2 tier affiliate programs are beneficial to both affiliates and brands. Thanks to such programs, affiliates can earn more money while merchants can grow their businesses.
So, what exactly are these 2 tier affiliate programs? What are their advantages and drawbacks? And how to succeed with them?
In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about 2 tier affiliate programs, including a rundown of the top 15+ programs out there for you to consider.
Whether you’re an affiliate eager to increase your income or a brand aiming to step up your affiliate strategy, this article is packed with valuable insights and tips to help you on your journey.
Ready to see how? Let’s get started!
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What is a 2 Tier Affiliate Marketing?
A 2 tier affiliate program is a fantastic version of affiliate marketing with its layered commission structure. This affiliate program lets affiliates earn more by getting commissions from their initial sales (the first tier) and the sales of people they invite to join the program (the second tier). Thus, it allows brands to receive more customers and affiliates to earn more money.
It isn’t a multi-level marketing plan, which focuses on recruiting people without providing values. It remains the nature of affiliate marketing – offering products and services to customers.
In this program, an affiliate promotes a product or service using a unique referral link provided by the brand or affiliate network. When a person clicks on this link and signs up with their information, such as their email address, they become the referring affiliate’s sub-affiliates. The referring affiliate earns from the direct sales of their own work and also gets extra money from what their invited affiliates do.
Slightly different from regular affiliate programs, this method encourages affiliates to not only promote products but also to bring more affiliates into the program to spread it further.
Both the original affiliate and their sub-affiliates earn commissions on sales, creating a win-win situation. Sub-affiliates generate their own sales and contribute to the overall success of the program, while the referring affiliate earns extra money without doing more work through the efforts of their recruited sub-affiliates.
15+ Best Two Tier Affiliate Programs To Join
LeadsMarket
LeadsMarket is a nice option for affiliates looking to participate in loan affiliate programs. They are known for offering one of the top affiliate programs for both lenders and publishers.
LeadsMarket has a decade of experience in the loan industry. It has built a network of over 1,000 active affiliates and has distributed over $350 million to its affiliates since 2011, showcasing its reliability.
The LeadsMarket affiliate program provides some of the highest commission rates in affiliate marketing, paying affiliates for leads, clicks, and calls. It also adds a 3% commission on all revenue earned from any affiliates you bring into the program.
Joining LeadsMarket gives you access to many affiliate marketing tools, which is perfect for those new to affiliate marketing. These resources include customizable HTML templates, WordPress themes, JavaScript forms, banner ads, and promotional email templates.
Their powerful marketing tools help you to build your marketing funnel or conversion funnel to get better results. Don’t forget to integrate tracking tools like Google Analytics to follow and optimize your affiliate efforts.
- Commission rate: Variable
- Tiered commission: 3% of all the revenue generated by the referred affiliates
- Cookie duration: 45 days
- Payment methods: PayPal, ACH, Wire Transfer, Check, PayQuicker, Payoneer, USDT, BTC, ETH
- Payment Threshold: $100
Shift4Shop
The next affiliate program on our list is Shift4Shop. This platform provides a comprehensive ecommerce website builder that helps business owners craft, grow, and launch effective ecommerce sites. It’s popular among small businesses for its website-building tools, customer marketing capabilities, and product & order management features.
For affiliates, Shift4Shop stands out with its generous 120-day cookie duration, which is much longer than the lifespan offered by many programs. This extended cookie life means you have a better chance of earning affiliate commission from referrals.
When you promote their product, you can get from $5 to $25 per new signup. You can also earn 10% on the referred affiliate’s sales if you introduce new affiliates to them.
Joining is straightforward, and once onboard, you will gain access to many marketing materials to boost your promotional efforts. The platform provides professionally crafted text links and promotional banners supported by the expert guidance of a dedicated affiliate manager.
- Commission rate: $5 to $25 per new signup
- Tiered commission: 10% on the referred affiliate’s sales
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH
- Payment threshold: $50
CalmiGo
CalmiGo is an innovative device equipped with patented technology. It’s designed to offer instant, drug-free comfort during episodes of anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD.
This natural and easy-to-carry solution serves as a drug-free alternative for managing moments of distress, anxiety, and stress. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to provide quick relief in stressful situations as well as its potential for long-term benefits. It’s for people aged six and over.
The CalmiGo affiliate program allows publishers to earn $25 per sale. It also provides a two-tiered mechanism, so affiliates can enjoy 10% of the total revenue earned by their sub-affiliates.
- Commission rate: $25 per sale
- Tiered commission: 10% of the referred affiliate’s sales
- Cookie duration: Revealed once registered
Finministry
Finministry is a famous and trusted network specializing in online investment products, services, and tools. Finministry connects traders and affiliates globally.
When joining its affiliate program, you will enjoy multiple opportunities to earn substantial commissions online. It allows affiliates to earn up to 80% revenue share or custom CPA up to $1000. Affiliates can also refer new ones to the system and get 3-10% of sub-affiliates’ revenue.
The program’s cookie is 60 days, which is nice to earn from referrals. And what’s the best? They will pay weekly via PayPal and Neteller.
- Commission rate: up to 80% revenue share and custom CPA up to $1000
- Tiered commission: 3-10% of sub affiliates’ revenue
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payment methods: PayPal, Neteller, and others
Fiverr
Fiverr, one of the largest digital marketplaces, offers a standout affiliate program that matches businesses with freelancers across a wide range of digital tasks. From graphic design and content writing to translation and web development, Fiverr’s platform has over 400 categories. This variety ensures businesses can easily find the specialized skills they are looking for.
The program allows affiliates to enjoy a nice commission rate of 25% or above on the first order, depending on the types of services ordered. Affiliates can also get a 10% revenue share from all other purchases in the first 12 months. Besides, when affiliates refer new individuals to join the program, they can earn 10% of the referred people’s earnings.
Fiverr pays affiliates monthly via PayPal, Payoneer, and Wire Transfer. The minimum payout is $100.
- Commission rate: 25% or above of the customer’s first order and 10% rev share from future orders within 12 months.
- Tiered commission: 10% of the referred affiliate’s earnings
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: PayPal, Payoneer, Wire Transfer
- Payment threshold: $100
PureVPN
The PureVPN affiliate program is also a great choice among affiliate options. Since launching in 2007, PureVPN has become a leading VPN service provider.
Their commission structure is impressive, offering a $300 signup bonus and 100% commission on new monthly plan sales. Yearly and 2-year plans earn a 40% commission, while renewals net you 35%. Its cookie duration is also nice, with 90 days for tracking.
Payments are made via Bank Transfer, USDT, or PayPal, offering flexibility. The payout threshold is $500 for Bank Transfer and USDT and $100 for PayPal.
Signing up for the PureVPN affiliate program is easy and free. You can join through their website or through the largest affiliate networks like CJ Affiliate, Linkshare, and ShareASale.
- Commission rate:
- $300 signup bonus and:
- Monthly plan: 100% new signup and 35% renewal
- 2-year plan: 40% new signup and 35% renewal
- Yearly plan: 40% new signup and 35% renewal
- Tiered commission: 10% of the referred affiliate’s earnings
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payment method: Bank Transfer, USDT, PayPal
- Payment threshold: $100 for PayPal, $500 for Bank Transfer and USDT
Content At Scale
Content At Scale is a writing platform powered by AI. It enables the rapid and easy production of large quantities of high-quality content.
With Content At Scale, you can easily generate long-form content. It allows you to produce, optimize, publish, and share content that gets your business results.
The brand’s affiliate program offers a great commission rate. You can enjoy 15% to 20% commissions, and that’s recurring. This means you can continue to earn as long as your referrals continue using the platform.
If you recommend new individuals to become the program’s affiliate, you will also get a 5% tier commission of their sales. All the payments will be processed through PayPal.
- Commission rate: 15%-20% recurring commissions
- Tiered commission: 5% of sub-affiliates’ sales
- Cookie duration: Revealed once registered
- Payment methods: PayPal
National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief offers a helping hand to those struggling with significant unsecured debts. It aims to enable them to settle these debts for a lesser amount and within a shorter period, typically between 24 to 48 months. Over nearly 15 years, the company has helped over 600,000 customers take back control of their financial lives.
National Debt Relief focuses on unsecured debts, such as credit card debt, personal loans, collections, student loans, medical bills, and some business debts. It doesn’t deal with secured debts like mortgages or car loans.
For affiliates, National Debt Relief presents two income opportunities.
The first is a pay-per-lead program where you earn $27.50 for every qualified request for a free quote that comes from your affiliate link. Those leads must be interested in debt settlement and own a minimum of $10,000 in unsecured credit card debt.
The second comes from referring new affiliates to the program. You can earn 12% of their generated commissions each month.
- Commission rates: $27.50 per qualified lead
- Tiered commission: 12% on referred affiliates’ monthly commissions
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payment methods: Check, Direct Deposit, Wire, and Payoneer
- Payment threshold: $50
Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals is a nice option if you are looking for specialized service in Gold IRAs. Known for their exceptional service and integrity, they are a reliable choice for investing in precious metals.
Their affiliate program is quite lucrative. It offers $200 for each qualified lead, plus a standard 8% revenue share rate that can go up to 10% for VIPs. If you introduce sub-affiliates, it also provides a large $5000 bonus on their first sales and 1% for all their sales.
With a 90-day cookie window, your efforts are more likely to be rewarded. It also has lifetime commissions for each customer, meaning your earnings have the potential to continually increase. They will make the payments through PayPal and Direct Deposit.
Augusta Precious Metals also equips you with tools to boost your efficiency and creativity in marketing, supported by a dedicated team that is ready to assist. You can sign up for their program on their website and start accessing free marketing materials to connect customers with valuable resources.
- Commission rate: $200 per qualified lead, 8% standard rate, 10% VIP rate
- Tiered commission: $5000 on the first sale and 1% on all 2nd tier sales
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, PayPal
LinkTrackr
LinkTrackr is an online tool for tracking links, cloaking affiliate links, and conducting split tests. It’s favored by affiliate marketers and digital marketers for monitoring their sales and leads efficiently.
The LinkTrackr affiliate program is available on ShareASale. It’s a great choice for affiliates to earn money. LinkTrackr allows you to earn a commission rate of 30-50%, which can bring up to $331 per sale. With its two tiered structure, you can also enjoy a 2nd tier of commission of 5% when referring new affiliates to the brand.
The program has a nice cookie term of 30 days. You can get commissions via Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH when you gain at least $50 in your account.
- Commission rate: 30-50% of sales
- Tiered commission: 5% of all sub-affiliates’ sales
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH
- Payment Threshold: $50
Affiliate2Day
Affiliate2Day is the affiliate network of the 2Day group, a leading entity in the field of international marriage and matchmaking. It contains affiliate companies. It provides the chance to promote premium dating websites, including BeHappy2Day, AllTverLadies, AsianSingles2Day, and OneWife.
The program has three options for calculating commissions: pay-per-sale, pay-per-first order, and pay-per-lead. If you choose the first one, you can get a $25 signup bonus and 25% off each order. The number will be 30% for the first three months.
The pay-per-first order allows you to earn from $25 to $300 per first order. Meanwhile, if you go with pay-per-lead, you can get up to $10 per lead. And it doesn’t stop there! You can enjoy a 10% 2nd tiered commission when introducing new affiliates.
The payment methods are various. You can choose between Wire Transfer, SEPA, Card Transfer, Bitsafe.com, and ADV Cash.com. The minimum payout will be $40.
- Commission rate:
- Pay-per-sale: 25% of each order (30% for the first three months) + $25 signup bonus
- Pay-per-first order: $25 to $300 for each first order
- Pay-per lead: up to $10 per lead
- Tiered commission: 10% of your sub-affiliates’ commissions
- Cookie duration: Revealed once registered
- Payment method: Wire Transfer, SEPA, Card Transfer, Bitsafe.com, ADV Cash.com
- Payment threshold: $40
Inc Authority
Inc Authority specializes in cost-effective business entity formations. Inc Authority offers services that include the preparation and submission of documentation for both corporations and limited liability companies. It has formed over 250,000 businesses across the United States.
Its affiliate program allows you to earn $100 per sale. It also has a tiered commission structure, enabling you to get 1% on the 2nd tier sales.
The program provides a generous cookie duration of 180 days. When you have successful referrals within that term, you will earn their nice commissions. The total payments will be made via Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH with a minimum threshold of $50.
- Commission rate: $100 per sale
- Tiered commission: 1% on sub-affiliates’ sales
- Cookie duration: 180 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH
- Payment threshold: $50
Travelpayouts
The Travelpayouts affiliate program gives you the chance to promote a variety of travel-related affiliate products and services, including accommodations and travel insurance. It’s one of the greatest choices if you want to find travel affiliate programs.
It features numerous programs from different companies, with commissions varying based on the program you select. If you invite new affiliates to Travelpayouts, you will also earn 7% of the revenue generated by them within two years.
Typically, the cookie duration for most programs is 30 days, but you should check the specific details under each program’s About section. Payments are made monthly between the 11th and 20th through Bank Transfer, PayPal, and WebMoney. The minimum payment thresholds are USD/EUR 400 for Bank Transfer, USD 50 for PayPal, and USD 10 for WebMoney.
- Commission rate: Variable
- Tiered commission: 7% of the revenue generated by the referred affiliate for two years
- Cookie: Variable
- Payment method: Bank Transfer, Paypal, WebMoney
- Payment threshold: $10 for WebMoney, $50 for Paypal, $/€400 for Bank Transfer
WP Engine
If you prefer to introduce hosting services or website themes to your audience, consider joining the WP Engine affiliate program.
When you join and refer a hosting customer, you can get a high commission of $200 or the equivalent of one month’s payment, depending on the customer’s plan. If your referral is for a theme customer, WP Engine offers an impressive commission rate of 35%.
The program also has a great cookie duration. For themes, it’s 60 days, and for hosting plans, it’s even more generous, up to 180 days.
WP Engine also has a two-tier tracking mechanism. You can invite a new affiliate to its system and earn $50 when such an affiliate makes a referral. With its nice conversion rates, you can boost your income.
To participate in the program, you can join through ShareASale. Payment options include Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH, with a minimum account balance requirement of $50 to receive your earnings.
- Commission rate:
- Hosting plans: one-month payment or $200 at minimum
- Theme purchases: 35%
- Tiered commission: $50
- Cookie duration:
- Hosting plans: 180 days
- Theme purchases: 60 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, and ACH
- Payment threshold: $50
Plus500
Plus500 is a global financial company that provides online trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) across more than 2,000 types of securities and assets. Based in Israel, Plus500 has expanded its operations to include subsidiaries in the UK, Cyprus, Australia, Singapore, and Bulgaria.
Since its start, Plus500 has relied on its proprietary, cutting-edge technology for everything. Its trading platform, which is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows, includes risk management tools, customer onboarding processes, affiliate and marketing systems, and back-office and cashier systems.
As an affiliate of Plus500’s program, you will enjoy a commission rate of $200 to $800 per qualified trader. When you refer a new affiliate to the program, you can earn 10% of that affiliate’s monthly commission, opening up another income. They will pay you via Wire Transfer as long as your account reaches $150.
- Commission rate:
- $200-$800 per qualified trader
- Tiered commission: 10% of the referred affiliate’s monthly commissions
- Cookie duration: Revealed once registered
- Payment method: Wire Transfer
- Payment threshold: $150
Benefits of Two-Tier Affiliate Programs
Two-tier programs come with many advantages that can benefit affiliates and brands.
For affiliates, the primary benefit is the increased earning potential. By building a network of sub-affiliates, an affiliate can make money not just from their own sales but also from the sales made by their network. This setup means more chances to earn, as affiliates can leverage the sales efforts of their sub-affiliate.
For brands, the first advantage is the ability to expand reach when adopting such an affiliate marketing program. The program incentivizes existing affiliates to refer new sub-affiliates. Then, they promote products and services, and brands can reach a wider audience. This extended reach can lead to more sales and, subsequently, better revenue.
In addition, two-tier affiliate programs contribute to faster program growth. The multi-tier structure encourages affiliates to recruit new members, speeding up the growth of the affiliate network. This expansion benefits the program by increasing its visibility and sales potential, making it a more attractive option as well.
Drawbacks of Two-Tier Affiliate Programs
While two-tier affiliate programs have lots of advantages, they also bring some challenges.
The first drawback involves the recruitment process. Finding and motivating sub-affiliates to actively promote products and generate sales isn’t easy. It demands significant effort and time from the referring affiliate to encourage or even train them. That may not always lead to the desired level of activity or sales.
Affiliates joining these programs may also face the issue of lower commission rates. Because the money made from sales is shared between the referring affiliate and their sub-affiliates, each sale might earn less money than in a program where you don’t have to share. This sharing of earnings means you need to make a lot of sales or recruit many active sub-affiliates to keep or boost your total income.
Besides, excessive recruitment can lead to program saturation. When too many affiliates are trying to sell the same product or service, it becomes harder for each one to find new customers. This saturation can limit the earning potential of sub-affiliates, making it more challenging for them to succeed. It then affects the earnings of the referring affiliate and the overall effectiveness of the program.
How to Success with Two-Tier Affiliate Programs
Achieving success in multi-tier programs requires strategically building and supporting your affiliate network. Let’s check out some crucial practices for doing well in this setup!
Focus on Recruiting High-Quality Affiliates
It’s essential to bring in individuals who are not only engaged and motivated but also capable of actively promoting the program. Quality over quantity matters because motivated affiliates are more likely to contribute positively to the program’s overall success.
Look for affiliates who understand the niche and have a solid online presence. These affiliates should also show a keen interest in learning and growing within the affiliate marketing space.
Provide Valuable Resources and Support
Providing sub-affiliates with helpful resources and support is another critical step. Equip them with effective marketing materials, thorough training sessions, and continuous support to help them maximize their success.
This piece could include access to promotional content, SEO tips, social media strategies, and any other tools needed. When sub-affiliates feel supported and have the resources they need, they’re more likely to perform well and bring more sales.
Maintain Clear Communication
You should ensure that commission structures, any changes to the program, and performance data are communicated transparently. Regular updates, feedback sessions, and open lines of communication build trust and help sub-affiliates feel connected and valued.
This transparency fosters a supportive community. It also encourages your network to stay motivated and informed about their progress and potential areas for improvement.
FAQs
- What is a 2 tier affiliate program?
A 2 tier affiliate program is a type of affiliate marketing with two tiers of commissions. The first one is the same as a normal affiliate program, which means affiliates get from their own sales. The second is the earning from the sales made by people they recruited. They become sub-affiliates and their sales generate additional commissions for the referring affiliates.
- What are second tier affiliates?
Second tier affiliates are part of a two-tier affiliate marketing structure. They are the affiliates that have been recruited to join the program by initial affiliates. When they bring sales, the initial affiliates can also receive a portion of the earnings.
- What are the highest paying affiliate programs?
The highest paying affiliate programs usually involve sectors like web hosting, VPN services, digital marketing tools, etc. Some examples for your reference are the affiliate programs of Hubspot, Semrush, SiteGround, and WP Engine.
- What is the easiest affiliate program to make money?
The easiest affiliate programs are often those with popular and easy-to-use products or services. They should have high commission rates with low payout thresholds. Amazon Associates, with its wide range of products and simple integration, can be considered among the most accessible for beginners looking to start earning quickly.
Conclusion
To conclude, 2 tier affiliate programs offer a compelling opportunity for affiliates to expand their earnings. They also give significant support to brands in growing their affiliate network and developing the affiliate program.
If you are affiliates, don’t hesitate to look into them to diversify your income and maximize your earnings. If you are merchants, why not try them to achieve greater success in the affiliate marketing strategy?
