12 types of affiliates you can invite to join your affiliate program

Understanding the different types of affiliates enables you to tailor your recruitment efforts to attract high-quality affiliate partners to your program.

Partnering with the right mix of affiliates isn’t just about expanding reach; it’s about aligning with people and businesses who already influence your target customer.

The quality and quantity of affiliates you partner with can make or break your results. To scale your affiliate program, you need to get strategic about which kinds of affiliates will bring in consistent, qualified traffic month after month.

In this post, we’ll discuss the top types of affiliates worth partnering with, what makes each of them valuable, and how to recruit and support them effectively so you’re not just getting clicks, but qualified traffic and sales.

Dann fangen wir mal an.

Types of affiliates

Here are eleven distinct types of affiliates at a glance. Read on for an in-depth rundown of each.

1. Blog content creators.
2. YouTubers.
3. Twitch Streamers
4. Coupon sites.
5. Email newsletters.
6. Niche social media influencers (Instagram, TikTok, etc.).
7. Review and comparison sites.
8. Communities and niche forums.
9. Complementary businesses.
10. Course creators.
11. Service providers.
12. Product evangelists and superfans.

Blog content creators

Bloggers and influencers are the OG affiliates. They publish long-form content, think: product reviews, buying guides, tutorials, comparisons, listicles, etc, on their own websites with the ultimate goal of ranking well on search engines like Google.

Blog content often gets discovered organically by people searching for specific problems or product solutions. This makes it a great fit for products with clear use cases in niches with strong search interest (e.g., health, fitness, home, tech, fashion).

How to find this type of affiliate

1. Run a Google search for “[your product type] blog” or “[your niche] reviews”.
2. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify high-ranking blogs that already publish content related to your products.

YouTubers

Videos are proven to be more effective at catching people’s attention than the written word, especially when they feature an actual person. YouTube affiliates create video content showcasing product unboxings, walkthroughs, how-tos, comparisons, pros and cons, opinions, etc.

Videos are best for both digital and physical products that benefit from demos, such as software, high-value, and lifestyle-driven products.

How to find this type of affiliate

1. Run a YouTube search for terms related to your products and industry.
2. Source creators who take affiliate deals on platforms like Influence.co or Collabstr.

Twitch Streamers

Twitch streamers host live broadcasts, mainly on gaming but also on topics like fitness or cooking. They draw in viewers who chat and interact in real time. These affiliates promote products by showing them during streams, sharing links in chat, or giving live demos.

Live streams create strong bonds with fans, who trust the streamer’s views. This leads to quick buys, as viewers can ask questions on the spot. Twitch affiliates work well for gaming gear, tech items, energy drinks, and chairs that streamers can demo live.

How to find this type of affiliate

Search Twitch for streams in your niche. Use tools like TwitchTracker to spot creators with good viewer numbers and chat activity.

Coupon sites

Deal and couponing websites are known to convert exceptionally well, particularly because they show up right as the customer is deciding whether or not to complete a purchase.

They often rank for branded-focused searches like “brand name” + “discount code” or “brand name” + “promo code”. Coupon sites are great partners for customer acquisition campaigns, such as seasonal promos, first-order discounts, or flash sales.

Having said that, it is important to make sure actual affiliate users are not posting their own referral codes on coupon sites. Make it clear in your terms and conditions if this is not allowed.

How to find this type of affiliate

1. Run a Google search for your “brand name” + “discount code”, “brand name” + “promo code”, “competitors’ brand name” + “discount code”, or “competitors’ brand name” + “promo code”.

Email newsletters

There are entire businesses built around curated newsletters distributed via email across diverse industries from fashion, wellness, parenting to productivity, tech, and beyond.

Email, as a channel, is highly effective and personal. So when newsletter publishers recommend relevant products, in the format of gift guides, curated lists, or even ads, etc, readers view their recommendations as trusted tips, rather than random pitches.

Profi-Tipp: Customers acquired through email newsletters are usually not actively searching for your products, so their buyer’s journey tends to be longer than those acquired through blogs, YouTubers, and coupon websites. For this reason, publishing content sharing your brand’s origin story, mission, vision, or expertise positions your business as a trusted entity.

How to find this type of affiliate

1. Run a Google search for your “industry” + “newsletter” and “top voices in X industry”.

Niche social media creators (Instagram, X, TikTok, etc.)

Creators who post frequently on social media about specific topics think: skincare, veganism, indoor plant parenting, streetwear drops, DIY crafts, etc, usually have tight-knit relationships with their communities.

Even if they don’t have massive reach, they often outperform “macro” influencers because their content feels more personal. This means they reach audiences who are usually loyal, engaged, and highly responsive to their product recommendations.

How to find this type of affiliate

1. Run a search on your social media platform of choice to spot creators in your industry with highly engaged audiences. Then reach out to them offering affiliate links plus bonuses like free products, exclusive discounts, new launches, special bundles, etc.

Review and comparison sites

Review websites specialize in side-by-side comparisons, in-depth product reviews, and curated “best of” lists for specific industries.

They capture high-intent traffic; publishing content that targets shoppers who are deep in the decision-making process and are ready to buy. If your product is featured and positioned well in their content, it can win the sale.

Review and comparison sites are best for physical or digital products that compete on features in niches where shoppers tend to do a lot of research before making a purchase decision.

How to work with this type of affiliate

1. Create compelling pitches outlining arguments for why your products deserve to be included in their lists. Highlight your reviews, pricing, shipping policies, unique selling points, and if needed, offer product samples or access to your products.

Communities and niche forums

There are various online communities led by moderators or admins that cater to people with interests relating to your products. This category includes Facebook Groups, Slack workspaces, Reddit subs, Discord servers, and private forums.

Recommendations from a respected member or admin can drive sales, particularly if you’re offering exclusive discounts or member-only bundles.

How to work with this type of affiliate

1. Join each forum to get a feel for its community. Then reach out to moderators or creators privately and offer a custom landing page, group-specific bonuses, or giveaways to build interest.

Complementary businesses

Businesses that serve the same or a similar audience as yours but aren’t competitors make great affiliates because they already understand and can reach your market.

Their customers likely need your product as the “next step” or a related solution, which makes partnering with them beneficial for their business and yours.

How to activate this type of affiliate

1. Identify non-competing businesses popular amongst your target audience and pitch joint promotions or bundled offers that enhance their customers’ experience.

Course creators

The best course creators sell online courses, host workshops, or run membership communities. Over time, they have built deep relationships with an audience that views them as trusted experts in their domains.

Students often need tools, products, or templates to act on what they’re learning.

Course creators are educators first and marketers second which means any product they promote must align with their credibility. If you can demonstrate how your products help their students succeed, many course creators will happily add them naturally to their curriculum in exchange for a commission.

How to activate this type of affiliate

1. Reach out directly or through affiliate networks. Offer an extended trial, demo access, or license keys so they can test and teach with confidence.

Service providers

Service providers are professionals or agencies who work directly with your target customers, think: consultants, designers, agencies, marketers, freelancers, developers, coaches, etc.

Clients pay for their advice and assistance, so their recommendations have real influence over buyer decisions. If your product improves their client outcomes, you can convince them to recommend it.

How to activate this type of affiliate

1. Highlight client success stories they can share in proposals.
2. Offer onboarding assistance, training, white-label options, bulk discounts, or co-branded resources.

Product evangelists and superfans

Customers who have bought from your business and love your products are likely to make the best affiliates. Odds are, they’ve already mentioned your brand on Instagram stories, tweets, blog posts, or in casual conversations.

Referrals from delighted customers work because they are rooted in authentic experiences so it doesn’t feel like an ad. And their audiences, whether small or large, can sense that.

How to activate this type of affiliate

1. Reach out to past customers and invite them to your affiliate program. Feature top Product evangelists in your newsletters or community spaces to make them feel like part of the brand.

Ready to work with different types of affiliates?

When thinking about the types of affiliates to partner with, look at who already serves your audience and ask how you can make it worth their while to send business your way.

You don’t need hundreds of affiliates, you need the right ones.

To start, identify three to five types of affiliates that align with your product, margin, and target customer. Then double down on building real relationships: give your partners the tools, assets, and incentives to succeed.

Over time, you’ll build a solid network of affiliates who act like brand advocates and bring in steady, qualified traffic each month.

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Priyanka Okidi

Priyanka ist Autorin für WordPress- und eCommerce-Unternehmen. Sie liebt es, komplexe Ideen in einfache Konzepte zu zerlegen.