6 Successful Affiliate Website Examples

April 22, 2024
6 Successful Affiliate Website Examples

As an affiliate marketer, it makes perfect sense to look at successful affiliate websites examples to see what they’re doing right, and how you can apply the same strategies.

Which is why this article is going to help save you a heap of time.

Because we’ve scoured the internet to identify examples of some of the most successful affiliate websites that are enjoying huge amounts of traffic, and massive revenue. We’ve identified some of the strategies used by these affiliate marketers, and boiled it down to core advice and suggestions you can use yourself.

Not all of these affiliate website examples will be operating within the same niche as your own affiliate site, but that doesn’t matter.

What’s important is the marketing strategies used, the unique ways you can make changes to the way your affiliate business is getting traffic, and convert that traffic into affiliate-link-clicking profit.

And yes.

There are far more than six affiliate websites that are highly successful – but we’ve chosen these six example sites because they all employ techniques that any affiliate marketer can learn from.

So strap in, and get ready to blast your affiliate business to the next level!

#1 – Wirecutter: The Benchmark for Product Reviews

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter

Affiliate Website Example #1: Wirecutter

When it comes to successful affiliate website examples, few names resonate as strongly as Wirecutter. Established as the gold standard for product reviews, Wirecutter’s journey is not just about its comprehensive approach to testing – it’s a testament to the power of trust, innovation, and strategic diversification in affiliate marketing.

Wirecutter’s approach to product reviews is absolutely meticulous. Imagine setting a room ablaze just to test fireproof safes, or creating an obstacle course for robot vacuums. This isn’t just testing – it’s exploration into the heart of each product, ensuring that every recommendation comes with the weight of thorough, real-world use behind it. Such dedication and extreme testing methodologies sets Wirecutter apart, providing readers with the assurance that if it’s recommended by Wirecutter, it’s worth your attention.

But Wirecutter’s affiliate marketing success story isn’t solely about its dedication to extreme testing. The dual revenue stream model – combining affiliate commissions with a subscription fee – highlights a bold decision when it comes to content monetization strategies. In a digital world where content is almost always free, Wirecutter’s decision to gate some of its content behind a subscription wall was brave (some said foolish). Yet, the gamble paid off, reinforcing the adage that quality is worth paying for. This approach not only increased its income but also emphasized its commitment to providing value, reinforcing the trust readers place in Wirecutter’s recommendations.

The acquisition by The New York Times further boosted Wirecutter’s reputation, associating its authoritative reviews within one of the most well-known and respected publications in the world. This move not only expanded Wirecutter’s audience but also increased its credibility.

Wirecutter almost symbolizes the very peak of affiliate marketing success. Its story is a beacon for affiliate marketers everywhere, proving that with enough dedication to quality, innovation in revenue strategies, and the right partnerships, it’s possible to go way beyond the typical expectations of most affiliate marketers. Wirecutter’s journey from a standalone review site to a revered publication under The New York Times’ umbrella demonstrates the invaluable lesson that in the realm of affiliate marketing, excellence, and innovation are the values to embrace.

#2 – This Is Why I’m Broke: Capitalizing on Novelty and Fun

https://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com

Affiliate Website Example #2: Thisiswhyimbroke

If there’s one affiliate marketing site that demonstrates very clearly that quirkiness and fun can work very well, it’s This Is Why I’m Broke. This unique platform has carved a niche that turns the conventional wisdom of affiliate marketing on its head, proving that success can come from the most unexpected places.

What Sets This Is Why I’m Broke Apart?

  • A Focus on Novelty: Unlike traditional affiliate sites that might focus on niches such as technology or home goods, This Is Why I’m Broke dives into the world of novelty items and gag gifts. From products that solve problems you never knew you had to items that simply make you laugh, the site covers a wide range of products that many wouldn’t dare consider.
  • Unique Affiliate Strategy: The genius of This Is Why I’m Broke isn’t just in the products it features, but in how it approaches affiliate marketing. By prioritizing relatively low-cost interesting and shareable items over high-ticket products, the site generates a massive amount of traffic through social shares and word of mouth.
  • Amazon’s Role in Revenue: A significant portion of This Is Why I’m Broke’s success can be attributed to its relationship with Amazon. With Amazon being a primary revenue source, the site benefits from the e-commerce giant’s vast product range and trusted checkout process. It’s a relationship that demonstrates the importance of choosing the right affiliate partner.

Key Takeaways from This Is Why I’m Broke’s Strategy:

  1. Innovation in Product Selection: The site’s focus on novelty items demonstrates that there’s a market for almost everything. By highlighting unique products, This Is Why I’m Broke engages with a broader audience, including those not typically targeted by most affiliate marketers.
  2. Engagement Through Entertainment: The entertainment value of browsing through the curated list of products is a significant factor. This approach not only keeps users coming back but also encourages them to share the site with others, boosting its reach considerably.
  3. Using Amazon’s Affiliate Program: The choice of Amazon as a primary affiliate partner gives the platform greater credibility as well as a vast product catalog, showing the power of choosing established e-commerce platforms to maximize revenue.

This Is Why I’m Broke clearly shows how thinking outside of the box and focusing on what truly engages and delights your audience can lead to remarkable success in affiliate marketing. It’s a testament to the power of novelty, the strength of a well-chosen affiliate partnership, and the undeniable appeal of having fun with your niche.

#3 – PCPartPicker: The Go-to Resource for PC Builders

https://pcpartpicker.com

Affiliate Website Example #3: Pcpartpicker

When it comes to DIY PC building, PCPartPicker is a huge draw for both enthusiasts and professionals alike. The website’s success is not just down to its large database of computer parts, but owes much to its range of innovative tools that cater to the needs and interests of a niche (yet growing) audience.

At the heart of PCPartPicker is the PC Builder tool, a really useful tool that allows users to select components for their custom PC builds. This tool does more than just list parts – it actively checks compatibility between them, ensuring that builders don’t experience unpleasant surprises during assembly. The importance of this cannot be overstated in a position where a single incompatible component can derail an entire project – and cost a great deal of money.

The compatibility checks go beyond just the basics, covering potential bottlenecks and power supply requirements. This attention to detail takes the PC building process from a daunting task to an accessible and even enjoyable activity for both novices and experts.

But PCPartPicker’s influence goes beyond its tools. The site’s success is also significantly driven by affiliate commissions. By directing users to retailers where they can purchase their selected components, PCPartPicker earns a commission on sales. This model serves as a win-win-win:

  • Users benefit from a streamlined and informed building process
  • Retailers receive highly targeted referrals
  • PCPartPicker sustains its operations through the commissions earned

What truly sets PCPartPicker apart, however, is its community focused approach. The platform is more than just a toolset – it’s a place where builders share their creations, offer advice, and find inspiration. This community aspect helps build a sense of belonging among PC building enthusiasts, further positioning PCPartPicker as the go-to resource in this niche.

#4 – Outdoor Gear Lab: The Authority in Outdoor Gear Reviews

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com

Affiliate Website Example #4: Outdoor Gear Lab

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, whether adventure seekers or casual explorers, Outdoor Gear Lab has a strong reputation for reliably guiding its audience through the dense forest of outdoor gear with expertise and reliability. This affiliate website example has gone beyond the typical boundaries of affiliate marketing by creating a community based on trust and a shared passion for adventure, thanks to its deep-dive approach to product testing and an unwavering commitment to providing completely unbiased reviews.

At the heart of Outdoor Gear Lab’s approach is a dedication to hands-on, in-the-field product testing. This isn’t just about using a product for a few days and jotting down thoughts. It’s about pushing gear to its limits in the environments it’s meant for. Whether it’s testing the warmth of a sleeping bag on a frosty alpine night or assessing the durability of a hiking backpack across rugged terrain, Outdoor Gear Lab’s reviews are based entirely on real-world experiences. This rigorous testing approach not only ensures the reliability of their recommendations, but also demonstrates a genuine commitment to serving the needs of their readers.

Another aspect of Outdoor Gear Lab’s success is its emphasis on reader-supported reviews. Too often we see affiliate marketers creating content that’s little more than thinly veiled sales pitches, whereas Outdoor Gear Lab makes it clear that their loyalty lies with the reader. By stating upfront that their reviews are ad-free and entirely reader-supported, they help to foster an environment of trust. This is further enhanced by their affiliate disclaimer, cleverly turned into a branding opportunity, reassuring readers that while purchases made through their links may earn them a commission, it never influences their honest assessment of products.

Covering a huge range of outdoor activities, from climbing and hiking to skiing and cycling, Outdoor Gear Lab has established itself as a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to step outside. Their broad coverage ensures that whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer or a weekend warrior, you’ll find the help, advice, and recommendations you need. With over a decade of experience and thousands of articles to its name, Outdoor Gear Lab has carefully created a huge library of outdoor gear knowledge, making it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to make important decisions about their outdoor equipment.

#5 – Versus: Mastering the Art of Product Comparisons

https://versus.com

Affiliate Website Example #5: Versus

Versus is a great affiliate website example of how to harness the power of data and technology to create a niche affiliate marketing site that stands out in a crowded market. With its innovative approach to product comparisons, Versus has become a key player in the affiliate marketing space, particularly for consumers looking for detailed insights that are based on actual data, before making a purchase decision.

At the heart of Versus’ success is its content strategy, which automates the creation of detailed product comparison pages. This isn’t just a matter of putting two products side by side – Versus dives deep into the specifications, features, and performance metrics of each item, presenting data in a clear, understandable way. This focus on especially thorough and detailed comparisons allows users to make informed decisions based on their specific needs and preferences – something that’s highly valued in today’s information-rich shopping environment.

One of Versus’ standout features is its prioritization of Amazon links in its affiliate revenue strategy. Given Amazon’s reach and trustworthiness in the e-commerce space, this focus not only simplifies the purchasing process for Versus’ audience but also maximizes conversion rates for the site. By highlighting Amazon as a preferred retailer, Versus taps into the platform’s vast user base and takes advantage of the e-commerce giant’s ability to convert browsers into buyers.

  • Automated Content Creation: Versus has automated the production of in-depth comparison content, making it scalable and efficient.
  • Data-Driven Comparisons: The site’s emphasis on actual data and specifications appeals to a tech-savvy audience that values accuracy and detail.
  • Amazon Affiliate Links: By featuring Amazon links prominently, Versus makes purchases easy and convenient for its users and capitalizes on the trusted Amazon brand.

The real genius of Versus lies in its understanding of the modern consumer’s decision-making process. In an age where the sheer scale of choice can paralyze, Versus cuts through the noise by providing clear, concise, and relevant information. This approach not only serves the needs of its users but also establishes Versus as an indispensable tool in the product selection process.

Versus demonstrates that success in affiliate marketing can come from focusing on the value you provide to the user. By combining a sophisticated content strategy with smart affiliate partnerships, Versus has established itself within a niche that serves both consumers and its business model, showcasing the potential of specialized, content-driven affiliate sites.

#6 – Pack Hacker: Triggering Impulse Purchases Through Design

https://packhacker.com

Affiliate Website Example #6: Pack Hacker

Pack Hacker sets itself apart within the affiliate marketing world through its exceptional use of visually appealing content to capture the attention of its audience. This focus not only enhances user engagement but significantly increases the effectiveness of their Amazon affiliate link clicks, demonstrating an innovative approach to driving impulse purchases.

The core of Pack Hacker’s success lies in its ability to visually communicate the value and appeal of various travel gear and accessories. By using only high-quality, detailed images and a minimalist design aesthetic, Pack Hacker turns each product feature into a compelling story. This visual storytelling method does more than just showcase products – it invites the audience into a situation where the benefits of each item are vividly brought to life – using the audience’s own imagination to do much of the work.

What truly sets Pack Hacker apart is its masterful use of featured images in the “flat lay” style, where the contents of a bag are laid out neatly, allowing viewers to easily see and appreciate each item. This approach not only pleases the eye but also triggers an irresistible feeling of curiosity in viewers, compelling them to take a closer look. As they dive into the content, the strategically placed Amazon affiliate links become not just a pathway to more information, but a temptation for an impulse buy.

This very careful attention to design and presentation highlights the importance of aesthetics in affiliate marketing. Pack Hacker’s approach shows clearly that when visitors are engaged through visually appealing content, they are more likely to click on affiliate links. The effectiveness of this strategy is clear in the way it combines informative content with subtle persuasion, encouraging users to make purchases almost as an afterthought to their enjoyment of the content.

Key Strategies for Affiliate Marketing Success

The world of affiliate marketing is vast and varied, offering many different paths to success. Yet with so much diversity, certain strategies stand out, proven by the successes of platforms such as Wirecutter, This Is Why I’m Broke, PCPartPicker, Outdoor Gear Lab, Versus, and Pack Hacker. Each of these successful affiliate website examples sheds light on effective tactics that can inspire and elevate your own affiliate marketing efforts.

Embrace Rigorous Product Testing: The example set by Wirecutter highlights the value of in-depth product evaluations. By adopting a similar approach, you can significantly enhance the trust and credibility of your reviews. Using features available in affiliate tools such as AAWP can help in presenting detailed product analyses and comparisons, thereby enriching the quality of your content.

Carve Out a Unique Niche: This Is Why I’m Broke demonstrates the power of targeting a specific, untapped market niche. By identifying and focusing on unique niches, you can try to appeal to underserved audiences, reducing competition and increasing your site’s appeal.

Use Innovative Tools: PCPartPicker’s success demonstrates the importance of using technological innovations to solve user problems. Affiliate marketers can use tools such as AAWP to streamline their processes, from creating dynamically populated product comparison tables and bestseller lists to automating affiliate link management, enhancing both efficiency and the user experience.

Prioritize Hands-on Experience: Outdoor Gear Lab’s commitment to firsthand product testing offers a valuable lesson in authenticity. Including real-world experiences into your reviews not only boosts their reliability but also helps appease the might of Google, with their emphasis on expertise and authoritativeness. Sharing personal insights and including original photos can confirm your reputation as a trusted source.

Use Automatic Content: Versus capitalizes on automated strategies to produce vast amounts of comparative content, demonstrating the effectiveness of automated systems in scaling content creation. Similarly, using dynamic content creation tools (such as AAWP’s dynamically populated New Releases and Best Seller listings) can help in efficiently generating up-to-date, relevant, and SEO-friendly content that drives traffic.

Harness the Power of Visual Engagement: Pack Hacker’s visually driven content strategy highlights the importance of having visually appealing content for engaging visitors. Using visually appealing layouts, high-quality images, and engaging designs can significantly increase user engagement and click-through rates on affiliate links.

By adding these strategies to your affiliate marketing approach, you can enhance your site’s performance and profitability. Tools such as AAWP offer a suite of features that support these methods, from creating attractive product boxes to automating affiliate link insertion, all of which can contribute to a more successful affiliate marketing strategy.

Embracing these approaches not only places you in a much more comfortable position for greater success but also ensures that your audience receives the value and quality they’re looking for.

Conclusion

The strategies employed by these successful affiliate website examples have all been tried, tested, and shown to have great success. With so much competition out there, using these strategies will help position your affiliate marketing business ahead of the competition, and in front of your eager customers.

As mentioned, one very effective strategy used by successful affiliate marketers is the use of dynamic, automatically generated affiliate listings, along with eye-catching adverts that improve massively on the default adverts provided by Amazon.

This can all be achieved with the Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin (AAWP).

AAWP is the plugin used by many of the top performing affiliate marketers, and is their secret to sustained success. Offering a range of benefits, one in particular that is offered by AAWP is to have dynamic listings included on your website that automatically search Amazon for the best-selling products in your chosen category, and then display those products in very stylish, eye-catching adverts, like this:

Affiliate Website Examples: AAWP Plugin

With the AAWP plugin you can select the category you want to use, and decide how many items from that category you want to show – perhaps just the #1 best-selling item, or the top 10 – it’s entirely up to you. 

You also have the ability to completely customize the appearance of the adverts or listings, helping your affiliate adverts really stand out.

We hope that the information advice in this article has helped you to consider new ways of driving your affiliate marketing business towards even greater success in 2024, but if you have any questions or comments, please do leave a comment below!

Serious about affiliate marketing? Get the Amazon Affiliate WordPress plugin to convert more visitors & earn more with everything you need included out of the box: 

  • Automatically include up-to-date product information in your content so you can stop wasting countless hours manually updating your library of content. 
  • Use geotargeting with automatic forwarding for foreign visitors to their local store so you never miss a referral. 
  • Create content that’s both informational and converts visitors into buyers with Product Boxes, Bestseller Lists, Comparison Tables, and more.

Any questions? Feel free to get in touch – we’re here to help you succeed as an affiliate.

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