It’s School Time: The Best Back-to-School Affiliate Programs For 2023

Back-to-school season is in full swing! August and the beginning of September are the busiest for both parents and teachers. This is really huge, and being an affiliate marketer you can’t miss out on this opportunity. Let’s see which affiliate programs are going to make the most money this year. And don’t skip our insights to stay ahead of the main trends. 

Let’s do it!

US

18 months of inflation have changed many people’s perspective here, making parents more price-conscious, leading them to reconsider their shopping approach for the upcoming school year.

However, no matter what, BTS is traditionally the second largest spending event for families, right after the holiday season, making deals a significant driving force for shoppers. 

This is what we can expect.

The scenario by Deloitte:

• Focus only on necessities like school supplies (+20%).
• BTS average spend per child is expected to be $597.
• Spending cuts on unnecessary apparel (–14% YoY) and tech (-13% YoY).  
• Parents still will splurge on clothing/accessories and tech items for better quality of the products or just to treat their child.
• Mass merchants (80%), retailers with competitive pricing, online retailers (60%) are the most desirable destinations for parents.
• Low prices, free shipping, free returns and limited deals are the biggest triggers for online shopping.

The scenario by NRF:

• Spending is expected to reach an unparalleled $41.5 billion, up from $36.9 billion last year and the previous high of $37.1 billion in 2021.
• BTS average spend per child is expected to be $890.07.
• A higher demand for electronics, as 69% of parents plan to buy electronics or other computer-related accessories (laptops, tablets and calculators) this year, 4% increase compared to last year and the highest in the survey’s history. 

Sources: 2023 Deloitte back-to-school survey, NRF data.

As you can see, the real numbers will be somewhere in between.

Europe

• Spain, Czech Republic and UK were the GEOs with overall increased spendings in 2022
• School necessities and clothing are always on the top of shopping lists. 
• More and more parents are opting for online shopping, e.g. 55% of shoppers in Italy found online channels more convenient for back-to-school shopping last year. 
• Clothing and jewelry spending surprisingly experienced a solid growth in 2022 in France, with a solid increase in jewelry sales in Spain and a clothing segment growth in Poland and Germany.  
• Restaurants and lodging usually grow too as families try to spend time together during the last few weeks of Summer. France, Spain and the UK were projected to experience a substantial increase.
• Electronics and furniture will probably continue to see reduced demand compared to pandemic time. However, in 2022 Spain expected growth in both Electronics (11% YoY) and Furniture (39% YoY).

Sources: Mastercard SpendingPulse, Statista

The Best Affiliate Programs for Back-to-school season

Single-store-solution for everything you need for school

1.Walmart Affiliate Program

Walmart is a legendary American multinational retail corporation and one of the world’s largest and most well-known retail chains. Besides its physical stores, Walmart has expanded into e-commerce and operates an online marketplace where customers can purchase a variety of products and have them delivered to their homes. Walmart’ affiliate program is truly a gem for any publisher.

Type: CPS

Payout: up to 4%

Cookie: 3 days

GEO: US

Clothing and shoes

2. Matalan Affiliate Program

Matalan is a British fashion and homeware retailer. It operates a chain of stores across the UK and also has an online presence through its e-commerce platform. Matalan is known for offering affordable and stylish clothing, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children. The company’s product range includes a variety of fashion items, from casual wear to formal attire. They also offer a selection of homeware products, such as bedding, curtains, kitchenware, and home decorations.

Type: CPS

Payout: 1%

Cookie: 30 days

GEO: GB

4. Shoebacca Affiliate Program

Shoebacca is an online footwear and apparel retailer based in the United States. The company specializes in offering a wide selection of shoes, including athletic footwear, casual shoes, boots, sandals, and more, for men, women, and children. Shoebacca partners with various popular footwear brands and carries products from well-known names in the industry, providing customers with a diverse range of options to choose from. 

Type: CPS

Payout: 6%

Cookie: 7 days

GEO: US, CA

5. Crocs Affiliate Program

Crocs is a well-known American footwear company best known for its iconic clog-style shoes, which are made from a proprietary closed-cell resin material called Croslite™. Crocs gained popularity for their unique design and comfort, becoming a global fashion trend. The brand offers a wide range of shoe styles for men, women, and children, including clogs, sandals, flats, sneakers, and boots. Crocs affiliate program is one of the most converting and profitable ones. 

Type: CPS

Payout: 5%

Cookie: 30 days

GEO: FR, DE, SG, GB

Bags

6. eBags Affiliate Program

eBags is an online retailer specializing in bags and travel accessories. Founded in 1998, eBags has grown to become one of the largest online sellers of bags, luggage, backpacks, handbags, and other travel-related items. The store offers a wide range of products from various well-known brands, as well as their own private label products. 

Type: CPS

Payout: 3%

Cookie: 14 days

GEO: worldwide

Electronics

7. Best Buy Affiliate Program

Best Buy is a major American multinational retailer specializing in consumer electronics, appliances, and technology products. Best Buy offers a wide range of products, including TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, home theater systems, cameras, video games, home appliances, and various accessories related to electronics and technology. The company partners with numerous well-known brands, providing customers with a diverse selection of products.

Type: CPS

Payout: up to 5%

Cookie: 45 days

GEO: US

8. Goodee Affiliate Program

Goodee is a brand that manufactures projectors for home entertainment and business use. They are known for producing affordable and high-quality projectors that offer various features to cater to different needs and preferences. Goodee projectors are designed to deliver a big-screen experience, allowing users to enjoy movies, TV shows, gaming, presentations, and other content on a larger display. By the way, projectors are in high demand for teaching purposes.

Type: CPS

Payout: up to 14%

Cookie: 60 days

GEO: GB, US

Books

9. AbeBooks Affiliate Program

AbeBooks is an online marketplace that specializes in selling new, used, rare, and out-of-print books, as well as collectible books and textbooks. The platform was founded in 1995 and has grown to become one of the world’s largest online marketplaces for books, connecting millions of buyers and sellers from around the globe.

Type: CPS

Payout: 5%

Cookie: 90 days

GEO: worldwide

Online education

10. Udemy Affiliate Program

Udemy is an online learning platform that offers a vast array of courses on a wide range of subjects. It provides an opportunity for instructors to create and publish their courses, and for students to enroll in those courses to enhance their knowledge and skills. Usually Udemy launches some lucrative deals ahead of back-to-school season.

Type: CPS

Payout: 10%

Cookie: 7 days

GEO: worldwide

11. GetSmarter Affiliate Program

GetSmarter is an online education company, which offers short courses and online degrees in partnership with various top universities and institutions around the world. GetSmarter’s platform allows professionals and lifelong learners to access high-quality, industry-relevant education and upskill themselves in various fields.

Type: CPS

Payout: USD 70

Cookie: 30 days

GEO: BR, CA, FR, DE, HK, IT, NL, SG, ES, CH, AE, GB, US

12. Domestika Affiliate Program

Domestika is a Spanish-based online learning platform that offers creative courses in various fields such as design, illustration, photography, animation, marketing, and crafts. It provides a platform for professionals and enthusiasts to learn new skills from industry experts through video tutorials and interactive lessons.

Type: CPS

Payout: up to 40%

Cookie: 30 days

GEO: AR, BR, CA, CL, FR, DE, IT, MX, NL, PL, PT, ES, GB, US

Wrapping It Up

Back-to-school season presents a valuable opportunity for affiliate marketers to promote relevant products and capitalize on the increased demand for school-related items. Here are some tips for affiliate marketing during the back-to-school season:

• Choose Relevant Products

Focus on promoting products that are popular during the back-to-school period. This may include school supplies, backpacks, laptops, tablets, clothing, dorm room essentials, and educational resources.

• Plan Content and Promotions

Create content that appeals to students, parents, and educators. Develop blog posts, reviews, buying guides, and social media posts highlighting the products’ benefits and how they can make the back-to-school experience better.

• Partner with Trustworthy Advertisers

We have only the most reliable advertisers on Indoleads. We hand pick those who offer lucrative commissions and have popular products and services.

• Leverage Social Media

Engage with your audience on social media platforms where students and parents are active. Use relevant hashtags and share valuable content to increase engagement and drive traffic to your affiliate links.

• Email Marketing

Utilize email marketing to reach your subscribers with back-to-school promotions and exclusive deals. Segment your email list to provide personalized offers to different groups of recipients.

• Seasonal Creatives

Design eye-catching banners, graphics, and promotional materials with a back-to-school theme to attract attention and encourage clicks.

Sign up on Indoleads to gain access to 2000+ affiliate programs across all profitable niches from 180+ countries.

Happy BTS affiliate marketing!