By the end of the year, the global affiliate marketing industry will be worth roughly $15.7 billion. Through affiliate marketing, businesses, influencers, and even everyday consumers can earn money by promoting products from various retailers and ecommerce brands. Of those, there’s perhaps no better platform to team up with than the Walmart affiliate program.
Walmart serves more than 240 million people every week, with more than 10,000 stores established nationwide. In 2023 alone, the retail giant earned over $611 billion.
On that note, join us below as we explore everything there is to know about the Walmart Affiliate Program. You’ll learn whether its the right choice for you by diving into its requirements and the benefits of joining, and then we’ll show you how to maximize your earnings.
What Is the Walmart Affiliate Program?
Walmart’s affiliate program allows brands to earn commissions by promoting Walmart products on their blogs, social media channels, active websites, and other online platforms.
Affiliate marketers will receive and use unique Walmart links to direct users to the retailer’s website. Any purchases made after visiting Walmart’s website through that specific link will be attributed and credited to the affiliate marketer, who will then earn a percentage of the sale.
As an affiliate, you can promote products that range from electronics to home goods. That kind of diversity allows you to tailor your promotions to various audiences and niches, increasing your odds of making successful referrals and earning commissions with your affiliate link.
How Does the Walmart Affiliate Program Work?
Altogether, the way the Walmart Affiliate Program works is pretty simple. First and foremost, you’ll need to become a Walmart affiliate. To join the Walmart Affiliate Program, apply online and wait to receive an approval email. Typically, it takes about a day to find out whether you’ve been approved.
After being brought onto the program, you’ll receive unique affiliate links for the products you wish to promote. These links are crucial as they contain tracking codes that attribute sales to you. Every time a user clicks on one of your links and makes a purchase on the Walmart website, the transaction is tracked using cookies.
Unlike some other affiliate programs, like Amazon’s, which only use 24-hour cookies, your cookies with Walmart will last 72 hours. By upping the duration of its cookies, Walmart gives its affiliates a better chance of earning a commission in instances where buyers don’t complete their transactions right away.
Regarding those commissions, Walmart uses a variable commission structure that ranges from 1 to 4%, depending on the product category. As such, you may want to choose a mix of high-value, lower-commission goods and budget items that pay a higher per-unit commission.
In any case, Walmart makes it easy for you to track your earnings and performance through its affiliate dashboard. You’ll gain insights into which products and links are performing the best. Other affiliate tools on the dashboard include branded marketing materials, which you can publish on your website, blog, and social media channels.
Joining the Walmart Affiliate Program
Like the program itself, the steps you need to take to become a Walmart affiliate are also straightforward. Walmart manages its affiliate program through Impact Radius, one of the most popular affiliate management platforms. Once you create your Walmart account and begin the application process, you’ll be directed to Impact Radius to provide more information.
However, the brand doesn’t accept every single applicant. They want people who will actively contribute to the company’s revenue by driving sales. With that in mind, you’ll typically need to have at least one of the following Walmart affiliate program requirements covered to be accepted:
- At least one active social media profile with many followers
- An active website or blog where you can promote Walmart products
- Quality content that aligns with the company’s brand values
- A steady flow of website visitors
Unfortunately, Walmart doesn’t provide any hard figures regarding requirements for traffic volume or the number of followers you need on social media. Therefore, if you are thinking about joining the Walmart Affiliate Program or an alternative, it’s best to be consistently active on social media and consider building out your website. Doing so can make you a stronger candidate and increase your odds of getting accepted.
Benefits of the Walmart Affiliate Program
Being accepted into Walmart’s affiliate program is something that many brands and businesses strive for because of the array of impressive benefits that it offers. These include the following:
Access to a Wide Range of Products
One of the biggest perks of getting to join Walmart’s affiliate program is the number of products available. No matter the kind of goods you are into selling or using yourself, you’ll find them on Walmart’s platform. You can promote electronics, home goods, sporting equipment, tools, and much more.
Of course, despite the variety, it’s generally best to focus on a few key product categories that align with the interests of your target audience.
The Walmart Brand Name
Most customers already know and trust Walmart, unlike some other ecommerce platforms or shops, making it easier to convert sales. They won’t be as hesitant to click links or complete purchases with Walmart.
Competitive Commission Rates
As mentioned earlier, Walmart’s commission rates range between 1 and 4%, which is relatively competitive for the affiliate marketing industry (though it’s on the lower end).
Exclusive Offers and Promotions for Affiliates
Last year, Walmart saw huge ecommerce revenue gains, signifying that people enjoy (and perhaps prefer) buying the brand’s products online. Such a boost in online sales is the result of the company’s internal marketing efforts, affiliate programs, and dropshipping, a tactic that involves selling third-party products on Walmart Marketplace and sending them directly to shoppers.
Nevertheless, you may wonder how Walmart, as an ecommerce brand specifically, consistently generates interest in its selection of goods. One key approach involves running major sales events, such as the four-day “Rollbacks and More” sale it ran a few years ago to take on Amazon’s Prime Day.
Beyond these, Walmart also provides exclusive offers and promotions to its affiliates. These can include special discounts, seasonal deals, and bonus commissions. Frequently check your affiliate dashboard to make sure you don’t miss out on these additional opportunities to earn.
Dedicated Support and Resources From the Walmart Team
You’ll find that most affiliate programs provide ongoing support and marketing resources. However, Walmart stands out as one of the best at backing its affiliates. As a Walmart affiliate, you’ll have access to marketing materials and support from the retailer’s internal sales team. Its members will offer exceptional support to help you become a more effective affiliate and maximize sales.
Tips for Maximizing Your Earnings as a Walmart Affiliate
Joining the Walmart Affiliate Program is only the start of your journey. If you want to consistently earn commissions, you’ll need to accomplish the following:
Create Engaging Content
Content is king when it comes to affiliate marketing, so you’ll want to create engaging, informative, high-quality content that highlights the benefits and features of the products you are promoting. Your goal is to get people excited about the items you want to sell, which is why you should focus on items you genuinely like or use.
The possibilities are limitless when it comes to content creation. You can write your own product reviews, publish comparison articles, or create how-to guides. Don’t limit yourself to written content, either. Consider adding videos to the mix to diversify your posts and engage with more consumers.
Use Social Media
Social media can be a powerful tool for driving traffic and conversions. Get on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to share your affiliate links and promote Walmart products. Engaging posts, stories, and ads can attract potential buyers and boost your earnings.
Of course, if you already have a strong following on one or two platforms, focus your efforts there. You don’t feel as though you must be active on a half-dozen channels to earn a sizable commission. Prioritize a platform you are comfortable with and build out from there once you’ve established a strong presence.
Put Banners, Text Links, and Other Affiliate Tools to Use
Walmart provides plenty of resources to incorporate into your website or blog. A few popular options include clickable banners and text links, which make it easier to drive visitors to Walmart’s site. You can embed these resources with your unique affiliate link to generate sales and earn commissions.
Optimize Your Website With CRO and SEO
Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is the process of enhancing website elements to drive more sales. Ensure your website is user-friendly, fast-loading, and optimized for mobile. And as you write content, make sure to incorporate clear calls-to-action (CTAs) and strategically place your affiliate links to encourage clicks and conversions.
You won’t master the art of CRO overnight, but that’s okay. Consistently monitoring your performance and making incremental adjustments will help turn your site into a high-converting tool.
Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that your website ranks for important related keywords (if your traffic source is search engines), so you should learn the basics of SEO or search engine optimization.
Pros and Cons of the Walmart Affiliate Program
Overall, the Walmart Affiliate Program has much to offer those interested in promoting products to earn commissions, but it isn’t perfect. Here’s a closer look at the good and the bad of the program so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for you.
Advantages
Walmart’s reputation and brand recognition can make your promotions appear to be more credible. While some consumers have reservations about shopping with online-only brands, like SHEIN or Temu, virtually everyone (in the US at least) has been to a Walmart store. That kind of credibility can make it easier to drive sales and earn commissions.
Additionally, you’ll have access to a wide range of products that allow you to cater to different niches and audiences. And on top of that, the program is completely free to join. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that Walmart offers great support and tons of resources to help you succeed.
Disadvantages
While Walmart’s commission rates are competitive, the return on some items may be lower compared to other affiliate programs. Therefore, you need to review the rates for the products you are interested in before deciding which program to join.
Another concern is that there is a ton of competition among affiliates. To differentiate yourself, you’ll need lots of high-quality content and a well-rounded marketing strategy.
Alternatives to the Walmart Affiliate Program
Before enrolling in the Walmart Affiliate Program, we suggest exploring a few alternatives so you can weigh your options. With that in mind, here are four of the most popular alternatives:
AliExpress
The AliExpress Affiliate Program’s commission structure is unique in that you’ll earn up to 9% base commission for each sale. The company also runs “Hot Products” campaigns, which offer increased commission rates (some as high as 90%).
Like Walmart, AliExpress uses 72-hour cookies, which means you’ll enjoy an extended sales window. You can also access millions of products, which is bound to make it easy to find a niche you prefer.
SHEIN
SHEIN, the fast-fashion brand, has a great affiliate program that pays up to 20% commission for each purchase made with your unique link. Even on the low end, commissions average about 10%, which is much higher than Walmart’s maximum 4% rate.
However, SHEIN products are known for being very budget-friendly. The vast majority of items are priced at less than $20, which means your per-item commission will be relatively low.
Temu
Like SHEIN, Temu is known for selling budget-friendly items directly to consumers. However, Temu sells more than just the latest fashion goods, offering home goods, decor, and more. As an affiliate, you’ll enjoy access to a wide range of products, a user-friendly dashboard, and several marketing tools designed to help you maximize your earnings. Commission rates range from 5 to 20%.
The downside to Temu is that it has also been wrapped up in quite a few controversies, including accusations of using forced labor and questionable data policies. These scandals may make some members of your target audience hesitant to use the platform.
Amazon
The Amazon Affiliate Program is one of the most popular. Consumers trust the Amazon platform, which can give you a similar advantage to Walmart when promoting products. The ecommerce giant also provides tons of resources and a robust affiliate dashboard, which can help you earn even more. Its commission rates are competitive, too, ranging from 4 to 10%, depending on the product category.
Nevertheless, like Temu and SHEIN, Amazon has had more than its fair share of controversies. In early 2024, a report in the Wall Street Journal revealed that Amazon has been spying on other ecommerce platforms, including eBay and Walmart.
Is the Walmart Affiliate Program Right for You?
If you plan to dive into the world of affiliate marketing, Walmart’s program can be a great fit. It offers dedicated support, access to a wide range of products, and brand credibility that will help you earn more. However, its commission rates on some products are quite low, which means you’ll need a high sales volume to generate a healthy amount of revenue.
Ultimately, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of Walmart’s program while comparing it to other options, so you make a solid choice to start earning commission revenue!