💸 Step-by-Step Guide to Earn Money with ShareASale Affiliate Program
In the digital age, making money online has become more accessible than ever — especially through affiliate marketing. One of the most trusted and beginner-friendly affiliate networks available today is ShareASale. With over 20 years in the industry, ShareASale connects you with thousands of brands you can promote and earn commissions from.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know about ShareASale — from signing up to making your first affiliate sale — all explained in a simple, step-by-step format.
✅ What is ShareASale?
ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects publishers (you) with merchants (companies and brands). As a publisher, you promote products or services from these merchants using special tracking links. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase (or completes a specific action), you earn a commission.
With thousands of affiliate programs across different niches — fashion, health, finance, software, beauty, home, fitness, and more — there’s something for everyone.
🔍 Why Choose ShareASale?
- 🆓 Free to Join
- 🛒 21,000+ Affiliate Programs
- 💼 Works with top brands like Reebok, Weebly, FreshBooks, WP Engine
- 💰 Transparent commission tracking
- 🌍 Global access
- 📈 Real-time reporting
Whether you’re a blogger, influencer, YouTuber, or just starting with zero experience — ShareASale is a perfect platform to begin your affiliate journey.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Start Earning with ShareASale
Let’s break down how to start earning with ShareASale, even if you’re a complete beginner.
🧾 Step 1: Sign Up for a ShareASale Publisher Account
- Go to www.shareasale.com
- Click on “Affiliate Sign Up” (You are an affiliate/publisher)
- Fill in the form:
- Name
- Country
- Website or Social Profile
- Preferred payment method
- Verify your email
- Submit for review (approval can take 12–48 hours)
Note: You don’t need a big website to get approved. You can use a YouTube channel, Instagram page, blog, or even a landing page.
🧑💻 Step 2: Complete Your Profile & Set Up Payment Info
Once approved:
- Log in to your ShareASale dashboard
- Go to Account → Payment Settings
- Choose your payment method (Direct Deposit, PayPal, or Check)
- Fill in tax details (especially for U.S. affiliates)
This step ensures you’ll get paid once you start earning commissions.
🛍️ Step 3: Find and Join Affiliate Programs
Now, it’s time to choose the right brands to promote.
- Go to the “Merchants” tab → Click on “Search for Merchants”
- Use filters by:
- Category (Health, Fashion, Software, etc.)
- Commission Rate
- EPC (Earnings per Click)
- Cookie Duration
- Click on any program you like → Read the description → Click “Join Program”
🎯 Pro Tip: Start with programs that are closely related to your niche and offer high EPC or recurring commissions.
🔗 Step 4: Get Your Affiliate Links
Once you’re approved for a program:
- Go to “Links” → Choose your merchant
- Find:
- Text links
- Banners
- Product links
- Click “Get HTML Code” or “Copy Tracking Link”
✅ This is your unique affiliate link. Use it wherever you promote the product.
📣 Step 5: Promote Your Links
Now comes the most important part: getting traffic to your affiliate links. You can do this in many ways, depending on your skills and platform.
✅ 1. Blogging / Website
Create useful blog content like:
- Product Reviews
- Top 10 Lists
- Tutorials (e.g., “How to Build a Website with Weebly”)
📌 Example:
“Try Weebly’s drag-and-drop website builder here – [Your Link]”
✅ 2. YouTube Channel
Make videos about:
- Unboxings
- Product Demonstrations
- How-to Videos
- Comparisons (e.g., “Weebly vs Wix”)
Include your affiliate link in the description and mention it in the video.
✅ 3. Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest)
- Share product tips or short reviews
- Use “Link in Bio” tools to share multiple links
- Always disclose affiliate partnerships clearly
✅ 4. Email Marketing
- Build an email list around a niche
- Send helpful newsletters or product recommendations
- Include affiliate links naturally
✅ 5. Quora / Reddit / Forums
- Answer relevant questions
- Add value before dropping any links
- Don’t spam — be helpful
🧠 Step 6: Create Quality, Trustworthy Content
People buy from people they trust.
Here’s how to increase your chances of earning:
- Solve problems, don’t just sell
- Use personal experience or testimonials
- Add pros and cons to show honesty
- Use strong Call-to-Actions (CTAs) “Click here to try it risk-free today!”
“Start your free trial with this link!”
The more helpful your content is, the higher the chance people will click and convert.
📊 Step 7: Track Performance and Optimize
ShareASale gives you powerful reports to track:
- Clicks
- Conversions
- Sales
- Earnings per click (EPC)
- Top-performing merchants
Check your reports regularly and adjust your strategy:
- Promote your top-converting products more
- Drop underperforming programs
- Try different content formats
💵 Step 8: Get Paid
ShareASale pays you once your commissions reach the minimum threshold ($50).
- Payment Options:
- Direct Deposit (fastest)
- PayPal
- Check (US only)
- Payment Schedule: 20th of each month, based on previous month’s earnings
💡 Example: If you earn $100 in April, you’ll get paid around May 20th.
📆 30-Day Affiliate Action Plan with ShareASale
| Week | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Create your ShareASale account and get approved |
| 2 | Join 5–10 programs in your niche |
| 3 | Create 3–5 blog posts, videos, or social media content pieces |
| 4 | Promote, track performance, and optimize for conversions |
🎯 Pro Tips for Success
- Stick to One Niche – Don’t try to promote everything. Focus on one topic you enjoy and understand.
- Promote Trusted Brands – Always recommend quality products. Your audience’s trust matters.
- Use SEO for Free Traffic – Learn basic keyword research and write content that ranks on Google.
- Test and Improve – Try different types of content and see what performs best.
- Be Patient – Affiliate income grows over time. Consistency is key.
🧾 Realistic Income Example
Let’s say:
- You join a program with $20 commission per sale
- You get 100 visitors a week to your blog
- 5% click your link = 5 clicks/week
- 20% of them buy = 1 sale/week = $20
💰 That’s $80/month with just one product and low traffic.
Now scale that:
- Add more products
- Improve traffic
- Get higher commissions
Over time, this can grow to hundreds or even thousands of dollars monthly.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing with ShareASale is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to start earning online. It requires no investment, no product creation, and minimal technical knowledge.
By following this step-by-step guide:
- ✅ You’ll learn how to set up your affiliate account
- ✅ Join high-paying brands
- ✅ Promote with confidence
- ✅ Track results and get paid
Remember, success won’t come overnight. But with consistency and smart effort, you can build a solid stream of online income.
