Breeze eSIM is a leading provider of digital SIM card solutions for travelers all over the world. Their virtual SIM cards allow travelers to connect to mobile networks in over 190 countries without the hassle of swapping SIM cards or visiting local stores.
As part of the company eSIM Go that powers 40% of the global eSIM market, Breeze has the advantage of providing cost-effective and reliable network coverage. Their most popular targeted destinations include the U.S., Canada, Morocco, Europe, and Turkey.
Breeze eSIM had a great product and a solid foundation, but they faced a big challenge: how to reach their audience at scale. Their customers – frequent travelers, digital nomads, and busy professionals – had diverse and flexible needs for using eSIM across multiple countries. Each market also had its own behaviors and preferences, making it difficult for Breeze to connect with them.
Breeze needed a solution that could target specific customer segments on the platforms they use regularly, such as travel blogs, comparison websites, and social media. That’s when they turned to affiliate marketing. By partnering with local affiliates, travel bloggers, and comparison sites, Breeze was able to reach travelers across various regions and countries.
Looking for a solution that helped them manage their affiliate marketing program, Breeze eSIM crossed paths with UpPromote.
Seamless user experience: UpPromote wins over AWIN
When Breeze eSIM began exploring affiliate marketing platforms, they decided to work with both UpPromote and AWIN to maximize their reach. While both platforms offered valuable tools, it quickly became clear that UpPromote provided a more seamless experience for their team.
There are definitely more pros than cons when comparing UpPromote to Awin, especially in terms of usability and interface. We probably get fewer partner questions when it comes to using UpPromote versus Awin.
Rob Carter – the head of product at Breeze eSIM
On the other hand, AWIN didn’t integrate well with Shopify, causing some friction in the team’s day-to-day operations. “UpPromote does a better job when it comes to UX – making the tool more seamless to use and better integrated with Shopify, especially with things like refunds and pushing all the tags and stuff.” Rob tells UpPromote in the interview.
UpPromote has played a vital role in Breeze eSIM’s affiliate marketing management, supporting every aspect – from seamless onboarding and program setup to advanced features like special commissions and MLM.
Moreover, UpPromote helped Breeze eSIM tailor their affiliate programs to fit their unique needs. We made it easy to sync all affiliate data from the UpPromote app directly to their CRM system. Our team also supported them in generating product links for specific country-based eSIM plans, making it easier for affiliates to promote targeted offers and drive more sales.
Gain affiliate insights right from the signup form
With the help of UpPromote, Breeze developed a fully branded registration form that reflects its professional identity. Beyond providing basic program details like benefits, commission rates, and terms, Breeze added tailored questions to better understand potential affiliates.
Applicants are required to provide personal and business details, including their preferred payment method, marketing channels (e.g., social media, blogs, websites), and the type of affiliate they are (e.g., content creator, comparison site, or brand ambassador).
Breeze also asks how affiliates plan to promote the brand, ensuring a better understanding of their strategies and capabilities.
This approach stems from Breeze’s commitment to partnering with affiliates who naturally engage with travelers, such as airlines, airports, and travel companies.
Recently, Breeze has built a partnership with Booking.com, one of the world’s most recognized travel platforms. “With Booking.com, we’re working with their flights division, but we’re also collaborating with their car hire division. It could be hotel chains, flight operators, airports, or even people with popular travel blogs or YouTube channels,” shares Rob Carter.
Incentivize high-performing affiliates with higher commissions
Rewarding well-performing affiliates with higher commissions is a fair and effective way to recognize their contributions. While the usual affiliate commission is up to 20%, exceptional performance is rewarded with customized rates.
Through UpPromote’s analytics, Breeze identified a standout affiliate – an online comparison site for eSIM service – that had generated over 7,000 referrals.
To reward his effort and encourage more growth in specific regions, the team used the product-specific commission feature to adjust his rates for certain countries.
“As a general rule for Eastern Libya, he gets a 10% commission and a 10% discount code,” Rob Carter explains. “But for certain countries, he might receive a 10% discount code and a 20% commission.”
Expand their network through Multi-Level Marketing
With Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), the Breeze team empowers current affiliates to recruit new members into the program. Every time an affiliate brings in a sub-affiliate, they earn a commission from the sub-affiliate’s sales.
At Breeze, they implemented network commissions across different programs, with rates varying from 5% to 20%. For top-performing affiliates, Breeze introduced a special program with an exclusive commission rate of up to 33.33%.
Here’s an example of the network commission within the Bristol Airport program, where affiliates earn 5% of the sales generated by their sub-affiliates.
This structure naturally motivates affiliates to recruit sub-affiliates, as their earnings increase with the success of their downline network.
Arm affiliates with plenty of promotional materials
With UpPromote, Breeze eSIM can efficiently track referred sales through both affiliate links and coupon codes. This dual tracking system ensures accurate attribution of commissions, whether customers use a link or a discount code to make a purchase.
However, Breeze carefully manages coupon usage to maintain control and uphold the brand’s standards. Only trusted and suitable affiliates are granted access to these exclusive codes.
Moreover, to make promotion easy for affiliates, Breeze provides a wide range of marketing materials like high-quality images, banners, logos, and even content designed for specific product collections. This means affiliates can start promoting Breeze’s services as soon as they join the program, without needing to create their own resources.
Ensure timely and flexible payouts for affiliates
Payment delays are one of the biggest concerns for affiliates, as they work tirelessly to bring referrals and expect their commissions to be paid promptly. With UpPromote’s auto-payout via PayPal, brands can ensure affiliates are rewarded on time, every time.
Merchants can set specific payment schedules, including payout frequency and preferred payment dates. Once the schedule is in place, payouts are processed automatically, giving affiliates peace of mind and eliminating delays.
In addition, UpPromote lets Breeze eSIM reward affiliates with store credits. These credits, like other Shopify discount codes, cannot be withdrawn as cash but can be redeemed for products in the store.
Results
Affiliate marketing has proven to be a significant contributor to Breeze eSIM’s success, accounting for up to 30% of total transactions. This highlights the effectiveness of leveraging affiliates to promote their eSIM services and reach a broader audience.
Looking ahead, the eSIM market is expected to experience remarkable growth, with global adoption projected to increase by 400% over the next five years.
Affiliate marketing will be one of their core strategies to drive sales and brand visibility. UpPromote is proud to keep helping Breeze eSIM manage and optimize their affiliate programs, ensuring smooth operations and consistent results.
Ellie Tran, a seasoned SEO content writer with three years of experience in the eCommerce world. Being a part of the UpPromote team, Ellie wants to assist Shopify merchants in achieving success through useful content & actionable insights. Ellie's commitment to learning never stops; she's always eager to gain more knowledge about SEO and content marketing to create valuable content for users. When she's not working on content, Ellie enjoys baking and exploring new places.
