Indoleads: premium CPA network review
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to monetize your online presence, whether you run a blog, YouTube channel, social media platform or whether you’re involved in traffic arbitrage. However, not all affiliate programs are equally profitable, and picking the right one is critical for long-term success. In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential factors you need to consider when choosing an affiliate program that fits your niche, goals, and audience.
Let’s begin!
Niche relevance: align with your audience
The first and most important factor to consider is how well the affiliate program aligns with your niche. Promoting products or services that resonate with your audience will significantly improve your chances of success. For instance, if your website focuses on fitness, choosing affiliate programs related to workout gear, health supplements, or fitness apps would be far more effective than promoting unrelated products.
Think about your audience’s needs, interests, and buying behaviors. Choosing programs that fit your niche allows you to offer value while building trust with your followers.
Commission structure: know your earning potential
Not all commission structures are the same and understanding them is crucial to selecting the right affiliate program. Typically, affiliate programs offer either a flat-rate commission or a percentage-based commission for every sale, lead, or click you generate.
- Flat-Rate Commission: Some programs offer a fixed amount per sale, regardless of the price of the product or service.
- Percentage-Based Commission: Others may offer you a percentage of the total sale, which can be particularly lucrative if you’re promoting high-ticket items.
In addition to the type of commission, check for programs that offer recurring commissions—especially relevant for subscription-based services like software or memberships. This allows you to earn money continually as long as the customer stays subscribed.
Cookie duration: maximize your opportunities
One overlooked factor in choosing an affiliate program is the cookie duration. This is the length of time that a user who clicks on your affiliate link can still earn you a commission if they decide to make a purchase.
For instance, if an affiliate program offers a 15-day cookie window, a user can return anytime within that period to make a purchase, and you’ll still get credit for the sale. Longer cookie durations increase your chances of earning, even if the customer doesn’t buy immediately.
Payment methods: check how the program or the affiliate network disburses payments
Options like PayPal or bank transfer are common. Ensure that the available payment methods work for you and that fees associated with those methods (if any) are acceptable.
We at Indoleads offer a variety of flexible payment methods, including crypto wallets.
Metric analysis: numbers matter
- CR (Conversion Rate)
CR, or Conversion Rate, is the percentage of users who complete a desired action. For example, if 10 people out of 1,000 visits take the desired action, the CR would be 1%.
The formula for CR is the following: (conversions ÷ total audience) x 100
CR is crucial for evaluating offers. Sometimes, it’s better to choose an offer with a lower payout but a higher CR. This can result in more leads and higher overall earnings. However, bear in mind that CR can vary depending on traffic sources. For example, popunder ads typically have a low CR, which may skew this metric downward.
Keep in mind that newly added or launched offers may not have a CR yet, or it may be displayed as 0%. This is simply because the offer is new, and the stats are still being compiled.
- AR (Approval Rate)
AR (Approval Rate) refers to the percentage of conversions approved by the advertiser.
The formula for AR is the following: Leads Approved / Leads in Total × 100%
Imagine you're sending traffic to an online clothing store. Out of 10 leads, three created accounts but made no purchases, two placed orders but quickly canceled them, and five completed their purchases and received their orders. If the affiliate program considers only confirmed orders as valid actions, you will only be paid for those five leads.
In general, a higher AR indicates a more profitable offer, but this isn’t always the case. What qualifies as a "good" AR varies by vertical. In some verticals, a 100% AR is expected, while in others, even 20-30% could represent a strong offer.
Also, keep in mind that, like the CR, newly added or launched offers may not have an AR metric yet. It's usually calculated and added later.
- GEO (The targeted country of the offer)
GEO refers to the country or region from which the target audience of an offer originates. Each offer specifies which countries’ actions are eligible for payment. For example, if you bring a user from the Netherlands but the offer only pays for users from Belgium, you won’t receive payment for that conversion, regardless of the value of the order.
Product Quality: Promote What You Believe In
Your credibility with your audience is directly tied to the quality of the products or services you promote. Only promote products you believe in or would use yourself. High-quality products will lead to higher conversions and fewer returns or complaints.
Support and Resources: Look for Affiliate-Friendly Tools
Good affiliate programs and good affiliate networks provide support and resources to help you succeed. This includes a personal manager and access to promotional materials such as banners and promo codes. Having these tools can make it easier to promote the products effectively and increase your conversion rates.
Traffic sources: read the offer’s description
Before signing up for an affiliate program, take the time to read the terms and conditions carefully. All the programs have strict rules about what kind of traffic is allowed, e.g. paid search, SEO, doorways, etc. Also, there might be some restrictions on the use of specific keywords.
Understanding the rules upfront will help you avoid any potential issues, such as losing your commissions due to a violation of the program’s terms.
Brand reputation: work with trusted names
Promoting products from well-known and respected brands can give you a leg up. Consumers are often more likely to purchase from brands they recognize and trust. Working with trusted brands also adds credibility to your own recommendations, making it easier to convert your audience into paying customers.
When working with a reputable affiliate network, you’re all set, because these networks value their partnerships and work only with reliable companies and trusted brands.
Affiliate networks vs. direct Programs: understand your options
You have two primary options when it comes to affiliate programs: joining an affiliate network or partnering directly with individual companies.
Affiliate Networks: Platforms like Indoleads aggregate multiple affiliate programs under one roof. On Indoleads you can manage multiple programs from one dashboard and get access to a wide range of products. Also, you will have your personal manager who is always there for you to provide valuable advice on traffic sources and the choice of offers.
Direct Affiliate Programs: Some companies manage their own affiliate programs directly. These programs may offer higher commission rates but require more management and technical knowledge on your part. You will be all on your own, which has its pros and cons.
Product/Service demand: focus on what sells
Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services in demand within your niche. Conduct research using tools like Google Trends, keyword research, or even surveys within your audience to understand what people are looking for. Promoting popular and sought-after products increases your likelihood of success.
Let’s get to the best affiliate programs you can join at Indoleads:
Travel
Type: CPS
Payment: up to 8%
CR: 10.31%
AR: 96%
Cookie: 30 days
GEO: GB
E-commerce
Type: CPS
Payment: 6%
CR: 6.15%
AR: 87%
Cookie: 15 days
GEO: BR
Type: CPS
Payment: up to 18%
AR: 27%
Cookie: 30 days
GEO: AT, DK, FI, FR, DE, GR, HK, HU, IE, IT, NO, PL, ES, SE, CH, TH, GB, US
Type: CPS
Payment: up to 8.5%
AR: 27%
Cookie: 14 days
GEO: AU, CA, GB, US
Subscriptions
Type: CPS
Payment: up to $31.5, depends on the GEO
AR: 44%
Cookie: 30 days
GEO: AD, BG, CZ, DK, FI, FR, HU, MD, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SK, SI, ES, SE, NL, BE
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right affiliate program means looking at the whole picture, not just focusing on one factor. It’s easy to get drawn in by one flashy element, but you might miss out on other important details. By considering everything together, you'll have a much clearer idea of what you can expect from promoting a particular offer.
If you're on the hunt for high-quality offers that check all the boxes, Indoleads has over 3,000 affiliate programs to explore and offers access to various verticals, making it one of the most extensive global affiliate networks. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indoleads connects affiliates with a wide range of advertisers from over 180 countries, ensuring global reach and opportunities in E-commerce, Travel, Finance, Software, EdTech, Sports betting, and more. The network supports affiliates with flexible payment options and assigns a dedicated personal manager to each affiliate, providing tailored guidance and support to maximize earnings.
Join Indoleads now and find perfect affiliate programs for you!