Not all affiliate programs are worth joining. This post explains how content creators can find affiliate programs that actually convert—and avoid the ones that waste time.
One of the fastest ways to get discouraged with affiliate links is to join the wrong programs.
On paper, most affiliate programs look fine:
In practice, many of them don’t convert at all.
So creators end up thinking:
“Affiliate links don’t really work for my audience.”
Most of the time, that’s not true.
The problem isn’t affiliate links.
It’s which programs creators choose to work with.
When creators first start with affiliate links, they often do the same thing:
This creates three problems immediately:
Conversion doesn’t come from volume.
It comes from alignment.
High-converting affiliate programs tend to share a few traits.
This sounds obvious, but it’s often overlooked.
Programs convert best when:
If you have to convince someone they need the thing, conversion will be low.
The best affiliate programs don’t rely on impulse.
They work because:
That’s why tools, software, and durable products tend to perform better than novelty items.
Creators rarely think about this, but it matters a lot.
If someone clicks your link and lands on:
…the trust damage comes back to you.
A good affiliate program protects your reputation by delivering a clean, predictable experience.
Instead of browsing massive directories at random, start here:
This is the highest-signal place to start.
If you already:
Check if they have an affiliate or ambassador program.
Many do — and never advertise it.
Pay attention to:
If people keep asking about the same thing, there’s likely demand.
Affiliate programs don’t create interest.
They capture it.
Conversion depends on fit.
A product might convert extremely well in one niche and terribly in another.
Focus less on commission rates and more on:
These are common traps:
If it doesn’t feel right to mention casually, it won’t convert when linked.
Even with the right program, creators often lose attribution because:
That’s why conversion isn’t just about the program.
It’s about whether attribution exists when the decision happens.
This is the point where most creators hit a wall.
They finally find:
…but conversion still underperforms.
Not because the program is bad — but because the link isn’t present when someone is ready to buy.
Aardvark exists to close that gap by making sure creator deals and affiliate links surface at the moment of intent, not just the moment of posting.
You don’t need a manager or brand deals to use affiliate links. This post explains how content creators can get started with affiliate links—cleanly, ethically, and without overthinking it.
