The Best Affiliate Programs for Back-To-School Season: A Comprehensive Guide
As the summer ends, the back-to-school season presents a lucrative opportunity for marketers and businesses, that’s why we have selected the best affiliate programs for back-to school season, which have everything you need to make this shopping season the most profitable ever.
Parents, students, and educators are on the hunt for essential supplies, the latest gadgets, and innovative tools to make the upcoming academic year a success. For affiliate marketers, this period is ripe with potential, offering a chance to capitalize on the increased spending and demand for school-related products.
With countless affiliate programs available, identifying the most profitable and reliable options can be a daunting task. This guide delves into the best affiliate programs for back-to-school, highlighting top-notch choices that promise high commissions, quality products, and robust support to ensure your marketing efforts hit the mark. We will provide you with the insights needed to boost your earnings during this peak shopping season.
Our insights focus on the US, however, we have affiliate programs for Europe and other regions as well.
Let’s dive into your profitable BTS season!
E-commerce of the Back-To-School season
How long will Back-to School Season 2024 continue?
Even though a lot of parents of schoolkids and students have already started their BTS shopping, approximately 86% still have more than a half of shopping list needed to be purchased. So, the BTS season will continue till mid-September. The reasons for this prolonged shopping are mostly anticipating bigger deals and figuring out what other items will be needed.
How much are people planning to spend?
- $875 on average by families with children from elementary through high school
- $1,365 on average by college students and their families
Total back-to-school spending, including both preparations for school kids and college students, is expected to reach $125.4 billion ($38.8 billion for school kids and $86.6 billion for college students).
What do consumers buy during Back-to-School season?
K-12 shoppers (it’s a short form for individuals involved in purchasing products and services for K-12 education, which includes kindergarten through 12th grade)
- Electronics: 13.7 billion
- Clothing and accessories: $11.2 billion
- School supplies: $6.3 billion
- Shoes: $7.6 billion
What are the top shopping destinations?
- 57% – online
- 50% – department stores
- 47% – discount stores
- 42% – clothing stores
- 23% – electronics stores
College kids and families
- Electronics: $22.8 billion
- Dorm or apartment furnishings: $12.2 billion
- Clothing and accessories: $10.9 billion
- Food: $9.5 billion
- Shoes: $7.1 billion
What are the top shopping destinations?
- 50% – online
- 35% – department stores
- 31% – discount stores
- 26% – college bookstores
- 26% – office supply stores
- 26% – clothing stores
Source: NRF
BTS unrelated purchases
Although parents are concentrating on necessities, 85% of parents are eager to splurge on a must-have item or brand to make the start of school exciting or enhance their child’s self-esteem.
50% of parents are going to shop for themselves too during this season, and parents who buy items for themselves while shopping for their children tend to spend 1.4 times more than those who don’t.
Source: eMarketer, Deloitte’s 2024 back-to-school survey
What’s next?
Consumers will keep shopping in August. According to the NRF, 55% of shoppers began their shopping in early July, yet most still have at least half of their purchases remaining. One of the reasons behind that is waiting for more deals, because price is one of the most crucial factors for the majority of customers. More than 80% of consumers consider rewards programs and loyalty as one of impactful aspects when making decisions on purchases.
As you see, back-to-school season is in full swing. Let’s get to the best affiliate programs from e-commerce and travel verticals which can bring you big profits.
The best affiliate programs for back-to-school season 2024
Multicategory retailers
Walmart Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: US
Payout: up to 15%
Cookie: 3 days
Hold: 90 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 50.22%
Clothing and shoes
Matalan Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: GB
Payout: 1%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 43%
Crocs Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: FR, DE, SG, GB
Payout: 1%
Cookie: 60 days
Hold: 30 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 80%
Electronics
Best Buy Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: US
Payout: 0.5%
Cookie: 45 days
Hold: 70 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 11%
Goodee Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: US, GB
Payout: up to 14%
Cookie: 60 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: no
Gabb Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: US
Payout: $24.5
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: no
Books
AbeBooks Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: Worldwide
Payout: 2%
Cookie: 50 days
Hold: 90 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 65%
ThriftBooks Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: US
Payout: 4%
Cookie: 7 days
Hold: 45 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 80%
EdTech
Udemy Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: Worldwide
Payout: 10%
Cookie: 7 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 91%
Domestika Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: AR, BR, CA, CL, FR, DE, IT, MX, NL, PL, PT, ES, GB, US
Payout: up to 40%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 45%
Marketplaces
AliExpress Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: Worldwide
Payout: up to 8%
Cookie: 3 days
Hold: 30 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 77%
TEMU Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: AU, AT, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DK, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, JP, KR, MY, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PH, PL, PT, RO, SK, ES, SE, CH, UA, GB, US
Payout: up to 15%
Cookie: 1 day
Hold: 120 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 50%
LightInTheBox Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: Worldwide
Payout: 1%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 75 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 66%
DHgate Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: Worldwide
Payout: up to 15%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: yes
AR: 70%
Train tickets (for Europe GEOs)
Trainline Affiliate Program
Type: CPS
GEO: GB
Payout: up to 8%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 30 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 95%
National Express Affiliate Program (EXCLUSIVE)
Type: CPS
GEO: FR, DE, GB
Payout: up to 8%
Cookie: 30 days
Hold: 60 days
Deeplinks: no
AR: 4%
Marketing techniques for your affiliate campaigns for this Back-to-school season
Affiliate marketers can capitalize on the back-to-school season by strategically planning their campaigns to meet the needs of students, parents, and educators. Here are some detailed pieces of advice to optimize back-to-school affiliate marketing efforts:
1. Understand Your Audience
- Segment Your Audience: Identify and segment your target audience into categories such as K-12 students, college students, parents, and teachers. Tailor your messaging and promotions to each segment.
- Research Trends: Stay updated on the latest back-to-school trends, popular products, and educational needs to create relevant content and promotions.
2. Choose the Right Products
- Promote Essential Items: Focus on essentials like school supplies, backpacks, electronics (laptops, tablets, calculators), clothing, and footwear.
- Highlight New and Innovative Products: Showcase the latest tech gadgets, learning tools, and innovative products that can enhance the educational experience.
3. Create Engaging Content
- Product Reviews and Comparisons: Write detailed reviews and comparisons of popular back-to-school products to help consumers make informed decisions.
- Guides and Checklists: Develop comprehensive buying guides, checklists, and tips for back-to-school shopping.
- Video Content: Create unboxing videos, tutorials, and product demonstrations to engage visual learners.
4. Utilize Multiple Channels
- Social Media: Leverage platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest to reach a broader audience with engaging posts, stories, and ads.
- Email Marketing: Send targeted email campaigns with personalized recommendations, exclusive discounts, and timely reminders.
- Blog and SEO: Optimize your blog posts and website content for SEO to attract organic traffic from search engines.
5. Offer Exclusive Deals and Discounts
- Promotions and Coupons: Offer special discounts, promo codes, and limited-time offers. You can find a bunch of promo codes in our offer descriptions.
- Bundle Deals: Create attractive bundle deals combining various products, such as a laptop with a backpack or stationery set.
- Early Bird and Last-Minute Deals: Cater to early shoppers and procrastinators with specific promotions.
6. Optimize Your Landing Pages
- Dedicated Back-to-School Sections: Create dedicated landing pages or sections on your website specifically for back-to-school products.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website and landing pages are mobile-friendly, as many shoppers will browse and purchase from their phones.
7. Plan for Seasonality
- Post-Season Follow-Up: After the peak season, continue to engage with your audience by promoting leftover inventory, clearance sales, or other educational content.
By implementing these strategies, affiliate marketers can effectively capture the back-to-school market, drive traffic, and increase conversions during this lucrative season.
—
Bottom line
The back-to-school season presents a golden opportunity for affiliate marketers to tap into a thriving market. By promoting the best affiliate programs tailored to the needs of students, parents, and educators, marketers can maximize their earnings and provide valuable resources to their audience.
Remember, the key to a successful back-to-school campaign lies in understanding your audience, creating engaging and informative content, and leveraging multiple marketing channels. Partnering with out top-notch affiliate programs and boost your affiliate income.
Happy marketing and here’s to a profitable back-to-school season!
Join Indoleads to get access to a catalogue with 3000+ offers for 180+ GEOs, it’s absolutely free, but will open up myriads of opportunities for your affiliate success.