, and social media tools. Their affiliate program offers a $200 commission for each new subscription sale, $10 for each free trial signup, and $0.01 for each new lead.
Shopify
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform for creating online stores. Their affiliate program offers a 200% commission on the first two months of a customer’s subscription, plus a $2,000 commission for each Plus referral.
Freshworks
Freshworks provides customer support and CRM tools, including Freshdesk, Freshsales, and Freshchat. Its affiliate program offers a 15% commission on all sales and a 90-day cookie window.
Unbounce
Unbounce is a landing page builder and conversion optimization platform. Its affiliate program offers a 20% recurring commission on all sales and a 90-day cookie window.
HubSpot
HubSpot offers marketing, sales, and customer service software. Its affiliate program offers up to $1,000 per product purchased by a referral and has a 90-day cookie window.
Aweber
Aweber is an email marketing and automation tool. Their affiliate program offers a 30% recurring commission on all sales.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels helps businesses build sales funnels. Their affiliate program offers up to 40% recurring commission on all sales, with potential bonuses.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing tool designed for creators. Their affiliate program offers a 30% recurring commission on all sales.
GetResponse
GetResponse provides email marketing, landing pages, and automation tools. Their affiliate program offers a 33% recurring commission on all sales.
Kajabi
Kajabi is a platform for creating online courses and membership sites.
Kajabi is a comprehensive platform that not only allows you to create and sell courses but also offers marketing tools to help you grow your business. Their affiliate program is quite lucrative, offering a 30% recurring commission. Kajabi also has nine partner tiers with exciting rewards each time you level up.
Teachable
Teachable allows creators to build and sell online courses. Their affiliate program offers a 30% recurring commission on all sales.
Thinkific
Thinkific is another platform for creating and selling online courses. Their affiliate program offers up to a 30% recurring commission.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform for growing businesses. Their affiliate program offers up to $1,500 per enterprise referral and 200% of the customer’s first monthly payment.
Wix
Wix is a website builder platform. Their affiliate program offers a $100 commission for each Premium plan sale.
Leadpages
Leadpages is a landing page and lead generation tool. Their affiliate program offers a 30% recurring commission.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a sales CRM and pipeline management software. Their affiliate program offers a 33% recurring commission on all sales.
Trello
Trello, a collaboration and project management tool, offers an affiliate program that pays a commission to referred customers who upgrade to paid plans.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website building and hosting service. Their affiliate program offers a commission of up to $200 per sale.
Instapage
Instapage is a landing page platform for marketing teams and agencies. Their affiliate program offers a 50% commission on the first year and a 30% recurring commission thereafter.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform. Their affiliate program offers up to $30 per sale.
Kinsta
Kinsta provides managed WordPress hosting. Depending on the plan, its affiliate program offers a $50 to $500 commission per sale.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a productivity platform that offers tasks, docs, goals, and more. Their affiliate program offers a 20% recurring commission on all sales.
How I picked the affiliate programs
When selecting SaaS affiliate programs, I followed a meticulous process to ensure both profitability and value for my audience. I began with extensive market research, identifying popular categories and emerging trends in the SaaS industry. My priority was to choose high-quality products with strong reputations and positive user reviews. I carefully evaluated commission structures, favoring programs with competitive rates and longer cookie durations.
The reliability of payment terms and the quality of affiliate support were also crucial factors. To gauge market demand, I utilized tools like Google Trends and conducted keyword research. Importantly, I focused on programs that aligned closely with my audience’s interests and needs, increasing the potential for conversions. Where possible, I opted for programs offering recurring commissions on subscription renewals, aiming for long-term passive income. Finally, before promoting any product, I personally tested it to ensure I could genuinely recommend it, maintaining trust and credibility with my audience.
My tips for success in SaaS affiliate marketing
If you’re interested in getting started with SaaS affiliate marketing, here are a few tips to help you succeed:
Choose products that align with your audience
To succeed as an affiliate marketer, you must promote relevant and valuable products to your target audience. Choose SaaS products that solve a problem or meet a need for your readers or followers.
Test and use the products yourself
Before promoting a SaaS product, it’s a good idea to test it out yourself to ensure it’s a high-quality product that you feel comfortable recommending. Many SaaS companies offer free trials or demos that you can use to evaluate the product.
Create valuable content
To attract potential customers and generate affiliate sales, it’s important to create valuable content that educates and informs your audience about the products you’re promoting. This could include blog posts, videos, social media posts, or email newsletters highlighting the product’s features and benefits.
Use multiple promotion channels
Don’t rely on just one channel to promote your affiliate links. Use a variety of channels, such as your website, social media profiles, email list, and paid advertising, to reach as many potential customers as possible.
Monitor your metrics
Keep track of your affiliate metrics, such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and commission earnings, to see what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to optimize your promotion strategies and improve your results.
Earn Passive Income with SaaS Affiliate Marketing
SaaS affiliate marketing can be a highly profitable way to earn passive income online. You can build a sustainable and scalable affiliate business by promoting high-quality SaaS products to your audience and leveraging the recurring commission structures offered by many programs.
To get started, research the top SaaS affiliate programs in your niche, test out the products yourself, and create valuable content promoting the products to your audience. You can achieve significant success as a SaaS affiliate marketer with persistence and hard work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SaaS affiliate program?
A SaaS affiliate program is a partnership where you promote a software service and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link.
How do I join a SaaS affiliate program?
To join, visit the SaaS company’s affiliate page, sign up, and follow their instructions. Once approved, you’ll get a unique link to share.
How much can I earn from SaaS affiliate programs?
Earnings vary by program. Some offer a one-time commission, while others provide recurring commissions. Rates can range from 5% to 30% or more.
What are the best strategies to promote SaaS affiliate programs?
Create high-quality content like blogs, reviews, and tutorials. Use SEO to target the right keywords, and share your links on social media and email campaigns.
Do I need a website to be a SaaS affiliate?
While having a website helps, it’s not mandatory. You can also promote through social media, email newsletters, or even YouTube channels.
How do I track my affiliate sales and commissions?
Most SaaS affiliate programs provide a dashboard where you can track clicks, sales, and commissions. Regularly check it to monitor your performance.
