Etsy Affiliate Program: What You Should Know Before Becoming an Etsy Affiliate
If you have been researching affiliate marketing programs online, you must have come across the Etsy Affiliate Program. Etsy is an American e-commerce brand offering individual crafters and collectors a platform to sell their items.
As such, it has a large marketplace with merchandise ranging from craft products, home goods, clothes, electronics, books, and movies, making it ideal for a wide range of influencers to earn commissions.
Whether you are looking for a freelancer side hustle or a full-time career change, you must understand what the program offers and what is expected of you before you sign up.
In that case, this Etsy affiliate program review aims to inform you of the important details you should know before becoming an Etsy affiliate. This includes how much you can earn, the program requirements, how to join, and whether it’s worth joining or not.
What is the Etsy Affiliate Program?
Etsy Affiliate Program is a referral program that allows affiliates to earn a commission when buyers purchase Etsy products using their unique link. This means if a follower on your social media or website visitor clicks your Etsy link and buys products, you will earn a commission.
Here is how the program works:
Etsy offers a 30-day cookie policy period, meaning even if the buyer doesn’t buy immediately, you’ll still get your commission if they make a purchase within 30 days.
Browser cookies are valid for 30 days, while Etsy mobile App cookies are valid for 7 days.
Typically, Etsy affiliate program commission is paid on the order price. This does not include VATA and shipping costs.
The program was started in 2014 and is open to website, blog, and social media channel owners who meet the requirements discussed in this write-up.
How Much Can One Make With the Etsy Affiliate Program?
The Etsy affiliate program offers a standard publisher rate of 4%. That means if a buyer clicks a link on your website and makes a qualifying purchase, you will earn a 4% commission.
However, don’t expect to earn the same if you depend on social media traffic. User-generated content (social media content) earns a 2% commission.
Also, keep in mind that you won’t make a commission on Gift Cards, money orders, or check purchases.
Although Etsy has no payout schedule, you can request a payout via the affiliate dashboard. For American affiliates, you can be paid with your bank account or check, while international affiliates are paid using International wire.
The minimum withdrawal limit is $20. It’s worth noting that you’ll incur a base fee of $0.25 and 3% each time you cash out.
Who Qualifies for Etsy Program?
The Etsy affiliate program is open to anyone above 18 years. You must own a website, blog, or social media platform where you will promote their affiliate links.
However, Etsy doesn’t accept price comparison websites, cash-back websites, ad networks, dropshipping sites, or religious, sexual, and political sites. They may also deny your application if you create low-quality content.
As for social media, you can apply if you have an Instagram account (500 followers with a 3% engagement rate), Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok and YouTube accounts.
If you are an Etsy seller, you can still qualify for the affiliate program, but you must disclose you own an Etsy shop when applying.
How to Become an Etsy Affiliate
Etsy runs its affiliate program through Awin, an affiliate network with thousands of other affiliate programs.
- Start by creating an account with Awin, and if you already have one, just log in.
- From the Awin dashboard, navigate to advertisers, join programs, search for Etsy and fill in all required details.
- Submit your application and wait for a response from Etsy.
- Log into your affiliate dashboard and generate affiliate links to promote products if accepted.
Is the Etsy Affiliate Program Worth Joining?
The best way to determine if the Etsy affiliate program is worth your time is to weigh the pros and cons. They include:
Pros
- Etsy is a huge marketplace with plenty of products in every niche.
- Etsy is well-known and trusted globally.
- You can find very unique products that you won’t find anywhere else.
- Good commission for publishers
Cons
- Etsy affiliate program offers lower commission for user-generated content.
Verdict
Generally, the Etsy affiliate program is good, especially if you own a website or blog. There are plenty of products to promote, some of which are very unique. The cookie period is also appealing, especially compared to the Amazon affiliate program, which only lasts 24 hours.
However, the program has many rules and restrictions compared to industry standards. Moreover, most social media users cannot share affiliate links except for Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, and the commissions are low. Therefore, it might not be a good program if you depend on social media traffic.
Overall, the program is decent. Ensure you read the terms and conditions to determine if it’s a fit for you.
