Affiliate marketing for bloggers is one of the easiest ways to monetize for some extra income from your blog content! Yet many bloggers are still hesitant to give it a go.
All you need to do is remember the number one rule of successful affiliate marketing: be authentic. Share products with your audience that you really love.
While there are multiple ways to start making money as a food blogger, in this post we’ll tell you exactly where to share affiliate links. This will get you on the road to start making passive income from the products and services you already use and love.
First things first, you’ll want to sign up for an affiliate program (or two…or ten!) Here are a couple of the food blogger affiliate programs we love to get you started. Once you’re signed up you’ll be given a special link. ✨ You’ll use this link to earn a commission every time someone clicks to purchase the product. Easy!
Ready to get started? Here are some of our favorite ways to start making affiliate commissions!
Note: Before you share any affiliate links, make sure you read through that specific affiliate program’s policies. Some programs have very specific policies you must follow, like when adding Amazon affiliate links (i.e. you aren’t allowed to share affiliate links in emails.)
1. Create a resource page
Whether you have readers interested in starting their own food blog or wanting to take up a food photography hobby, this is the perfect opportunity for you to create a resource page.
A resource page is a great place to share the equipment, products, and services you use and love for your own blog. Let your readers know why you love these companies and why they should purchase from them.
Pinch of Yum has some great examples of resource pages if you're looking for inspiration from affiliate marketing examples.
2. Create an email list and send newsletters
The options are endless when it comes to building an audience and sharing your affiliate links through email.
Do you have readers interested in starting a food blog, planting an edible garden, or learning how to make pasta? Create an email flow to teach them how, and don't forget to include your affiliate links.
Emails are an easy way to reach your audience and kickstart your digital marketing strategy, so start sending them!
3. Create a shop page
Do you have kitchen tools you can’t live without?
Share links to all of your favorite tools on a “shop page.” This page is so easy to create, and it’s a great way to earn money from the things you love by creating the best affiliate content.
Here’s a great example of a Shop page from Love and Lemons.
4. Post on Facebook and Instagram social media pages
Social is a great way to share the products you love with your audience. There are a few ways you can use Facebook or Instagram to promote your affiliate links:
- Share a photo of yourself using the product you’re promoting, and let your followers know why you love it.
- Create a video story or reel that reviews or shows how to use the product and include your affiliate link (if you have 10k+ followers), or tell your followers to head to your bio or DM you for the link.
5. Create a gift guide
No matter what event or holiday is coming up (i.e. Mother's Day, Birthday, etc.), gift guides are the perfect way to share your affiliate links in a genuine way.
And if you pay attention, influencers always use holidays as an excuse to promote products from different affiliate networks.
Cut out the stress of gift shopping for your readers by providing them with a gift guide full of gift ideas for their friends and family.
6. Respond to blog comments
Have you ever received blog comments about where to find the tools or ingredients you shared in your recipe? Respond to the commenter and include a link to your affiliate products!
7. Share links in your blog posts
When you create content on your blog, it's perhaps one of the easiest places to share your affiliate links! If you mention products and tools you use in a recipe post, Tasty Links can automatically add affiliate links to your keywords across your WordPress affiliate marketing site. Easy peasy!
Just make sure you share the links in highly-visible places to increase your conversion rates.
You can also find more commission opportunities with these alternatives to Amazon’s affiliate program.
Pro tip: If you're not sure where to start, head into Google Analytics, find your highest traffic posts and start there!
8. Use Instacart in your Recipe Content
You've probably heard of Instacart – the online grocery delivery and pickup service that makes grocery shopping an absolute breeze. Instacart partners with grocery stores around the US, like Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, and so many others, to offer users a truly convenient and reliable grocery delivery experience.
It gets better, though. Our recipe plugin – Tasty Recipes – offers food bloggers a powerful way to earn affiliate income. With Instacart built into your recipe webpage, you can earn a 3% commission rate on qualifying purchases.
The WordPress Instacart feature is included in Tasty Recipes, so you can monetize your recipes and make them shoppable in just a single click.
It integrates beautifully into your recipe cards. See?
9. Write a product review or tutorial
Are you obsessed with your new Instant Pot or KitchenAid Mixer?
There are tons of digital marketing content ideas here, and a product review is just one of them.
So, why not share a review or tutorial about it with your readers! These can rank on search engines and let readers know all of the magical uses for it, why you love it, and why it would benefit them to have one. You may just convince them to add one to their kitchen collection.
10. Add links in your YouTube descriptions
If you have a YouTube channel include the links to the products you used in the video in the video description. This makes it simple for your followers to find the products you mentioned in the video.
11. Add banners to your blog
A lot of affiliate marketing programs will provide you with pre-designed banners you can include on your blog or in email newsletters. Some popular places to share these include your blog’s sidebar, header or footer, and embedded in your blog posts.
12. Share links on Pinterest
Share affiliate links on Pinterest by creating a pin that links to your affiliate link instead of your blog. You’ll want to do this sparingly so as not to spam your followers, but it doesn’t hurt to share links to things that you know your audience would find helpful.
It would be worth testing direct affiliate links versus links to your review posts, gift guide posts, etc. to see what your audience responds better to.
Take a look at our blog on how to add Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest.
13. Create an eBook
Create an ebook that includes your most popular recipes, tips for starting a food blog, etc. and include affiliate links to the products you mention. This makes a great email opt-in in addition to helping you earn affiliate revenue!
14. Send your links to family and friends
This one’s an easy one! If you ever have a friend or family member ask where you purchased something send them an affiliate link! They’ll be able to support your blog just by making a purchase through your link.
Affiliate marketing frequently asked questions
How do bloggers get affiliates?
Bloggers can get affiliates by applying to and joining affiliate programs related to their blog's niche.
These programs are offered by companies that sell products or services relevant to the blogger's content. Bloggers apply to these programs and, if accepted, receive special links to promote the company's products on their blog.
When readers click these links and make a purchase, the blogger earns a commission.
How much do affiliate bloggers make?
The amount affiliate bloggers make can vary a lot.
Some earn a small amount, like a few dollars here and there, while others make hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month.
It depends on factors like the blogger's audience size, the popularity of the products they're promoting, and how effective their promotion strategies are.
Some successful bloggers with a large and engaged audience can earn a significant income from affiliate marketing, but it's important to remember that results differ for each blogger.
Interested in Tasty Links?
Looking for a way to streamline your affiliate link management on your blog? Look no further than Tasty Links for the best WordPress affiliate plugin!
With easy-to-use features and constant updates, you can trust that Tasty Links will help you save time and energy while increasing your affiliate revenue.
Plus, with a 14-day money-back guarantee, you can try it out risk-free! Give Tasty Links a try today and see how it can enhance your blogging journey.
