Five Smart Back-to-School Affiliate Programs

Linc Wonham — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:00:00 GMT

It’s mid-July and much of the country is sweltering in temperatures near 100 degrees, which means it is time to be thinking about back-to-school deals. For affiliate marketers, that means partnering with the retailers that give them the best chances to rake in substantial commissions from now until Labor Day.

We’ve done our homework on the subject and below are five programs that make the grade:

Macy’s
Few retailers are pushing harder to become the go-to destination for back-to-school shoppers than Macy’s is right now. They’ve just announced several new initiatives offering exclusive fashion brands, family-oriented activities and charitable partnerships with Reading is Fundamental, DoSomething.org and the new online Web series, Wendy. Macy’s affiliates earn generous commissions with the average online purchase value being $120, and the program is run through LinkShare.

Wet Seal
This hip clothing retailer is a favorite among young women for having its finger on the fashion pulse and also for its generous discounts. Whether returning to high school or college, millions of girls will be turning to Wet Seal for the latest styles at prices a student can afford. The company knows its way around the Web and social media marketing, and its affiliate program is run through the Google Affiliate Network.

Sephora
If Wet Seal provides a good fit for your site, many of the same shoppers will be visiting Sephora next. The JCPenney property carries hundreds of top brands in makeup and accessories, as well as a full line of men’s products to help returning students start the semester in style. The affiliate program is run therough the LinkShare network, and offers tiered commissions from 5 to 7 percent.

Apple
Apple’s back-to-school promotions are legendary, and the most recent one is going on right now through September 20. Students buying a qualifying Mac product will receive a $100 Back to School Card to redeem at the Mac Store, App Store, iTunes Store or iBookstore. Apple affiliates earn tiered commissions by selling widely used products such as the brand new Macbook Airs that are sure to be on millions of students’ back-to-school lists this summer.

Office Max
Whether it be simple supplies such as paper and pens, a stockpile of accessories for that new Apple product or office furniture for the dorm or bedroom, few students are able to avoid shopping at Office Max when the summer winds down. Run through the Google Affiliate Network, the program offers commissions ranging from 4 to 6 percent.

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Five Smart Back-to-School Affiliate Programs