Substack is a popular platform for newsletter writers. Many writers use it to monetize their content and earn a living. One way to monetize newsletters is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where a writer earns a commission by promoting a product or service.
So, does Substack allow affiliate marketing links? According to their content guidelines, Substack is intended for high-quality editorial content and not conventional email marketing. They do not permit publications whose primary purpose is to advertise external products or services, drive traffic to third-party sites, distribute offers and promotions, enhance search engine optimization, or similar activities. However, Substack does allow writers to use affiliate links in their newsletters.
Understanding Substack
Substack is a platform that allows writers to create and distribute newsletters to subscribers. It is entirely focused on subscriptions, so it doesn’t build any additional functionality to support affiliate links or advertising. In fact, Substack’s Content Guidelines don’t permit publications that are set up with the sole purpose of advertising an external product or service, distributing offers and promotions, or similar activity.
However, Substack does allow writers to use affiliate links in their newsletters, as long as they follow the guidelines set by the affiliate program. For example, Amazon does not allow affiliate links that are shared by email, so Substack automatically strips Amazon affiliate links from the email versions of posts. However, the affiliate links will remain in the web version of the post.
Substack also offers a subscriber referral tool to help writers grow their subscriber base. With subscriber referrals, writers can set their own reward tiers, automate fulfillment with reward emails, invite subscribers to participate, and celebrate their top referrers.
Overall, Substack’s business model relies solely on subscriptions instead of revenue from advertisers. While writers can use affiliate links and host sponsored content, Substack doesn’t prioritize these features on its platform.
Affiliate Marketing Basics
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where a business rewards its affiliates for each customer brought to the business through the affiliate’s marketing efforts. The rewards can be in the form of a commission or other incentives. Affiliate marketing can be a great way for content creators to monetize their work by promoting products or services to their audience.
To get started with affiliate marketing, content creators need to find an affiliate program that aligns with their niche and audience. They can sign up for the program and receive a unique affiliate link that they can use to promote the product or service. When a customer clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the content creator earns a commission.
It’s important to note that content creators should only promote products or services that they genuinely believe in and that align with their values. Over-promoting or promoting low-quality products can harm their reputation and credibility with their audience.
While affiliate marketing can be a lucrative way to monetize content, it’s important to follow the guidelines set by the platform being used. For example, Substack does not permit publications that are set up with the sole purpose of advertising an external product or service. However, content creators can use affiliate links in their newsletters as long as they are not solely focused on advertising and promoting external products or services. Additionally, Amazon affiliate links are automatically stripped from the email versions of Substack posts, but they can still be used in the web version of the post.
Overall, affiliate marketing can be a great way for content creators to monetize their work, but it’s important to approach it with authenticity and follow the guidelines set by the platform being used.
Substack’s Policy on Affiliate Marketing
Substack is a platform that is focused on subscriptions, and it does not have any built-in functionality to support affiliate links or advertising. As per their Content Guidelines, they do not permit publications that are set up with the sole purpose of advertising an external product or service, distributing offers and promotions, or similar activity. However, they do not ban affiliate links from being used on their platform.
It is important to note that Amazon, which has the most popular affiliate marketing program in the world, does not allow its affiliate links to be used in email. Substack automatically strips Amazon affiliate links from the email versions of posts, but the affiliate links will remain in the web version of the post.
Substack believes that direct relationships between readers and writers make for a healthier information ecosystem, and their business model relies solely on subscriptions instead of revenue from advertisers. While they do not have any policies in place that prohibit publishers from hosting sponsored content, they encourage publishers to prioritize building relationships with their readers and creating high-quality content.
In summary, Substack does not prioritize affiliate marketing features on its platform, but they do not ban affiliate links from being used. However, publishers should keep in mind that Amazon affiliate links are not allowed in email and should focus on building relationships with their readers and creating high-quality content.
How to Use Affiliate Links on Substack
Substack allows the use of affiliate links in your newsletters, which can be a great way to monetize your content. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using affiliate links on Substack.
Firstly, it’s important to note that Amazon affiliate links are automatically stripped from the email versions of your posts, as Amazon doesn’t allow affiliate links that are shared by email. However, the affiliate links will remain in the web version of your post. So, if you plan to use Amazon affiliate links, it’s best to include them in the web version of your post.
Secondly, Substack doesn’t provide any additional functionality to support affiliate links or advertising. So, you’ll need to manually include your affiliate links in your newsletter. This can be done by simply copying and pasting the affiliate link into your newsletter.
Thirdly, it’s important to disclose that you’re using affiliate links in your newsletter. This can be done by including a disclaimer at the bottom of your newsletter, stating that you may receive a commission if someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link.
Finally, it’s important to choose affiliate products that are relevant to your audience and that you genuinely believe in. Recommending products that you don’t truly believe in can damage your credibility and trust with your audience.
In summary, using affiliate links on Substack can be a great way to monetize your content, but it’s important to follow best practices and choose products that are relevant and trustworthy.
Pros and Cons of Affiliate Marketing on Substack
Substack is a platform that allows writers to create and distribute newsletters to subscribers. It’s a popular platform among writers who want to monetize their content. One way to monetize content is through affiliate marketing. Here are some of the pros and cons of using affiliate marketing on Substack:
Pros
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Additional Revenue Stream: Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative way to earn additional income. By promoting products or services that align with your newsletter’s theme, you can earn a commission on any resulting sales.
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Flexibility: Substack allows for flexibility in terms of the types of affiliate links you can include in your newsletter. For example, you can use Amazon affiliate links, which are a popular choice among many writers.
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No Additional Fees: Substack does not charge any additional fees for using affiliate links in your newsletter. This means that you can earn money through affiliate marketing without having to pay any additional costs.
Cons
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Potential for Conflict of Interest: Affiliate marketing can create a potential conflict of interest if you are promoting products or services that you do not truly believe in or that are not relevant to your audience.
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Risk of Losing Subscribers: If your subscribers feel that your newsletter is becoming too promotional, they may unsubscribe. It’s important to strike a balance between promoting products and providing valuable content.
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Limited Control: Substack does not provide any additional functionality to support affiliate links or advertising. This means that you have limited control over the types of affiliate links you can include in your newsletter and how they are displayed.
In conclusion, affiliate marketing can be a viable way to monetize your Substack newsletter. However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to incorporate affiliate links into your content. By being transparent and providing valuable content, you can minimize the potential risks and maximize the benefits of affiliate marketing on Substack.
Case Studies of Successful Affiliate Marketing on Substack
Substack does not offer any built-in functionality to support affiliate links or advertising. However, some writers have found success with affiliate marketing on Substack by embedding affiliate links within their content.
One example is Casey Botticello, who has used Substack to build a successful newsletter around his expertise in digital marketing. Casey has shared his strategies for building a successful newsletter on Substack, which include creating high-quality content and building a loyal audience.
Another example is Hieu Nguyen, a marketer from Vietnam who built an affiliate site and sold it for a sizable profit. While Hieu’s case may not be as impressive as some of the other success stories out there, it does demonstrate the viability of a different sort of affiliate marketing business model.
Despite the lack of built-in support for affiliate links on Substack, some writers have found creative ways to monetize their newsletters through affiliate marketing. By creating high-quality content and building a loyal audience, it is possible to earn a significant income through affiliate marketing on Substack.
Alternatives to Substack for Affiliate Marketing
While Substack does not allow affiliate marketing links, there are several alternatives that content creators can use to monetize their newsletters. Here are a few options:
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ConvertKit: This email marketing platform allows users to collect emails, create tags to organize subscribers, and manage them. ConvertKit also offers integrations with several affiliate marketing programs, making it a great alternative for content creators who want to include affiliate links in their newsletters.
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Ghost: Ghost is a free and open-source platform that allows authors and content producers to write, publish, manage, share, and monetize their works. Ghost includes conversion tools that show popups with subscription options, making it a great option for those who want to monetize their newsletters.
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MailerLite: MailerLite is an email marketing platform that offers a range of features, including landing pages, popups, and automation workflows. MailerLite also allows users to include affiliate marketing links in their newsletters, making it a great alternative to Substack for those who want to monetize their newsletters.
Overall, while Substack does not allow affiliate marketing links, there are several alternatives available that offer similar features and functionality. By choosing the right platform, content creators can monetize their newsletters and make money through affiliate marketing.