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The Complete Guide to Pricing Your Digital Product
Learn how to price your digital product with proven pricing strategies, from tripwire offers to value-based pricing so you can sell and earn more globally.
Mainstack Editorial Team
August 30, 2025
10 min read
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There is no one-size-fits-all answer to "How should I price my digital product?" If anyone tells you otherwise, they are probably trying to sell you an overpriced guide.

Pricing is not just math; it’s also pricing psychology, digital marketing strategy, and audience behavior rolled into one.

Whether you are selling an ebook, an online course, a template bundle, or the ultimate fitness meal-planning guide, your pricing needs to make sense to your audience. That means thinking about who is buying, why they are buying, and how your price influences their decision.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical digital product pricing strategies from entry-level tripwire offers to high-ticket packages, breaking down the pros and cons of common approaches.

10 Tips On How To Price Your Digital Product.

1. Know Your Buyer Persona Before Setting a Price

Before you set a price for your digital download or online course, ask yourself: Who is my ideal buyer? Are they ready to buy now, or are they still browsing?

Your pricing will land differently depending on their situation:

  • Selling to professionals? They value speed, convenience, and quality, and may accept premium pricing.

  • Selling to hobbyists? They may want a low-ticket offer at first, then upgrade to a medium or high-ticket program later.

2. High Ticket vs Low Ticket Pricing for Digital Products

High-ticket digital products (often $500 or more) communicate premium quality and deep transformation, such as a 12-week mentorship or business accelerator. Low-ticket products (under $50) are low-risk, impulse-friendly purchases like ebooks or mini-courses.

A tripwire offer is a low-priced product designed to turn someone into a paying customer quickly. This could be a $7 ebook, then a $49 workshop, then a $499 flagship program (your main, most valuable product).

Pro tip: It’s easier to start low and raise prices than to start high and drop them. Sudden price drops can upset early buyers.

A sales funnel showing a buyer's journey

3. Pricing as a Digital Marketing Strategy

Pricing is not just about covering costs. It influences how people perceive your product and your brand.

  • Price too low: You get sales but risk looking cheap.

  • Price too high: You might look premium but could scare off your target audience.

The sweet spot is where your price signals quality, fits your audience’s budget, and supports your business goals.

4. Seven Practical Pricing Methods 

Method 1: Price to Your Competition

Set your price based on what similar products in your niche cost.

  • Pros: Easy to research and keeps you in the market range.

  • Cons: You risk blending in instead of standing out.

Method 2: Price to Pay the Bills

Work backward from your financial needs. Calculate what you must earn monthly, then determine how many sales you need at a specific price.

  • Pros: Keeps your business sustainable.

  • Cons: May result in prices that do not align with market perception.

Method 3: Price to Time

Charge based on the hours you invested in creating the product.

  • Pros: Honors your effort and skills.

  • Cons: Most buyers do not care how long it took. They care about the results they get. Harsh, but true.

Method 4: Price to Cost Plus

Add a markup to your total production cost.

  • Pros: Simple to calculate and guarantees profit per sale.

  • Cons: Ignores perceived value and demand.

Method 5: Price to the Package (Combos)

Bundle products together for slightly less than buying them separately.

  • Pros: Increases perceived value and encourages bigger purchases.

  • Cons: Requires you to have multiple products to bundle.

Method 6: Price to Positioning

Set a price that matches the brand image you want to convey.

  • Pros: Attracts the right audience and reinforces your positioning.

  • Cons: You must consistently deliver at the level your price suggests.

Method 7: Price to Value

Charge based on the outcome your product delivers.

  • Pros: Supports premium pricing and aligns cost with impact.

  • Cons: Requires strong marketing to communicate value effectively.

5. Tiered and Medium-Ticket Pricing

You do not have to stick with a single price point. Offer tiers to give people options:

  • Low ticket: Easy entry and quick conversions.

  • Medium ticket ($50 to $200): Balanced affordability and profitability.

  • High ticket ($500+): Premium transformation-focused offers.

3 Tiers of Pricing



Combos and bundles work well here too. Offer your main product with an additional bonus at a slight discount to create the feeling of winning a good deal.

6. The Global Audience Factor

You are not just selling locally. In a global marketplace, a $100 course might be affordable in London but expensive in Lagos. Some creators adjust prices by region or offer occasional global sales to keep products accessible without undercutting their value.

7. Testing and Adjusting Without Fear

Your first price is not permanent. Launch with your best estimate, then track performance. Experiment with different price points, add bonuses, or tweak your sales copy.

Sometimes, a $29 price will outsell the $19 price because it feels more premium. Other times, a slightly lower price will dramatically boost conversions.

8. Confidence is the Real Pricing Secret

If you do not believe your product is worth the price, your buyers will sense it. Confidence comes from knowing your product solves a problem and delivers results.

Keep a folder of positive feedback, testimonials, and success stories. This is your reminder that your product makes a difference. And remember, you do not need everyone to buy from you. You only need the right audience who values what you offer.

9. Avoid the Race to the Bottom

Lowering your prices to beat the competition might win short-term sales, but it can damage your brand in the long run. Instead, focus on value creation and a strong digital product sales funnel.

10. Pricing is a Long Game

As your audience grows, your skills improve, and your reputation builds, you can gradually increase your prices. Each adjustment reflects your growth and the increased value you provide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pricing Digital Products

How do I price my first digital product?


Start by researching similar offers in your niche, then choose a price that’s competitive but leaves room for upselling.

What is value-based pricing?


It’s when you set a price based on the transformation your digital product delivers, not your costs.

Should I use low ticket or high ticket pricing?


It depends on your audience’s buying power and your product’s depth.

How often should I change my prices?


Every 3–6 months, or after major product improvements.

Can I use location-based pricing?


Yes, it’s common for global sellers to adjust prices by market

Pricing your digital product is equal parts strategy, mindset, and experimentation. There is no single magic number, but there are proven approaches that help you find the right fit for your audience and your goals.

Whether you choose a tripwire entry point, a tiered system, or a high-ticket transformation, your pricing should align with the value you deliver, the expectations of your buyers, and your own business needs. Start with clarity, experiment with confidence, and remember that you can always adjust as you learn more about what works.

Avoid undervaluing your work, keep refining your offer, and position your product so buyers see it as the obvious choice.

And when you are ready to host, showcase, and sell your digital products to a global audience, Mainstack is a powerful, creator-friendly platform that makes it simple to turn your hard work into steady income.

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How Affiliate Marketers Are Doubling Sales Without Running Ads (Playbook Inside)
Learn how affiliate marketers are doubling sales without spending on ads. Get the proven strategies and a detailed playbook to boost your affiliate income
Mmesoma Okonkwo
December 2, 2025
10 min read
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Not every sale needs an ad budget. Many successful affiliate marketers are proving this by growing through community engagement and genuine recommendations instead of paid campaigns.

Currently, Affiliates are doubling their commissions by focusing on community-led marketing, creating organic content, and automating emails that build real relationships, and not just clicks.

This guide will show you how to do the same: turn your affiliate hustle into a steady, scalable system that brings consistent results — no ad spend required.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based model where you earn a commission for every sale or action made through your unique link.

In the past, affiliates relied on paid ads to get quick results. But today, many are shifting to community-driven and content-focused strategies as a more sustainable way to grow and sell.

Why Some Affiliates Are Succeeding Without Ads

A bigger ad budget doesn’t always mean better results. Real growth comes from genuine engagement and consistent value.

Lasting success in affiliate marketing usually comes down to three things:

  1. Community trust: People buy from those they trust. That trust builds over time through honesty, transparency, and consistent value. When your audience believes in you, they’ll listen to your recommendations.
  2. Authentic storytelling: Real stories sell better than generic pitches. Sharing your own experiences helps your audience see how a product fits into their lives, creating stronger emotional connections that traditional ads can’t match.
  3. Smart systems: Tools like email lists, landing pages, and tracking dashboards help you stay organized and keep your audience engaged at every stage. When these systems work together, they create a smooth, predictable path from discovery to purchase.

How to Double Affiliate Sales Without Running Ads (The Playbook)

The best affiliate marketers mix organic strategies with paid ads. That balance helps to boost engagements, as well as conversion rates. 

That said, here are some proven ways to double sales without running ads:

1.) Leverage Communities and Niche Forums

Screenshot of a preview to Alma Asinobi's Instagram Travel Community - The Window Seat.
Image Credit: Alma Asinobi’s Travel Community on Instagram

Communities consistently outperform cold ads because it’s built on a foundation of trust which drives conversions better than exposure. 

When people connect around shared interests, product recommendations feel natural. That’s why platforms like Facebook Groups, WhatsApp Channels, Telegram, Instagram, and Discord are goldmines for affiliates. 

You can create or join communities, share helpful insights, and subtly weave in product mentions without sounding salesy. Instead of hard selling, focus on adding value. Post useful tips, explain how products work, and spark conversations. 

Over time, your community starts doing the marketing for you. Members share your recommendations with friends or on social media, expanding your reach without a single naira spent on ads.

These kinds of interactions position affiliates as trusted voices in their niche and ultimately drive consistent sales.

2.) Sell Through Value-Driven Content Marketing

Content marketing is still one of the most dependable ways to drive traffic and sales in affiliate marketing. Writing long-form guides, tutorials, or product comparisons attracts people actively looking for solutions.

Good content naturally positions products as part of the answer. Done well, it brings long-term ROI and passive income without paid promotion.

Many bloggers do this successfully by ranking SEO-optimised articles for niche keywords. For example, The Blog Starter promotes hosting platforms like Bluehost through detailed “how to start a blog” guides that rank well on Google.

Screenshot from The Blog Starter’s ‘How to Start a Blog’ guide, where the author recommends Bluehost for new bloggers, includes a personal endorsement, and links to the hosting platform.
Image Credit: The Blog Starter

3.) Post Organic Content on Social Media

Social media is a must for affiliates looking to build trust and visibility without ads. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn favour authentic, value-first content.

Many affiliates use short videos, tutorials, and user stories to highlight product benefits. The best content focuses on transformation: “How I solved X problem” or “This tool saved me hours.”  The goal is to lead with a relatable story before mentioning the product.

For consistent growth, post 3–4 times per week using formats like:

  • Quick tutorials or “how I use this tool” videos.
  • Before-and-after clips showing results.
  • Mini case studies or walkthroughs tied to personal experiences.

Each post can subtly promote affiliate links while aligning with proven tips and examples that build authority over time. 

4.) Use Email Marketing & Build Email Funnels

Email marketing is a reliable, algorithm-proof way to drive affiliate traffic. It’s personal, trackable, and helps affiliates build direct relationships with their audience.

A simple email funnel works like this:

  • You create an offer, which is a lead magnet (free guide or checklist) to grow your list. 
  • Once they subscribe, send value-driven emails to build trust.
  • Gradually introduce relevant product recommendations as subscribers begin to rely on your insights and trust your affiliate suggestions.

Following these steps positions you as a helpful resource, not just another promoter. For example, Affiliates like Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income use storytelling emails to share tips, case studies, and examples where he recommends products. 

To boost results, segment your list, automate follow-ups, and use storytelling to make recommendations personal. Sections like “tools I use” or “recommended software” help convert cold subscribers.

Creators using Mainstack can add affiliate links to link-in-bio pages or email footers to track clicks and conversions easily.

5.) Webinars, Workshops, and Training Sessions

Hosting live sessions — webinars, mini-workshops, or training — lets affiliates show real value before promoting products. These sessions highlight your expertise and position products as solutions to audience problems.

Because attendees are engaged and actively seeking answers, conversions are often higher than with ads. Boost results by adding affiliate links in slides, follow-up emails, or post-event resources. 

6.) Product Reviews, Case Studies & Tutorials with Personal Experience

Sharing first-hand experience through product reviews, case studies, or tutorials is another way to build trust and drive organic conversions. In this approach, affiliates demonstrate how a product works in real life, highlighting before-and-after results and explaining why it’s effective.

They work well because they combine transparency with value. Embedding affiliate links lets audiences see the product in action, boosting engagement and conversions.

For instance, Poll the People’s AI affiliate case study shows how data-driven storytelling builds credibility, while Growett’s Affiliate Marketing Case Study demonstrates how honest reviews and detailed walkthroughs drive profit.

Screenshot from Growett’s blog post highlighting how a fitness influencer built trust by sharing real product experiences/reviews, showing that authenticity and transparency drive engagement.
Image Credit: Growett Blog

Such content doubles as both education and persuasion, making it a key part of any affiliate marketing strategy.

7.) Upsell & Cross-Sell Within Your Own Products or Content

Upselling encourages customers to buy a premium or upgraded version of what they already want, while cross-selling suggests complementary products that add value. Both work best when they feel like a natural next step.

For example, if someone buys your “Beginner’s Guide to Freelancing,” you could upsell them a “Pro Freelancer Toolkit” with templates and pitch decks. Or, if you teach personal finance, offer customizable budget or investment templates as an upsell.

Adding these offers at the end of a lesson or during checkout not only boosts revenue. It helps your audience take the next step in their journey with you.

8.) Use In-Content Affiliate Links Smartly

Affiliate links work best when they appear naturally within valuable content, as opposed to being crammed into sidebars or footers. Place them inside paragraphs that discuss related topics, tools, or strategies..

You can also boost conversions by updating old posts. For example, add a quick note like, “Updated for 2025 — here are my go-to tools for creators this year,” and include your affiliate links.

Screenshot of a blog post titled ‘The Tools I Use’ by Nick Janetakis, showing a list of recommended tools and software he personally uses for development and productivity.
Image Credit: Nick Janetaki’s Blog

This way, you earn from content you’ve already written while keeping it fresh and useful for readers.

9.) Build Partnerships and Guest Post on Relevant Platforms

Guest posting is a great way to reach new audiences without paid ads. 

Writing for established blogs in your niche lets you showcase your expertise and subtly promote affiliate products. This could either be through direct links or by linking back to your own content with affiliate recommendations.

10.) Leverage Established Platforms (e.g. YouTube, Medium)

Publishing content on platforms like YouTube and Medium is one of the best ways to grow your reach without ads. Tutorials, case studies, and in-depth articles with affiliate links attract high-intent audiences actively looking for solutions. Video proof also boosts credibility and conversions since people can see real results.

Listing affiliate products on general marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace isn’t ideal; it can violate their affiliate program policies. Instead, showcase your offers on your own landing page or link-in-bio setup.

Platforms like Mainstack make this easy by letting you organise products, track clicks, and automate promotions while staying compliant. This keeps your setup transparent, policy-safe, and professional — all in one place

11.) Convert “Free” Users Into Buyers Via Freemium or Lead Magnet

A sustainable affiliate strategy starts with offering something free that leads naturally to a paid upgrade. This could be a freemium tool, a limited-access mini course, or a downloadable template with advanced versions behind a paywall. 

When the free version delivers enough value, people are more likely to explore the premium option, and if that upgrade includes affiliate products or tools, conversions happen organically.

Screenshot of Mainstack’s Link-in-bio tool pricing plans showing the Free Forever, Pro, and Plus tiers, illustrating how users can start with a free plan and later upgrade to paid versions for additional features.

This works because the audience has already seen value before being asked to buy. It’s a low-pressure way to build trust, nurture interest, and gradually convert free users into paying customers.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Organic Affiliate Sales

Many affiliates hold themselves back with habits that hurt trust and credibility. The goal isn’t simply to “promote” a product; to show genuine value and earn attention. When that balance is off, sales drop. Here are common mistakes

  1. Being overly salesy in posts: Constantly pitching products without context makes people tune out. Focus on storytelling, show results, and weave recommendations naturally into valuable content.
  2. Not building an email list: Relying only on social media means you’re at the mercy of algorithms. Build a mailing list so you can reach your audience directly and share affiliate content consistently
  3. Neglecting community engagement: Dropping links without joining conversations makes you look disconnected. Engage, answer questions, and offer help as it builds trust and credibility
  4. Ignoring analytics and audience feedback: Analytics show what drives clicks and conversions. Ignoring that means you’re guessing instead of improving.
  5. Promoting too many random products: Recommending unrelated items confuses your audience and weakens your authority. Stick to products that align with your niche so your audience sees you as a trusted source, not just another promoter.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing works best when it’s grounded in strategy, authenticity, and consistent effort. By applying the methods outlined in this affiliate marketing playbook, you can turn your promotions into steady income streams. 

If you want to get started with affiliate marketing, you can sign up on Mainstack at zero cost to launch and manage your offers easily.

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The 9 Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms in Nigeria (2025 Reviews & Rankings)
Discover the 9 best affiliate marketing platforms in Nigeria for 2025. Compare commissions, products, and features to choose the right platform for earning
Mainstack Editorial Team
December 2, 2025
10 min read
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Since affiliate marketing became popular, several Nigerians have adopted it as a way to make an income online. With so much opportunity in this industry, it’s no surprise that dozens of affiliate marketing platforms have popped up, with each promising several benefits.

But here’s the truth: 

Choosing the right affiliate marketing platform in Nigeria is confusing. It’s also where most people get stuck. Some platforms exaggerate earnings. Others have poor product quality or delayed payment. And wasting time on testing the wrong affiliate platform can slow down your entire journey.

This article solves that problem. We reviewed and ranked the 9 best affiliate marketing platforms in Nigeria for 2025 based on trust, commission rates, product quality, payout speed, and ease of use. 

What is Affiliate Marketing? 

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based business online where you earn a commission every time a customer buys a product (or service) through your link. 

It’s as simple as, you find existing products (or service), promote it to an audience, and get paid for every successful sale you influence. 

What is an Affiliate Platform?

An affiliate platform is a marketplace that connects people (sometimes called merchants) with existing products (or service) and affiliates who can promote the product. The platform acts as a middle man and provides everything both sides need including unique affiliate links, tracking tools, dashboard to monitor everything and payout details.

What Makes a Great Affiliate Platform

To find the best affiliate platforms, it helps to know what to look for. A good affiliate program typically includes:

  • Transparent and fair commissions: Good affiliate platforms have no hidden costs and prioritize offer transparency behind payment-related fees or platform fees.
  • Payout Methods:  Affiliates and merchants should be able to withdraw earnings frequently without delays (at least a 24-hour payout).
  • Ease of Use & Tracking: The platform must provide clear tracking and reporting tools so you can track commissions and measure performance. 
  • Product/Service Relevance: Good affiliate platforms have a diverse product catalog that fits your audience’s needs and price levels.
  • Support and Community: Alongside tools, these platforms must also come with a community of marketers and good customer service.

How do Affiliate platforms work?

Affiliate programs work in a pretty simple way. You sign up on the website as an affiliate, and get access to a marketplace of products to promote. Take note that some platforms are free while others might require a small fee, but once you’re in, you get access to the dashboard.

Inside the dashboard, you’ll get access to a list of products, which are often grouped by categories. When you find a product that matches your niche and commission requirements, the platform generates a special tracking link for you to start promoting the product.

The 9 Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms in Nigeria (2025 Reviewed & Ranked List)

1.) Mainstack

Mainstack’s affiliate marketplace is a popular affiliate marketing platform with thousands of affiliates and a wide range of digital products available for promotion. It’s built on Mainstack’s powerful e-commerce tools.

Mainstack is tailored to serve a global market. This means anyone, anywhere, can register on the platform without worrying about currency barriers or payout restrictions. 

Creating a Mainstack account and joining the marketplace as an affiliate is completely free. There’s no restrictions, and you can set up your affiliate account in less than 10-minutes. Unlike traditional affiliate programs that only gives you links, Mainstack affiliates get full access to the entire Mainstack toolset, including analytics, product pages, checkout tools etc.

On the platform, you get access to primarily digital products in different niches, including courses, coaching programs, event tickets etc, in different niches. Commissions are set by the merchant (and not the platform) and affiliates can see commissions before choosing the product.

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Payments are processed in 24-hours
  • Payment Method: Debit cards, Bank transfer or Paypal (mulit-currency options available)
  • Platform Support: Yes

2.) Jumia

Jumia’s affiliate program gives you a chance to earn commissions by promoting e-commerce products. This ranges from electronics, fashion and even household items that can be found on Jumia.

The product variety and market is one of the best features of the Jumia affiliate market place. That, plus, there’s a wide audience across Africa, which means affiliates have little restrictions even when promoting physical products.

Signing up for the Jumia Affiliate Program is free. There is no entry fee, and registration can be done directly, usually via their affiliate/KOL registration portal. Once approved, you receive unique affiliate links and access to promotional materials (banners, text links, etc.) to start promoting your offer.

Payment commission on Jumia varies by category, by can be up to 11%. For example, electronics may have lower percentages, while fashion or other niches may offer higher. 

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Monthly payout cycle; commissions from sales you generate are paid after verification when you hit the minimum threshold.
  • Payment Method: Direct bank transfer
  • Platform Support: Yes

3.) Truehost Cloud

Truehost Cloud is a regional hosting provider that provides web hosting with dedicated servers to clients in Nigeria and Africa. The affiliate program allows you to earn commissions by promoting web hosting and domain registration services. This includes hosting packages, domain names, SSL certificates, and other web services offered on Truehost Cloud.

Signing up for the Truehost Cloud Affiliate Program is free. There is no entry fee, and once approved, affiliates receive unique referral links and access to promotional materials like banners, text links, and landing pages to start promoting immediately.

Commission rates on Truehost Cloud are competitive, usually ranging between 20% to 50% per sale, depending on the product and package sold. Affiliates earn on both one-time purchases and recurring hosting subscriptions, giving an opportunity for ongoing income.

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Monthly payout cycle; commissions from sales you generate are paid after verification when you hit the minimum threshold.
  • Payment Method: Direct bank transfer or other local payment options supported by Truehost Cloud.
  • Platform Support: Yes, affiliates have access to dashboards, tracking tools, and support to optimize promotions.

4.) Travelstart

If you’re in the travel space, then Travelstart is a great way to earn extra income as an affiliate.

Travelstart’s affiliate program allows you to earn commissions by promoting flights, hotels, and travel packages across Africa and beyond. Affiliates can earn by referring customers who book flights, hotels, or complete travel deals through Travelstart’s platform. The product variety and market is one of the standout features of Travelstart’s affiliate program.

Signing up for the Travelstart Affiliate Program is free. There is no entry fee, and once approved, affiliates receive unique referral links and access to promotional tools such as banners, text links, and landing pages to help start promoting right away.

Commission rates on Travelstart vary depending on the service promoted. For example, flights may have different commission rates compared to hotel bookings. Rates are generally competitive within the travel affiliate space, allowing affiliates to earn recurring or one-time commissions depending on the customer’s booking behavior.

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Monthly payout cycle
  • Payment Method: Direct bank transfer or other supported local payment methods.
  • Platform Support: Yes

5.) Oraimo

Oraimo is a brand known for mobile accessories and smart electronics like power banks, earbuds, fast chargers, and smart accessories. In Nigeria and several other countries they run an affiliate system called the Commission Affiliate Program and also a Points Affiliate Program. 

The commission affiliate program offers cash benefits to marketers who share their unique affiliate link online as well as recruit other affiliate marketers with cash rewards. The points affiliate program however, rewards the marketers with points that can be used to get discounts on purchases made via the Oraimo shop. 

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Payments are made based on request and take 7-10 working days to be in effect
  • Payment Method: Direct bank transfer
  • Platform Support: Yes

6.) Konga

Konga is another leading Nigerian marketplace and remains widely used. Their platform offers a wide range of products with a catalog that covers many categories.

The Konga affiliate program supports affiliates with product links, banners, and commission reports. In recent times, Konga has continued to refine its offering to be competitive with other retailers. Affiliates who already write product reviews, run comparison sites, or manage coupon communities will find this program useful. Strong local logistics and product choices. Works well for price comparison and product review sites.

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Payments are made monthly based on request
  • Payment Method: Direct bank transfer
  • Platform Support: Yes

7.) Shopify

Shopify is one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms, trusted by millions of entrepreneurs, creators and businesses to build, manage and scale online stores. It provides an all-in-one system for selling products, managing inventory, processing payments and marketing to customers globally.

Affiliates earn commissions on the platform by referring new merchants to Shopify through unique referral links. The platform also equips affiliates to tracking dashboards, promotional materials, and dedicated affiliate support to help improve performance.

Affiliate Platform Features

  • Payment Plan: Payouts are processed twice a month
  • Payment Method: Payments are made via PayPal in USD or a direct deposit to your local bank
  • Platform Support: Yes 

8.) Bet9ja

Bet9ja is Nigeria’s major sports betting company that includes an affiliate program where you get a commission from referring players. 

You will receive commission based on player activity (stakes, net revenue) via your affiliate/referral link.The commission rate can be up to 20% (depending on your referral activity / traffic). The platform offers the provision of marketing tools such as banners, tracking links, affiliate dashboard.

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Payments are made monthly based on request
  • Payment Method: via Bank transfer (to a Nigerian account) or Direct deposit
  • Platform Support: Yes

9.) Expertnaire

                                         Source: Expertnaire

Expertnaire is a marketplace for digital courses, bootcamps, and information products which are created by vendors and made available for sale through their platform. 

Their affiliate program however comes with a catch, to sign up, a prospective affiliate marketer needs to pay a sum of #10,000 naira every year as a sign–up fee. But their commission rates are generous and can go as high up as 75% and their platform is optimized for local payments and conversions. 

Affiliate platform features

  • Payment Plan: Payments are made monthly based on request
  • Payment Method: via Bank transfer (to a Nigerian account) or Direct deposit
  • Platform Support: Yes

Affiliate Marketing Platform FAQ

  • Q: What Affiliate network is best for beginners?
  • A: Mainstack’s affiliate network is beginner-friendly because they’re easy to join and have clear tracking tools.
  • Q: What are the best affiliate marketing platforms in Nigeria?
  • A: Platforms like Mainstack and Jumia are top choices for Nigerians.
  • Q: Which affiliate program pays the highest commissions?
    A: Expertnaire offers commissions up to 75%
  • Are affiliate platforms legit?
    A:Yes, they are legit
  • Q:How do I track my clicks, sales, and commissions?
    A: Most platforms come with a dashboard that give their marketers a transparent view of clicks and sales earned
  • Q: Can I promote my Affiliate links on WhatsApp, TikTok, or Instagram without running ads?
    A: Yes, you can promote your links without running ads

Start earning with affiliate platforms

The Affiliate marketing industry in Nigeria rewards focus and relevance which is why in order to get meaningful results, you need to be consistent. Keep up with the latest trends in the affiliate environment and choose a platform that fits your content style. Promote products you genuinely believe in, and track your performance to see what works. Every click and conversion comes easier when your recommendations feel authentic.

If you want to get started promoting Affiliate products, register on Mainstack's Affiliate marketplace to start promoting your product.

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How to Use Digital Products to Generate High-Quality Leads
Learn how to generate leads using digital products like ebooks, webinars, quizzes, templates, and courses. Discover strategies, tools, & examples to build
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
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If you’ve ever downloaded a free guide, checklist, or e-book from a business, you’ve experienced a digital product used as a lead magnet.  A digital product is any non-physical resource like templates, courses, or toolkits, that can be created once and shared endlessly online.

In marketing, a digital product can be used as a lead magnet and offered to potential customers to turn them into leads. By giving away something valuable, you draw people to your business, build trust, and position yourself as an authority in your field.

In this article, we’ll cover proven strategies, tools, and examples to help you create digital products that generate leads and grow your audience.

Why Digital Products Work for Lead Generation

If you're wondering how to create a digital product, here's a guide on how to turn your own skills into a digital product

Digital products work great for lead generation because they help to build trust with the audience. When you give them something that’s helpful for free, they are bound to always come back for more, especially if your resources were beneficial to them.

Types of Digital Products for Lead Generation

Here are digital products that you can use for lead generation:

Ebooks and Guides

Ebooks and guides give your audience an in-depth look at topics they care about while building your credibility. For example, a cookbook of easy recipes for single men delivers practical value while positioning you as an authority. 

Brands like Hubspot use Ebooks as a lead magnet to capture email addresses, build its subscriber base, and nurture potential customers as they move through the sales funnel.

Source: Hubspot

Checklists, Templates, and Toolkits

These are practical tools potential customers can use immediately. They tend to convert well because they offer immediate value and convert well  .For example, a design template for graphic designers offers instant utility. 

Shopify offers a free Business Plan Template to help new entrepreneurs get started. The value is clear: solve a common problem and, in return, they capture leads through sign-ups.

Source: Shopify

Webinars and Virtual Events

These are live or recorded sessions you can hold to share your knowledge on what you know. By doing this, you are setting yourself as an expert in your field and signaling to your potential customers you have more knowledge to share. 

Exit Five, for example, uses virtual events as lead magnets for potential customers. They deliver clear value and use urgency to encourage sign-ups. This results in more leads captured and stronger authority with their audience.

Mini-Courses

Short courses delivered via email or video help people solve a problem in several steps.

Semrush offers free mini-courses like its SEO Toolkit Crash Course to attract and educate marketers. These short lessons provide quick wins, build trust, and introduce users to Semrush’s tools, which makes them an effective lead magnet

Free Trials or Samples

If you have a software product, a trial gives people direct experience. If you don’t, sample lessons (for courses) or partial templates work.

Also note that each type of digital product serves different parts of the lead generation funnel. For example, checklists or templates are great for bringing awareness while webinars or mini courses are stronger for consideration and nurturing.

Step-by-Step Method: How to Create Your Digital Product for Lead Generation

Take these following steps in creating your digital product for lead generation

Step 1: Identify Your Audience and Their Pain Points

The first step to creating a digital product is defining your target audience. Ask yourself: Who are they? What do they need? What problems are they finding difficult and how can you help them to solve those problems?

In order to execute this, you need to research your audience to find out what it is they are looking for. To make your work more efficient, there are a number of tools you can use to research on your target audience and their problems:

Google Analytics: This is a free tool that offers more insights into ongoing trends and searches based on website traffic, user behaviour and demographics

AnswerThePublic: This tool helps you to find out questions people often ask concerning a topic. This can be used when looking for content ideas to create to draw your target audience to your product.

BuzzSumo: BuzzSumo's research and analysis tool offers advanced content insights, trending topic identification, social mention monitoring, and content engagement measurement.

After identifying those problems, research their challenges and needs. For example: If your audience are beginners in graphic design, their pain point would probably be trying to understand the ”Basics of Graphic Design”

Step 2: Choose the Right Digital Product Type

Next, match the product type to each stage in your customer’s journey:

  • Awareness stage → Simple resources (checklists, infographics)
  • Interest stage →  quick guides(how-to’s)
  • Consideration stage → In-depth resources (ebooks, webinars, case studies)
  • Decision stage → Hands-on value (free trials, mini-courses, templates)

Step 3: Define the Core Value Proposition

Define what value your product has to offer to your audience. By now, you understand your audience and their painpoint. Next step is defining how you want your product to stand out. Answer the question: “What problem does this solve?” Keep it specific and actionable so it’s not too broad or vague to confuse your audience. An example would be naming your design guide” Principles of Graphic design” instead of “A Beginner’s Guide to Graphic design”

Step 4: Create and Design the Product

Once your value prop is defined, the next step is to create a copy for the digital product. Start with an outline to understand what you’re writing. Ensure the copy written is helpful, insightful and easy to understand. 

Remember to use a compelling title and a clear call-to-action (CTA). Make titles benefit-driven (e.g., “The Ultimate Checklist to Double Your Leads in 30 Days”) and a strong CTA on landing page and promotions (e.g., “Get Instant Access,” “Download Free Today”)

Once the writing is complete, design around the copy. Keep content visually appealing, since strong design helps convert customers. Use tools like Canva, Figma, or Google Docs to create polished assets.

Step 5: Place and Promote Your Digital Product

Once your digital product is complete, the next step is promoting what you have. From your research, you should have an idea of where your audience hangs out and how to reach them.

Like Hubspot, you could place the digital product on your blog page or Homepage to collect emails from leads organically. Or you could also run paid ads on social media to drive more attention and reach a bigger audience.

Source: Hubspot

To place and store your products digitally, you can make use of all-in-one tools such as Mainstack. It allows its users to create storefronts to sell digital products to their customers, a link-in-bio feature that allows intrigued customers to find all links in one place and an email marketing tool to automate delivery to clients who request for their products.  

Step 6: Nurture and Convert Leads

Attracting a new lead is just the beginning of the relationship. To turn that interest into revenue, you need to nurture and guide prospects toward a purchase. The most effective way to do this is through automated follow-up email sequences

For example, if someone downloads a Social media growth guide, they should receive a tailored series of emails with tips, case studies, and free insights on social media growth before being introduced to a paid service or course.

Use lead nurturing emails to share testimonials, educate prospects or announce new products or features. Here's an example of an educational lead nurturing email from Busuu.

Best Practices for Quality Lead Generation

Creating your digital product is one part of the equation, but you also need to ensure they drive high-quality leads and that requires a strategy. Here are some proven best practices:

  • Optimize landing pages: Keep them clean, with one clear call-to-action (CTA), compelling copy, and minimal form listings to avoid chasing your potential customers.

  • Segment and tag your leads properly: Use your email platform to tag your leads based on what they opted in for (e.g., “downloaded guide,” “signed up for webinar”). This allows for more relevant follow-up campaigns.

  • Automate nurturing: Use email sequences to educate, engage, and warm up leads before introducing a paid product. Consistency is what builds trust.

  • Track key metrics: Monitor opt-in rates, conversion rates, and engagement. If leads are downloading but not engaging, revisit your product value or follow-up sequence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best intentions, creators often stumble when building lead generation funnels. To stay on the right track, you need to avoid:

  • Offering low-value freebies that don’t solve a real problem
  • Asking for too much information on the signup form too early
  • Confusing offers with the audience’s actual pain points
  • Creating vague, generic, or unfocused digital products
  • Using overly long or complicated forms
  • Skipping essential follow-up sequences after the opt-in

To get results, identify your target audience, match them with the right product, design it well, promote it, and follow up consistently. This is how you attract quality leads. You need to also remember to be patient with the process, not everyone will convert immediately and that’s okay. By staying consistent and providing real value, you build trust, and your audience becomes far more likely to invest in your premium products. Follow this guide to know how to price your digital products.

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How to Run Facebook Ads: Step-by-Step Tutorial + Free Checklist
Learn how to run Facebook ads in 2025 with this complete step-by-step guide. Master ad targeting, budgeting, placements, and creative design.
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
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Selling products online is more competitive than ever, and Facebook remains one of the most effective platforms to reach your audience. With billions of active users and advanced targeting options, Facebook ads enable creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses to showcase their business offerings directly to the people most likely to buy. 

While scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, you’ve probably noticed ads popping up between posts, Stories, or Reels. But those aren’t random; they’re targeted campaigns businesses use to reach people just like you. And the reason they’re everywhere is simple: Facebook ads improve reach.

Facebook, through the Meta Ads Manager, gives businesses of all sizes the ability to target the right audience with precision. Whether you aim to drive traffic, boost sales, or generate leads, you can create a campaign tailored to your specific goals.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through exactly how to run Facebook ads in 2025, from setup to monitoring, so you can launch campaigns that convert.

What Are Facebook Ads?

Facebook ads are paid promotions that businesses create to reach specific audiences across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network— Meta’s group of partner apps and websites. This means your ads aren’t limited to Meta platforms alone; they can also appear in mobile apps or news sites outside of Facebook that are part of Meta’s advertising network.

Unlike regular posts, which only reach your followers (and maybe a few friends through shares), ads are designed to target people based on their demographics, interests, and behavior, giving you a much wider and more precise reach.

Boosted Posts vs. Facebook Ad Campaigns

It’s important to understand the difference between a boosted post and a full Facebook ad campaign, because while they may look similar, they serve very different purposes:

Boosted Post

This is achieved when you take an existing post from your page and pay Meta to show it to a larger audience. It’s a quick and simple way to increase visibility, but it offers limited control over who sees the post, where it appears, and what specific outcome you’re optimizing for.

Facebook Ad Campaign (via Ads Manager)

This gives you full control over your advertising strategy. With a Facebook ad campaign, you can choose exactly what you want to achieve (like driving sales, getting leads, or boosting website traffic), define your audience in detail, set your budget and schedule, decide where your ads will appear, and even test multiple versions of the same ad to see which performs best. This flexibility makes Ads Manager the recommended option for running serious, goal-driven campaigns.

Ultimately, whether you’re running a single ad or a full campaign, everything is managed through Meta Ads Manager, the centralized hub where all ads are created, managed, and optimized. It’s also a tool you’ll need to master to get consistent results. Now that you know what Facebook ads are, it’s important to understand why they are powerful tools for growing your business.

Benefits of Advertising Your Business on Facebook

Advertising on Facebook offers clear advantages for businesses of any size, and three of the most important are:

  • Precise targeting: Meta’s ad tools let you reach people based on age, location, interests, behaviors, or even custom lists. This makes it easier to connect with the right audience instead of wasting spend on those unlikely to care about your offer.
  • Flexible budgets with measurable results. You can start with a small daily budget, test different ads to see which ones perform better, and then increase your budget on the ads that bring the best results. Ads Manager also makes tracking your Facebook ads budget simple by showing exactly what you’re spending and what you’re getting in return in real time.
  • Multiple ad formats to match your goals. Facebook ads can appear as videos, single images, or carousels. You can also run ads that include a simple form, where people quickly share their name or email without leaving Facebook. This way, you get different tools to either grab attention, showcase products, or collect customer details depending on what matters most for your business.

How to Run Ads on Facebook Ads (Step-by-step)

Getting started with Facebook ads might feel overwhelming at first, but Meta Ads Manager makes the process a lot more structured. By following a step-by-step approach, you can go from setting up your account to launching your first ad without missing anything important. Here’s a simple breakdown of how to run ads on Facebook.

Step 1: Set Up Meta Business & Ads Manager

Screenshot of the 2025 Meta Ads Manager dashboard showing campaign overview, and navigation menu in the layout.

Before you can create digital product ads, you need the right setup.

1. Create a Meta Business Manager Account

  • Go to business.facebook.com.
  • Sign in with your Facebook account and set up a free Meta Business Manager account.
  • This gives you professional tools to manage ads, pages, and assets in one place.

2. Create a Facebook Business Page
Ads cannot be run from personal profiles. You’ll need a business page.

  • Go to your Facebook homepage, click Pages, and create one if you don’t have one already.
  • Choose a business name, category (e.g., “Education” for digital courses), and complete your page details.

3. Add Payment Information

  • In Business Manager, navigate to Business Settings > Payments.
  • Add your credit card, PayPal, or other payment method.

Step 2: Create Your Campaign in Ads Manager

Once your foundation is ready, it’s time to build your campaign.

1. Go to Ads Manager

  • Inside Business Manager, click All Tools > Ads Manager.
  • This is the hub for creating, managing, and monitoring ads.

2. Click “+ Create”

  • Hit the green + Create button to start a new campaign.

Step 3: Choose Your Objective

Screenshot of Meta Ads Manager displaying the list of campaign objectives including Awareness, Traffic, Engagement, Leads, App Promotion, and Sales.

When creating a campaign in Meta Ads Manager, the first step is choosing your advertising objective which is the main thing you want your ad to achieve. Meta currently offers six objectives:

Awareness – Best for getting your brand in front of as many people as possible. Useful if you’re just starting out or launching something new.

Traffic – Drives people to a website, landing page, or app. Helpful if you want more visits to your online store or product page.

Engagement – Encourages actions like likes, comments, shares, or event responses, making it easier to build a community around your brand.

Leads – Collects contact details (like emails or phone numbers) directly through Facebook forms or your own landing page.

App Promotion – Helps you get more people to download or use your mobile app.

Sales – Optimises your ads to drive actual purchases, either on your website, in your app, or directly through Facebook and Instagram Shops. Meta does this by showing your ads to people most likely to buy based on their past activity, e.g., clicking “add to cart” or completing a purchase. You can also connect your product catalogue so your ads automatically display items in stock, making it easier for customers to shop directly.

Step 4: Name Your Campaign

Screenshot highlighting the ‘Name Your Campaign’ field in Meta Ads Manager with an arrow pointing to the text box where users enter the campaign name.

Give your campaign a clear, descriptive name so you can easily identify it later. A good rule of thumb is to include the product, audience, and goal in the name. For example: “Tropical Granola – Abuja – Traffic” or “Ebook Launch – US – Sales.” This makes it easier to stay organised, especially once you start running multiple campaigns at the same time.

Step 5: Set Your Budget & Schedule

Screenshot of Meta Ads Manager showing the Budgets section, including campaign budget and ad set budget, with daily and lifetime budget options visible. An arrow points to the ‘Budgets’ heading at the top of the section.

Your budget decides how much you want to spend on your ads, while your schedule controls when your ads run. In Meta Ads Manager, you’ll see two main types of budgets:

  1. Daily budget – This is how much you want to spend per day. For example, setting ₦2,500/day for 7 days means Meta will try to spend around ₦2,500 each day while getting you the best results possible.
  2. Lifetime budget – This is the total amount you want to spend over the entire campaign. For example, if you set a lifetime budget of ₦15,000 for 7 days, Meta will spread that amount across the week, sometimes spending more on one day and less on another, depending on performance.

Pro-tips for Cost Control:

  • Set a bid cap – A bid cap lets you tell Meta the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for a result (like a click or a lead). This ensures you don’t waste money on overly expensive results.
  • Start small, then increase – Begin with a modest daily spend and raise it only if the ad is performing well.
  • Use a clear schedule – Don’t run ads endlessly. Set start and end dates so your budget doesn’t drain without you noticing.
  • Take Advantage of the Cost per Result Goal Setting - This setting tells Meta the maximum you’re willing to pay for the outcome you want. For example, if your goal is sales, you could set a limit like “Don’t spend more than ₦1,000 to get one purchase.” If your goal is awareness, you might say, “Keep the cost of reaching 1,000 people under ₦500.”

This way, Meta runs your ads but won’t go beyond the budget you’ve set for each result, helping you stay in control of your spending.

The caveat here, however, is that if your target cost is set unrealistically low, Meta may struggle to deliver your ads, or you may get fewer results. So it’s best used when you already have some data on what a “reasonable” cost per result looks like for your business.

  • ROAS Goal (Return on Ad Spend) – This is a more advanced option. Instead of focusing on cost per action, you’re asking Meta to prioritise sales that give you a specific return. For example, if you set a ROAS goal of 3.0, you’re telling Meta, “Only spend my budget on people who are likely to generate at least ₦3,000 in sales for every ₦1,000 I spend.”

Note: This works best if you’ve set up the Meta Pixel or Conversions API so Meta can track actual purchases.

Together, these options help you avoid overspending and make sure your money is going toward results that matter most to your business.

Step 6: Choose Your Target Audience 

Screenshot of Meta Ads Manager showing the Audience Targeting section. The Custom Audience option is visible, along with manual targeting settings for age, gender, and detailed targeting.

This is where you tell Meta exactly who should see your ads. Instead of showing your ad to everyone, you can narrow it down to people who are most likely to buy from you. 

With Meta Ads Manager, you have three main options:

  1. Core Audiences – With core audiences, you set the filters yourself. This means you tell Meta exactly the kind of people you want your ad to reach. Instead of showing your ad to just anyone, you narrow it down based on details such as age, gender, location, language, or interests. 
  2. Custom Audiences – Custom audiences let you reach people who already have a connection with your business. This could be past customers whose emails you upload into Meta Ads Manager, visitors who came to your website but didn’t complete a purchase, or even people who interacted with your Instagram or Facebook content. Instead of starting fresh with strangers, you’re reminding people who already know your brand to come back and take the next step, which usually makes them easier to convert.
  3. Lookalike Audiences – Once you have a Custom Audience, Meta can find new people who share similar traits. For example, if your best customers are young professionals in Lagos, Meta can look for more people just like them in Nigeria.

While targeting with Meta Ads Manager makes it easier to reach the right people, recent privacy changes, especially Apple’s iOS updates, have made it harder to track every action users take across apps and websites. This means targeting isn’t always perfect, but it still gives you a more direct connection to your audience. The key is to test different audience types and focus on the ones that deliver the best results for your business.

Step 7: Select Ad Placements

Placements are the different spots where your ad can show up across Meta’s platforms. This could be in the Facebook News Feed, Instagram Stories, Reels, Messenger, or even inside partner apps and websites. By default, Meta recommends Advantage+ Placements, which automatically shows your ad in multiple places and then prioritises the ones that perform best.

For beginners, this is often the easiest option because Meta does the testing for you. However, if you want more control, you can manually choose placements, for example, focusing only on Instagram Reels if your audience skews younger, or Messenger if you want a more personal approach.

Screenshot of the Ad Placements section in Meta Ads Manager with an arrow pointing at ‘Show More Settings’ for manually selection of ad placements.

Each placement has its strengths:

  • Feed: Ads appear in the main scrolling section of Facebook or Instagram and are great for longer captions, links, and detailed storytelling.
  • Stories: These are full-screen, vertical ads that stay up for 24 hours. They work best for quick, eye-catching visuals because they blend naturally into how people already swipe through Stories.
  • Reels: These ads appear as short-form video content when people scroll from one Reel to the next on Instagram or Facebook. They look and feel like regular Reels, except they’re sponsored, so they blend naturally into the viewing experience. This makes them a good way to reach people while they’re actively browsing short videos and open to discovering something new.
  • Messenger: Ads placed in the Messenger app, where conversations happen. Best suited for businesses that want a more personal approach or direct engagement.

The real advantage of placements is flexibility: you can either let Meta spread your ad widely and optimise for results, or zero in on the exact spots where your audience is most active.

Step 8: Design Your Facebook Ad Creative

Screenshot of the ad creative setup screen in Meta Ads Manager,with the "Set up Creative" option toggled down, showing fields for image and video ads.

An ad creative, simply put, is the actual content of your ad. That is, the picture, video, headline, and caption people will see when your ad shows up on their Facebook or Instagram feed. A strong creative can be the difference between someone scrolling past or stopping to pay attention.

To make yours effective, let’s break it down into the key parts so you know exactly what to focus on.

Select Ad Format

  • Single Image – Great for a single product.
  • Video – Best for demos or storytelling.
  • Carousel – Multiple images, perfect for bundles or multiple products.
Screenshot illustrating different ad creative formats in Meta Ads Manager, including single image, video, and carousel options.

Visuals

  • Use high-quality images or videos.
  • Showcase the product clearly (e.g., mockups of your eBook, a demo of your software).

Copywriting Tips

  • Primary Text: Keep it short, benefit-driven, and engaging.
  • Headline: Bold and attention-grabbing.
  • Description: Extra context if needed.

Call-to-Action (CTA)

  • Examples: “Shop Now,” “Download,” “Get Started,” “Learn More.”
  • Always link directly to your product page or sales funnel.

 Best Practices for High-Performing Facebook Ad Creatives

  • Use bold visuals: Bright colours, high contrast, and eye-catching images or videos grab attention quickly.
  • Keep it short: Captions should be concise and to the point. Aim for one clear message.
  • Add a clear CTA (Call-to-Action): Examples include “Shop Now,” “Sign Up,” “Learn More.” Don’t assume people will know what to do.
  • Follow the 20% text rule: Facebook performs best when text on your image is minimal — less than 20% of the total space.
  • Match creative to your goal: If you’re selling, show the product in use. If you’re building awareness, focus on brand storytelling.

Step 9: Review and  Publish

Before you hit “Publish,” it’s important to double-check your ad. Meta has strict ad policies, and if your ad doesn’t follow the rules, it can be rejected or even get your account flagged.

Things to check before publishing:

  • Ad content: Avoid misleading claims, exaggerated promises, or offensive language.
  • Images and videos: Don’t use shocking visuals or content that suggests unrealistic results.
  • Targeting: Make sure your audience choices don’t discriminate based on personal traits like race, religion, or health conditions.
  • Links: Test that your link works and takes people exactly where you promise in the ad.

Common reasons ads get rejected:

  • Promoting restricted or illegal items 
  • Adult content 
  • Poor landing pages

Once everything looks good, click Publish. Meta will then review your ad, which usually takes a few minutes to 24 hours. If approved, your ad will go live and start delivering to your chosen audience.

Step  10: Monitor & Optimise Performance

In Ads Manager, track key metrics to understand how your campaigns are performing:

  • Click Through Rate (CTR): This measures the percentage of people who saw your ad and actually clicked on it. A higher CTR usually means your ad copy, creative, or targeting is resonating with your audience.
  • Cost Per Click (CPC): This tells you how much you are paying on average for each click on your ad. Lower CPC means you are driving traffic more cost-effectively.
  • Conversions and Sales: This tracks how many people took a desired action after clicking your ad, such as signing up, purchasing, or downloading. It shows the real business impact of your campaigns.
  • Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Compares how much money you made from your ads versus how much you spent. If you spent ₦10,000 and earned ₦40,000 in sales, your ROAS is 4x.

Optimize Ads

  • Test different versions of your ad (A/B testing): Try running two or more versions of the same ad with slight differences. For example, a different image, headline, or CTA. This helps you figure out what your audience responds to best.
Screenshot of the A/B Testing section in Meta Ads Manager showing the three setup questions: "What would you like to test?" "How many days would you like it to run?" and "How would you like to compare performance?"
  • Adjust your audience if results are weak.
  • Increase budget on winning ads, pause underperforming ones.

Running Facebook ads in 2025 is only part of the journey. Turning clicks into sales or meaningful engagement requires the right destination for your audience. With Mainstack, you can create tailored landing pages or online storefronts that act as the perfect extension of your ad campaigns. Every click from your Facebook ad can lead to pages specifically designed to showcase your products, collect leads, or drive purchases directly. 

By pairing the precise targeting of Facebook Ads with Mainstack’s easy-to-use tools, you create a system where ads, pages, and customer actions work together, making it easier to track results, optimise campaigns, and grow your business efficiently.

Start building pages that connect directly to your ads today and see how a well-designed destination can turn impressions into measurable growth.

Facebook Ads Campaign Checklist

At this point, you’ve learned how to set up, target, and create effective Facebook ads and how to ensure every click leads to a page that converts impressions to sales. But, to make it even easier, we’ve put together a step-by-step checklist you can follow every time you run a campaign.

Step 1: Set Up Meta Business & Ads Manager

Step 2: Create Your Campaign in Ads Manager

Step 3: Choose Your Objective

Step 4: Name Your Campaign

Step 5: Set Your Budget & Schedule

Step 6: Choose Your Target Audience 

Step 7: Select Ad Placements

Step 8: Design Your Facebook Ad Creative

Step 9: Review and Publish

Step 10: Monitor & Optimise Performance

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How-Tos
How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft Online
Protect your data with smart online security tips. Learn how to avoid identity theft, stop phishing, and secure your online accounts easily.
Mainstack Editorial Team
September 24, 2025
10 min read
Read more
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Every day, thousands of people wake up to find their digital identity hijacked. It could be a hacker guessing a weak password, a fake social media account impersonating you, or a scammer using your email to trick your friends. Identity theft has moved from just stolen credit cards to stolen reputations, fake profiles, and access to your most private data. 

Criminals scrape photos, posts, and personal details from the internet to build convincing profiles, then use them to open new accounts, drain funds, or blackmail victims. The more we live online, the larger the digital footprint we leave behind and the more attractive we are to cybercriminals. Online safety is now a core part of everyday survival. In this guide, you’ll discover proven ways to secure your accounts, limit your exposure, and outsmart identity thieves before they strike.

Understanding Online Identity Theft

Online identity theft happens when cybercriminals steal personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card details, or Social Security numbers to impersonate victims or commit fraud. Unlike traditional identity theft which might involve stolen wallets or intercepted mail, the digital version exploits the vast amounts of personal data we store and share online.

How Attackers Steal Your Identity

A hacker dressed in a hoodie

Attackers use a range of tactics, including:

  • Phishing and Smishing: Fake emails or text messages trick you into revealing sensitive data or login credentials.
  • Data Breaches: Large-scale hacks of companies, banks, or platforms expose millions of customer records.
  • Social Media Impersonation: Fraudsters create look-alike profiles to scam friends or followers.
  • Malware and Keyloggers: Hidden software records keystrokes, capturing passwords and credit card numbers.
  • Public Wi-Fi Snooping: Unsecured networks allow hackers to intercept traffic and steal credentials.

Your personal data is valuable on the dark web. Stolen information can be used to:

  • Open new credit lines.
  • File fake tax returns.
  • Commit medical identity theft.
  • Damage your reputation online.

Identity theft can drain both time and money, forcing victims to spend weeks or even months disputing charges, closing accounts, and repairing credit. Beyond direct financial losses, you may also face costs for legal help, credit monitoring, and lost productivity while resolving the damage.

Practical Ways to Protecting Yourself Online.

1. Strengthen and Lock Down Your Accounts

  • Create Strong, Unique Passwords: Use passwords of at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Never reuse passwords across accounts.
  • Use a Password Manager: Apps like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass can generate and securely store complex passwords
  • Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of protection, requiring a code or biometric scan in addition to your password.
  • Set Up Security Alerts: Many banks, email providers, and social platforms let you turn on suspicious login notifications. So, don’t skip them.

2. Secure Your Devices Before Hackers Do

  • Keep Your Software Updated: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities that hackers exploit.
  • Install Security Software: Use reputable antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall apps on all your devices.
  • Encrypt Sensitive Data: Use device encryption (built into iOS, Android, and most computers) to make stolen data unreadable.
  • Lock Your Devices: Use biometric locks (Face ID or fingerprint) or a strong passcode.

3. Stop Feeding Identity Thieves on Social Media

  • Limit Personal Info: Avoid posting your date of birth, address, travel plans, or other private details that criminals can use for scams or security questions.
  • Beware of Fake Profiles: Scammers create convincing copies of real profiles to impersonate people and request money or information. Search your name periodically to see if someone is copying you.

  • Use Privacy Settings: On Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, restrict who can see your posts and personal info.

4. Think Before You Click: Links Can Be Traps

  • Pause Before Opening Links: If you get a link via email, text, or direct message and you’re not 100% sure it’s legit, don’t click it.
  • Hover to Preview URLs: On desktops, hover over links to see where they lead before clicking. On mobile, press and hold to preview.
  • Watch for Phishing Tactics: Fake “security” alerts or offers too good to be true often contain malware or credential-stealing pages.
  • Type URLs Directly: Instead of clicking links to banks or payment services, type the address manually into your browser.

5. Monitor Your Finances and Online Reputation

A woman checking her credit card details
  • Check Bank and Credit Card Statements Weekly: Early detection stops damage before it spirals.
  • Freeze Your Credit: In many countries you can freeze your credit file, preventing new accounts from being opened in your name.
  • Check Your Credit Report: Look for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.
  • Set Up Alerts: Many financial apps let you receive instant transaction alerts to catch fraud fast.

6. Protect Critical Personal Data

  • Use a Separate Email for Banking: Create a dedicated email address only for financial accounts.
  • Give Nonsense Answers to Security Questions: Don’t use real answers like your pet’s name, use random phrases only you know.
  • Create an Online Social Security/Tax Account (if applicable): Lock in your profile before a thief does to prevent fraudulent filings.
  • Be Aware of Mail Theft: Criminals can file change-of-address forms to intercept mail. Confirm your mailing address regularly with your local postal service.

7. Stay Safe on Public Networks

  • Avoid Sensitive Transactions on Public Wi-Fi: Use mobile data or a reputable VPN instead.
  • Turn Off Auto-Connect: Prevent your device from automatically joining unknown networks.
  • Use Secure Hotspots: If you must use Wi-Fi, choose networks with a password and look for “https” in the browser.

8. Regularly Audit and Reduce Your Digital Footprint

  • Delete Unused Accounts: Old accounts can be weak spots. Delete or deactivate what you no longer use.
  • Opt Out of Data Brokers: Request removal from people-search sites like Whitepages or Spokeo.
  • Search Yourself: Google your name, emails, and usernames regularly to see what’s public.

9. Build a Long-Term Identity Protection Habit

  • Keep Backups: Regularly back up your important files to an external drive or secure cloud storage.
  • Teach Family Members: Make sure kids and older relatives also know about phishing, privacy, and strong passwords.
  • Stay Informed: Follow cybersecurity news or subscribe to security alerts from your bank or government agencies.

What once felt like a distant risk is now an everyday reality. Criminals are sophisticated, patient, and often invisible until the damage is done. Fortunately, you can build strong walls around your digital life with just a few consistent habits. By strengthening your passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, locking down your devices, being skeptical of unsolicited requests, and resisting the urge to click every link you see, you significantly reduce your risk. Monitoring your financial accounts, limiting what you share online, and cleaning up your digital footprint give you extra layers of protection. Think of these steps as digital hygiene: small, regular actions that keep you safe and in control.

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Best Practices for Facebook Messenger Marketing
Master Facebook Messenger marketing with proven best practices and strategies. Learn automation, engagement tactics, lead generation, and compliance tips
Mainstack Editorial Team
September 23, 2025
10 min read
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Facebook Messenger offers businesses a powerful way to reach and engage customers in real time. With high open rates and strong interaction, Messenger campaigns can outperform bother forms of media reach with immediacy and personal connection. To succeed, you need more than just messages; you need a strategy. Messenger marketing done well builds trust, delivers value, and boosts loyalty. Wrongly done, it can annoy users, cause opt-outs, or even violate policy. The goal is to be helpful, relevant, and respectful. 

In this article, you will learn about core Messenger marketing practices: how to get permission, personalize messages, use chatbots wisely, design engaging content, segment your audience, follow policies, and maintain good frequency. If you follow these practices, your Messenger campaigns will feel less like pushy promos and more like friendly conversations that deliver results.

1. Obtain Clear Opt-In & Set Expectations

People should explicitly agree to receive messages from your business via Messenger. Use opt-in requests that clearly state what kinds of messages users will receive. Let them know frequency, content type, and how they can opt out. Setting expectations reduces surprise and improves trust. Meta’s Messenger documentation insists on clearly describing the type of Marketing Messages users should expect when they opt in. 

2. Respect Messenger Policies & Limitations

Companies must follow Facebook Messenger policies, including rules on message frequency, content type, and negative feedback. For example, marketing messages have requirements to avoid spam, duplicate opt-in requests, or sending messages too often. Respecting these rules helps maintain good standing and deliverability. 

3. Use Conversational Tone & Your Brand Voice

a male and female colleague reviewing a marketing plan

Messenger is a conversational channel. Messages that read like automated or impersonal blasts tend to be ignored or blocked. Use active voice, friendly language, address users as “you” and maintain consistency with your brand’s personality. Keep messages simple, avoid jargon, and make responses feel human. Meta guidelines recommend preserving your brand voice rather than creating a disjointed style.

4. Provide Value First, Promotions Later

Start conversations with helpful or engaging content. Provide useful information, resources, answers to common questions, or early access. Promotional messages lose effectiveness when they appear too often or as first contact. If you show value early users feel rewarded. For example using Messenger to send order updates, product tips, or helpful reminders enhances trust before you send offers. 

5. Personalize & Segment Your Audience

One size does not fit all. Use data like purchase history, past interactions, location, or user preferences to tailor messages. Segmentation helps you send content that resonates and avoids “one-message-fits-all” mistakes. Personalization increases open rates, click-throughs, and user satisfaction. For example, sending cart abandonment reminders or browse abandonment messages to users who left without purchasing. 

6. Use Chatbots and Automation Wisely

Facebook messanger icon

Chatbots help scale conversations: instant replies, handling FAQs, guiding users, and scheduling. But they must feel helpful, not robotic. Scripts and flows should anticipate common questions. Provide a fallback to human agents when needed. Automate useful touchpoints like welcome messages, but avoid flooding users with automated content. Automation saves time if used thoughtfully.

7. Design Engaging & Rich Content

Messenger allows images, videos, buttons, and quick replies. Use them. Rich content performs better than plain text. Interactive content like polls, quizzes, or surveys helps boost engagement and feedback. Use visuals to break up long text and make messages more appealing. But optimize media so that load times are fast and message size is not burdensome.

8. Keep Message Frequency Balanced

Too many messages annoy users. Too few missed chances to stay top of mind. Monitor negative feedback, opt-outs, or unreads to gauge if you are overdoing it. Use user preferences if possible: let them choose frequency. Meta rules limit sending certain Marketing Messages to users depending on opt-in frequency and user action. 

9. Respond Promptly & Offer Good Support

One advantage of Messenger is immediacy. Users expect quick replies when they initiate contact. Slow responses damage trust. If your team cannot always respond fast, use automated acknowledgments and let users know when they will hear back. Always provide useful information or escalate when needed. Customer service combined with marketing builds loyalty.

10. Track Metrics & Optimize

Pay attention to open rates, click-through rates, engagement, response time and opt-outs. Messenger often delivers high open rates—70-80% or more within the first hour, which is much higher than email. Monitor what messages perform best: subject lines, content type, timing. Use A/B testing for variations of message copy, visuals, or CTA. Then use the data to iterate and improve. 

11. Respect Privacy & Transparency

Be clear about what data you collect and how you use it. If using cookies, metadata, or tracking, disclose it. Make sure users know how to opt-out and that they can stop marketing messages. Respect user feedback; if many users block or report you, adjust your strategy.

12. Use Click-to-Messenger Ads and Sponsored Messages Smartly

Product ads on an online platform

Click-to-Messenger ads allow users to start a chat directly from your ad. Sponsored Messages let you re-engage people who have already shown interest. Use these ad types for targeted offers or updates rather than cold promotions. Integrate them with conversational flows to continue engagement. 

13. Plan for Mobile Experience & Load Speeds

Mobile users dominate Messenger usage. Ensure that any content, images, buttons you send are optimized for mobile view. Rich media should be compressed appropriately. Quick replies and buttons should be clearly tappable. If content takes too long to load or images are heavy, users drop off.

14. Maintain A Good Message Format

Ensure messages look clean. Use formatting: paragraphs, line breaks, spacing. Use buttons, quick replies instead of expecting typed answers when possible. Make your Call-to-action clear. Don’t overload a message with multiple directions. Use welcome messages that clarify next steps. Provide feedback prompts (like “type 1 to speak to support”) or menu of options if your bot flows allow.

Using Facebook Messenger for marketing offers a unique opportunity to connect with users personally, immediately, and meaningfully. Following best practices, getting clear opt-in, respecting Messenger policies, using conversational tone, personalizing messages, and delivering useful content, turns your Messenger strategy from annoying to appreciated. Automation and chatbots can scale your efforts while good design, rich media, and timely follow-ups keep users engaged. Testing different copy, content types, and send frequencies ensures you stay responsive and relevant. Remember transparency, privacy, and respect are not optional, they strengthen your brand and reduce complaints. When you build for conversation rather than broadcast you create trust, loyalty, and better outcomes. Messenger becomes less a channel for promotion and more a tool for meaningful relationships.

For more tips on how you can sell digital products on Facebook, check out this comprehensive guide.

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Day 1 as an Affiliate: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your First $100
A beginner-friendly guide to choosing a niche, picking the right offers, sharing your first links, and earning your first $100 in affiliate commissions.
Mainstack Editorial Team
December 2, 2025
10 min read
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Many beginners starting out in affiliate marketing share a moment of common frustrations. You start affiliate marketing in hopes of earning extra cash, post links, create content, and…crickets. That first sale feels like it's never gonna happen.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably on your own Day 1 — curious, hopeful, and maybe a little unsure about where to start. The good news is, you don’t need a huge audience or expensive tools to start earning online. 

This guide breaks down how to go from zero to your first $100 in affiliate commissions. You’ll learn what to sell, how to position yourself, where to promote, and who to reach.

By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to your first $100 and the confidence to turn it into steady income

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

You’ve probably heard of affiliate marketing, but what does it really mean?

In plain terms, affiliate marketing is a way to earn money online by promoting other people’s products or services, and when someone buys through your unique link, you earn a commission.

Think of it as recommending a product to a friend, but instead of doing it for free, you get paid every time someone takes your recommendation and makes a purchase.

How to Make Money as an Affiliate Marketer

Now that you understand what affiliate marketing is, let’s talk about how you can realistically make money from it.

1.) Set the Stage: Pick a Niche You Care About

On Day 1, you need clarity. Decide who you are selling to, and what are you selling?. Ask yourself: What problem am I solving? Who is my audience?

This mindset separates random link pushers from affiliates who actually make money. Your goal is to own a space and build trust around something you know and care about.

Choosing a niche is where that starts. If you get it wrong, nothing else matters. 

How do you choose the right affiliate product to market?

Pick a space where your experience or interest gives you an edge, but make sure it is a niche in high demand. Choose a niche people are actively searching for and possibly spending on.

Successful affiliates often start with what they know. For example, affiliate marketers like Michelle Schroeder-Gardner started her affiliate journey with personal finance by sharing how she paid-off her student loans and recommending the tools she used. 

John Chow, on the other hand, focused on building income through blogging, sharing what worked for him and promoting services he trusted. Because their story was authentic, their audience could feel that honesty and that’s what sold.

Email from John Chow offering a free WordPress setup through his HostGator affiliate link.

Action Step Today:

Pick one niche you care about. List three affiliate offers you could promote this week, and decide which platform you’ll use to promote your offers.

2.) Find an Irresistible Affiliate Offer That’s Easy to Market

After you pick your niche and define your audience, the next step is finding an offer that’s easy to market. But first, you need to find a reputable platform that gives you access to affiliate products, high commission and makes it easy for signups. 

Platforms like Mainstack, Amazon and Clickbank give you access to thousands of products that you can promote as an affiliate. 

On Mainstack, you can find over 250+ affiliate offers, organize multiple links, and track all links from one dashboard without any extra tools.

Image of Mainstack's affiliate offers page showcasing products available for promotion,.

Image Credit: Mainstack

How to choose the right affiliate product

What makes an affiliate offer worth your time? Here’s a quick checklist to help you choose the right product:

  • Look for products your audience actually cares about.
  • Check a product that stands out in a crowded marketplace
  • Make sure the commission rate is fair and worth your effort.
  • Only promote products you’d actually use.
  • Look for products with solid reviews.

Now that you know what to look for, the next step is turning that knowledge into action.

Action Step:

Sign up on Mainstack today. Browse the affiliate marketplace, and pick 2–3 products you’d feel confident promoting this week.

3.) Test Your Offer in a Warm Market

Before promoting an affiliate link, you need reassurance that you’re picking the right one. Rather than promoting to a cold, unfamiliar audience, start with a warm market (e.g friends, peers, old classmates) as a testing ground for the products you intend to promote. 

Share your affiliate link on iMessage, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Messenger and frame it like a tip, not a sales pitch. 

Pay attention to their questions and hesitations. Use their feedback to sharpen your pitch, tweak your copy, and get ready for your cold-market launch. 

The goal is to prove you can sell to people who already trust you before chasing strangers. Once you’ve validated this product with your circle, you’ll have a clearer sense of work.

Action Step Today:
Send your affiliate link to 10 people in your network and track clicks using your Mainstack link.

4.) Build Your Platform to Host Your Affiliate Links

You don’t need a full website or a massive audience to start making money as an affiliate marketer. What you need is a credible home base where people can find your links and check your promos.

Your social channels (like TikTok, Pinterest, or Substack) are great for sharing links, but your platform is where they actually live. It could be a simple blog, a landing page, or even a Mainstack link-in-bio that keeps all your offers organized and trackable.

Screenshot of the Mainstack Link in Bio landing page displaying multiple customizable templates for users to create and design their own affiliate link pages.

Image Credit: Mainstack

As you grow, start layering in structure: build a blog people can find, grow a community, or start a simple email list so you’re not stuck chasing algorithms. 

Ana Savuica is a great example of this in action. She built her blog with one blog post about a $25 e-book she loved. Then added it to her sidebar, featured it in her welcome email, and created Pinterest graphics that kept sending traffic. That’s the kind of momentum you want.

5.) Track and Analyze Your Affiliate Links

Screenshot of the Mainstack Affiliate Dashboard showing total sales, clicks, earnings, and a “Discover Offerings” tab that links to the affiliate marketplace for finding new products to promote.

Tracking isn’t optional; it’s your personal report card for every link you share. For every affiliate link, you need to know two things:

  1. What people click (click analytics and audience insights).
  2. What actually makes you money (sales and commission tracking).

Platforms like Mainstack let you easily track affiliate links. On Mainstack, you can instantly see which links pull the most clicks and what kind of content your audience actually cares about.

Make it a habit to check both dashboards every week. Those insights show you what to double down on, what to tweak, and what to stop wasting time on.

Action Step:
Make it a habit to review your stats every week. That’s how you figure out what’s hitting, what needs tweaking, and what to stop wasting time on.

Final Thoughts

Day 1 is about starting small and moving fast. You won’t get rich overnight, but you can post something today, drive clicks, and earn your first commission. 

Before you launch, sign up on Mainstack and set up your affiliate dashboard. It’s the easiest way to organize offers, showcase promotions, and track results

Your first $100 matters less than what you do next. Use that momentum to test, refine, and grow.

Your Day 1 Beginner Affiliate Marketing Checklist

  • Choose your niche and offer.
  •  Set up your Mainstack page and add your affiliate link.
  • Publish one content piece featuring that link.
  • Share it with at least 10 people.
  • Plan your next piece of content.

FAQs: Affiliate Marketing for Beginners

1. What is the first step to starting affiliate marketing as a beginner?
Pick a niche you already know or use daily. Choose one or two products that solve real problems for that audience, then create content around them.

2. Do I need a website to start affiliate marketing on Day 1?
No, you don’t. All you need is a credible space like a Mainstack Affiliate dashboard page to host your links. You can always build a website later as you grow.

3. How do I find affiliate products that sell?
Look for products with good reviews that align with your audience’s needs. Platforms like Mainstack’s affiliate marketplace let you browse verified offers before you decide what to promote.

4. What should I look for before choosing an affiliate program?

Check for fair commissions, strong brand reputation, and solid customer feedback. Also, look at the competition; if too many people are already promoting the same thing, it’s harder to stand out.

5. Can I do affiliate marketing on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram?
Absolutely. Share real experiences through short videos or posts and use your Mainstack link to track clicks and conversions.

6. How do I track clicks and sales from my affiliate links?
You need an affiliate marketplace like Mainstack to track affiliate links. Use Mainstack for click analytics and audience insights, then check your affiliate platform for sales data. Together, they show what’s working.

7. How does Mainstack make affiliate marketing easier for beginners?

Mainstack takes the stress out of link management. It keeps everything in one place—links, clicks, and audience data. If you promote Mainstack marketplace products, you can see clicks and sales in the same dashboard.

8. How long does it take to make your first sale in affiliate marketing?
It depends. Some people make their first sale in a week, others in a month. Stay consistent, test different content, and use data to improve.

9. What mistakes should beginners avoid on their first day of affiliate marketing?
Don’t promote too many products or stuff you don’t believe in. Start with one or two solid offers and focus on helping your audience.

10. How much can a beginner realistically earn from affiliate marketing?
Most beginners earn small amounts at first. On average, $50 to $200 in the early stages. As you learn your audience and refine your strategy, earnings can grow into steady income.

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15 Best Tools for Affiliate Marketers in 2025
The top affiliate tools for 2025 designed to raise conversions, automate your workflow, improve tracking, and help you grow income with ease.
Mainstack Editorial Team
December 4, 2025
10 min read
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The best tools for affiliate marketers in 2025 are changing the way people earn money online. Affiliate marketing has grown from simple link sharing into a smart, data-driven business. With the rise of AI, automation, and better analytics, marketers now have access to tools that make it much easier to promote products, track performance, and increase revenue.

Here’s a roundup of 15 of the best software programs for affiliate marketers across key categories. Read more to find tools to help you manage your daily tasks and help your business grow fast.

Why Affiliate Marketing Tools Matter in 2025

Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to make money online, but it requires the right tools to be successful. These tools enable you to save time, work smarter, and earn more. 

Here’s why they’re so important:

  1. They Save You Time
    Many tools now use artificial intelligence to perform mundane tasks for you, such as posting links, tracking sales, and sending emails. This allows you to spend more time creating great content and less time doing tedious tasks.

  2. They Help You See What’s Working
    Good affiliate tools show you which products, links, or platforms bring the most clicks and sales. With this information, you can focus on what actually makes you money.

  3. They Make Content Better
    AI tools can help you write better captions, find keywords, and even generate new ideas. This allows you to connect with your audience and encourages more people to buy using your links.

  4. They Make Teamwork Easier
    If you work in a team, these tools will help you stay organized. You can schedule posts, share files, and track progress all in one place.

  5. They Help You Stay Ahead of the Competition
    Standing out is becoming more difficult as more people engage in affiliate marketing. The right tools help you stay creative, consistent, and ahead of the competition.

The 8 Categories of Tools Every Affiliate Needs

Affiliate marketing is easier (and more profitable) when you have the right tools to support your work. Here are eight types of tools every affiliate marketer should use in 2025:

All In One Affiliate Marketing Tool 

Managing multiple affiliate links across platforms can get overwhelming fast. All in one affiliate tools help you organize, track, and optimize every link in one place so you can easily see what’s performing, update links quickly, and stay focused on what drives revenue.

1.) Mainstack: Best All-in-One Tool for Affiliate Marketers

Mainstack gives affiliate marketers an all-in-one workspace to promote digital products, track performance, and manage payouts. The platform is built to support users across different countries, so creators and affiliates can work without worrying about currency limitations or regional restrictions.

Setting up your account is free, and once you’re in, you can immediately explore the digital products available for promotion in the affiliate marketplace. With Mainstack, you get your referral link along with a full workspace designed to help you manage your activity.

Your  dashboard comes with built-in performance analytics, tools for shaping product pages,  and other resources that make it easier for you to make sales, understand your results, and improve them.

Mainstack also has a Refer & Earn Program where you earn 30% of Mainstack’s revenue every time someone you invite makes a sale. The best part is that your commission comes directly from Mainstack, not from the seller’s income.

Pricing: Mainstack is free to join for both affiliates and merchants. You earn based on performance, and payouts are made automatically. No hidden fees or subscriptions, just a simple 3% transaction fee for commerce features.

Key Features

  • Access Africa’s largest affiliate marketplace
  • Earn commissions promoting top digital products and tools
  • Real-time tracking and transparent earnings dashboard
  • Build a Link-in-Bio / personal page to showcase your content, services, and affiliate links
  • Create a full online storefront to sell digital products, services, and subscriptions
  • Multi payout options: Get paid in Naira, USD, crypto, PayPal, etc within 24 hours
  • Multi-currency pricing: You can set prices per country or local currency
  • Sell unlimited products, and manage customers in one place.
  • 30% lifetime revenue share through the Refer & Earn Program
  • Merchants pay only for results with no upfront costs

Mainstack helps you manage links, track sales, and earn commissions all in one place, making it the perfect all-in-one affiliate tool for 2025. Here’s how to join the Mainstack Affiliate Program.

Content Creation Tools

Content creation tools enable you to design, write, and edit the content that draws people to your links. Even if you don't have design skills, these tools make it easy to create eye-catching posts, short videos, and graphics. 

2.) Canva: Great For Designing Eye-Catching Graphics

Image Credit: Canva

Canva makes it easy to design graphics, thumbnails, and marketing materials without needing design skills. It has a huge library of ready-made templates and a drag-and-drop tool that can help you design Instagram posts, blog banners, in minutes. Affiliates love Canva because it helps their content look professional and stand out on social media. 

Pricing: The free version covers most needs, while the Pro plan adds premium templates and brand tools. Canva Pro costs $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year for one user. 

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop editor for designing visuals easily
  • Access to templates for social media posts, presentations, flyers, etc.
  • Huge libraries of stock images, illustrations, icons, and fonts
  • AI / “magic” tools (text-to-image, AI copywriting, design suggestions)
  • Brand Kit management (store brand colors, fonts, logos)

3.) CapCut: Easy Video Editing for Social Creators

Image Credit: Capcut

CapCut is a beginner-friendly video editor that helps you create short, engaging videos for platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram even without video editing knowledge. It comes with free templates, effects, and AI editing tools to make your videos look polished. 

For affiliate marketers, CapCut is great for creating tutorials or product reviews that include affiliate links. It’s as simple as recording a video on your phone, uploading it on CapCut, trimming out unnecessary parts and exporting a clean video ready to post in minutes.

Pricing: It’s free to start with, but the pro version starts from $9.99/month or  $74.99/year. In some locations, its up to $19.99/month. 

Key Features

  • Video editing (trim, split, merge, transitions)
  • Templates, effects, filters, and overlays
  • AI tools: auto-captions, background removal, special effects
  • Cloud / asset library for managing media
  • Advanced AI editing tools, premium templates, higher export quality, and no watermark.

Analytics and Tracking Tool

If you want to grow, you need to know your numbers. Analytics tools show where your traffic comes from, your highest selling product, best-performing posts and number of sales through your affiliate links. The more you know, the better you can improve your strategy.

4.) Google Analytics: Track What’s Working

Image Credit: Google Analytics

Google Analytics is great for affiliates because it provides a comprehensive picture of what’s actually driving clicks, leads, and sales. The platform is designed to help you track traffic sources to see which platform (e.g Youtube, TikTok) sends the most traffic to your affiliate links.

Google analytics also gives you insights into your audience insight and their behavior flow. You can see who your audience is, how they move through your site, what pages convert best and where they drop off.

Image Credit: Google Analytics

This helps affiliates understand what drives conversions and what needs improvement. It’s completely free and integrates easily with blogs and websites.

Pricing: Free to start with, but the paid plan (GA4 360) starts at approximately $50,000/year, depending on data volume and region.

Key Features

  • Tracks website and app traffic: sessions, pageviews, user behavior
  • Custom reporting, funnels, segmentation
  • Integration with Google Ads and other Google tools
  • Predictive insights and AI-driven metrics
  • Event tracking, goal conversion, audience analysis

SEO and Keyword Tools

SEO and keyword research tools help your content rank higher by finding profitable keywords, revealing competitor insights, and tracking performance over time.

Platforms like Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and Google Keyword Planner show what your audience is actually searching for, so you can create content that attracts the right traffic.

5.) Ahrefs: Powerful SEO and Keyword Insights

Image Credit: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is one of the most trusted SEO tools for find keywords, analyze competitors, and track backlinks. It helps affiliate marketers discover what topics are ranking and where to focus their content. For example, if you promote productivity software, Ahrefs can show you which blog titles or keywords get the most clicks. It’s a paid tool, but the insights it provides are well worth the investment for serious marketers. 

Pricing: Paid plans start at $129/month and can go up to $1,499/month for advanced and enterprise plans. 

Key Features

  • Site Explorer: analyse any website’s traffic and backlink profile. 
  • Keyword Explorer: find keywords, keywords difficulty, and search volumes.
  • Site Audit: check your website for technical issues and SEO health. 
  • Content Explorer: find content ideas, popular pages, competitor content insight. 
  • Backlink & competitive analysis: evaluate your links and competitors’ link profiles

6.) Google Keyword Planner: Find the Right Search Terms

Image Credit: Google Keyword Planner

Like Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner helps affiliates discover keywords their audience is searching for. Beyond that, you also get insight into questions people are asking, understand search trends, estimate traffic potential and refine targeting.

It’s perfect for creating SEO-friendly blog posts, YouTube titles, or ad campaigns. You can compare keyword competition, search volume, and trends to target the right audience. The best part? It’s free and pairs perfectly with other Google tools for research and planning.

Pricing: Using Google Keyword Planner is free, although you need a Google Ads account to access it. Usage is free, though data precision may increase if you run paid ads.

Key Features

  • Discover new keywords and keyword ideas based on seed terms or websites.
  • Get search volume estimates, forecast traffic, and see bid (CPC) data for keywords.
  • Integrates with Google Ads for ad planning, but useful for SEO research too.

Email Marketing Tools

Building an email list is one of the smartest moves in affiliate marketing. It’s a simple way to build an audience, keep them engaged and drive repeat sales.

Email marketing tools like ConvertKit or Mailchimp help you send updates, product recommendations, and exclusive offers to your followers. 

7.) Kit: Email Marketing for Creators

Image Credit: Kit

Kit helps affiliates grow and engage their audience through email. You can set up automated email campaigns, send newsletters, and add affiliate links naturally within your messages. It’s built for creators who want to turn followers into loyal buyers.

Image Credit: Kit

Pricing: There’s a free plan for beginners, with paid options for more advanced segmentation and automation, which starts at $15/month.

Key Features

  • Unlimited landing pages, opt-in forms, and email broadcasts.
  • Audience tagging & segmentation to target the right people.
  • Visual automation builder and sequences (on paid plans).
  • Digital product & subscription sales built-in.
  • Integrations with major platforms (e.g., Shopify, WordPress) and free migration (on higher plans).

8.) Mailchimp: Email Campaigns Made Simple

Image Credit: Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing tools for small businesses and affiliates. It offers templates, audience insights, and automation that make it easy to send professional campaigns. You can track open rates and clicks to see which products get the most attention. 

Pricing: Mailchimp has a free plan for smaller lists and paid tiers for more advanced features that can go up to $350/month.

Key Features:

  • Email campaign builder with templates, scheduling, and A/B testing (on paid plans).
  • Basic landing pages and forms are included in the free tier. 
  • Marketing automation flows with branching logic (on Standard and Premium plans).
  • Advanced segmentation, predictive tools, and multivariate testing (on higher plans).

SMS/MMS add-ons, custom-coded templates, and priority support at top tier.

Social Media and Scheduling Tools

Posting regularly on multiple platforms can be stressful. Social media scheduling tools like Buffer, Later, or Meta Business Suite let you plan and schedule posts ahead of time. For example, you can set up a week’s worth of TikTok clips and Instagram posts that promote your affiliate products, and the tool will post them automatically.

9.) Buffer: Simple Social Media Scheduling

Image Credit: Buffer

Buffer helps you plan and schedule posts for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter). It’s perfect for affiliates who want to stay consistent without posting manually every day. Buffer also shows engagement data, helping you learn what type of content performs best. 

Pricing: There’s a free plan for a few social channels, with paid upgrades for more accounts and detailed analytics.

Key Features

  • Schedule and publish posts across multiple social media channels.
  • AI Assistant for content ideas and post optimisation.
  • Basic & advanced analytics to track engagement and performance.
  • Engagement inbox (on paid plans) to manage comments and messages.
  • Hashtag manager, post drafts, first comment scheduling.

10.) Later: Visual Planner for Social Media

Image Credit: Later

Later is a comprehensive influencer marketing and social media management platform that helps affiliates plan, schedule, and optimize their promotional content across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

With its visual planner, affiliates can organize posts, maintain consistency, and use features like “Best Time to Post” to boost engagement. It also offers detailed analytics to track which content drives the most clicks and conversions, helping users refine their strategy over time.

Pricing: There’s a free plan that’s available for basic use. However, for more advanced plans, pricing starts at $18.75/month and can go up to $82.50/month. Pricing increases with add-ons like additional social sets, AI credits, users.

Image Credit: Later

Key Features:

  • Visual planner and calendar for scheduling posts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and more.
  • Link-in-bio pages to funnel traffic from social posts.
  • AI content tools (caption ideas, post suggestions).
  • Analytics and performance tracking across profiles.
  • Social inbox, team collaboration, content approval workflows (on higher tiers).

Project Management and Collaboration Tools

Staying organized is key as an affiliate marketer, especially if you’re working with a team or juggling multiple brands. Project management tools like Asana, Clickup and Trello, help you manage tasks, plan campaigns, and keep track of deadlines. You can even share projects with designers, writers, or editors to keep everything running smoothly.

11.) Asana: Manage Campaigns and Deadlines

Asana homepage
Image Credit: Asana

Asana helps you organize your projects, set deadlines, and track tasks in one clean workspace. It’s ideal for affiliate marketers who juggle multiple campaigns or work with a small team. You can plan your content calendar, assign tasks, and use timeline views to stay on track. 

Pricing: Asana’s free plan covers basic project management, while premium versions unlock advanced automation and reporting tools. The paid plans start at $10.99/month per user.

Key Features:

  • Unlimited tasks, projects, and messages (varies by plan) .
  • Timeline/Gantt chart views and task dependencies for planning complex workflows.
  • Custom fields, project templates, and a workflow builder for tailored work management.
  • Automation, reporting dashboards, and analytics for tracking team performance.
  • Free plan available for individuals or small teams (up to 10 users).

12.) ClickUp: All-in-One Productivity Platform

Image Credit: ClickUp

ClickUp combines task management, docs, chat, and goal tracking in one platform. Affiliates can use it to plan campaigns, store affiliate program details, and manage workflows. Its dashboards give a clear overview of everything from content deadlines to income goals. 

Pricing: ClickUp provides a free version with extensive features, while paid plans beginning at $7 include more integrations and automation.

Key Features:

  • Task, doc, chat, and workspace management all in one platform.
  • Unlimited tasks, storage, and users (depending on plan).
  • Advanced workflow automation, dashboards, time tracking, and role permissions for larger teams.
  • Free-forever plan available for individuals or small teams.

Writing Assistants and Idea Tools

Creating content regularly can be tough, especially when you run out of ideas or worry about making mistakes. Writing assistants and idea tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT make the process easier and faster. 

13.) Grammarly: Write Clearer, More Persuasive Content

Image Credit: Grammarly

Grammarly helps you write clearly and confidently, ensuring your content is polished and professional. It checks your grammar, spelling, tone, and readability in real-time, making it perfect for refining blog posts, emails, and social captions. For affiliates, clear, error-free writing is essential because it builds trust with the audience and ultimately boosts conversions.

Pricing: The free plan includes basic corrections, while the Premium version adds advanced writing suggestions and starts at $12 per month.

Key Features:

  • Real-time grammar, spelling, and punctuation corrections
  • Tone detection and writing-style suggestions for clarity and impact.
  • AI-powered writing assistance (rewrites, drafts, brand voice) on premium tiers. 
  • Team and enterprise features: shared style guides, brand tones, analytics for writing performance. 

14.) ChatGPT: Your AI Assistant for Content Creation

Image CreditChatGPT

ChatGPT is one of the most popular AI writing tools that helps affiliates brainstorm ideas, write product reviews, create social captions, or even outline YouTube scripts, essentially working as a powerful brainstorming partner. By assisting with writing blog posts and product descriptions and even generating SEO-optimized content, ChatGPT saves hours of time and helps affiliates stay consistent with their brand voice while managing multiple campaigns. 

Pricing: A free version is accessible, along with a paid plan starting at $200 per month, which offers faster performance and more advanced tools.

Key Features:

  • AI chat assistant that can help with writing ideas, content drafts, brainstorming, and Q&A. 
  • Access to different model versions (e.g., GPT-4o) depending on plan. 
  • Priority access / faster response times on paid plans. 
  • Team and enterprise features for collaboration and large-scale use. 

When Grammarly and Chat GPT are used together, these tools help you write better, think faster, and produce more engaging content that drives clicks and conversions.

Ad Campaign tool

Ad Campaign Tools help affiliates create, manage, and optimize paid ads across platforms. They simplify targeting, tracking, and improving ROI. Options like AdEspresso, Google Ads Manager, and Semrush Ads Toolkit make it easy to design, test, and analyze campaigns for better conversions. 

15.) AdExpresso: Affiliate Ad Campaign tool 

Image Credit: AdEspresso

AdEspresso is an ad management tool that helps marketers and affiliates create, test, and optimize campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Google from one dashboard. Affiliates can use A/B testing to experiment with creatives, headlines, and audiences, while smart optimization tips and detailed analytics help improve campaign performance and conversions. It also integrates with other tools and CRMs for easier lead management.

Pricing: Pricing starts at $49 per month, and all plans include a 14-day free trial for new users.

Key Features

  • Create and manage ads for Facebook, Instagram, and Google in one place
  • Run automatic A/B tests for creatives, copy, and audiences
  • Use automation rules to optimize campaigns based on performance
  • Track results with easy analytics and exportable reports
  • Collaborate with teams using white-label and agency-friendly tool

Choose the Right Tools to Promote Your Affiliate Marketing

When building your affiliate marketing strategy, start with essential tools for content creation, analytics, and link management. Choose tools based on your audience. YouTubers need video and SEO tools, bloggers need keyword research and writing assistants, and social media creators benefit from scheduling and engagement tools.

Use Mainstack as your foundation for link management and analytics. It organizes affiliate links, tracks clicks, and measures performance in one clean dashboard.

FAQs: Affiliate Marketing Tools

1. What tools do I need to start affiliate marketing?
You’ll need a link management tool like Mainstack, a content tool for creating posts (like Canva), and a traffic or analytics tool such as Google Analytics or Semrush.

2. What’s the best free tool for affiliate tracking?
Mainstack is a great free option. It helps you organize affiliate links, monitor clicks, and see performance insights in one place.

3. Can I start affiliate marketing without a website?
Yes. You can use platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram and share your affiliate links through a Mainstack link-in-bio or custom storefront page.

4. What’s a good tool for promoting affiliate links on social media?
Buffer and Later help you schedule and manage affiliate content across platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

5. How do I find good affiliate products or programs?
You can discover affiliate programs through Mainstack, Amazon Associates, ClickBank, or Impact. Always check for reliable payouts and product quality.

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How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 2025: The Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide
This guide has everything you need to start affiliate marketing in 2025, from choosing products to earning your first commission and growing your income.
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
Read more
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Let’s be honest, everyone wants to make money while they sleep. And in 2025, affiliate marketing makes that dream more realistic than ever. If you’ve been asking yourself how to start affiliate marketing in 2025, this guide is your blueprint. 

Most people start affiliate marketing as a side hustle and eventually grow it into a thriving business. The best part? It requires little to no startup capital, just your commitment, consistency, and the right product with an irresistible offer.

Whether you’re a content creator, coach, or complete beginner, we’ll show you how to pick a niche, find the best programs, and build a system that earns money even when you’re offline.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where an individual promotes another person's product or services and earns a commission for each sale made through their unique affiliate link. 

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

Affiliate marketing operates on a simple but powerful ecosystem. It involves four main players: the merchant, the affiliate, the consumer, and the network. Each plays a key role in turning a simple recommendation into real income.

  1. The Merchant: The Merchant is the advertiser or brand. This is the person (or entity) that creates and sells a product or service. They use affiliates to push their products to new audiences. 

A perfect example includes people like Elizabeth Olowu and The Elevated MC who use Mainstack’s referral program to push their products.

  1. The Affiliate: The Affiliate is the publisher/promoter. This is the person or business promoting the merchant's products through their unique tracking link. The affiliates earn a commission for each sale, lead, or action generated through their referral.  A YouTuber who promotes Mainstack's products in their video description acts as an affiliate.
  2. The Consumer: Another key player is the consumer who clicks the affiliate link and makes a purchase. They pay the same price, but their purchase helps the affiliate earn a commission. When someone clicks a creator's link in bio and buys through any of their affiliate links, they are the consumer in the chain. 
  1. The Network: Lastly, the network acts as the middleman that connects merchants (the product owners) and affiliates (the promoters). It handles the technical side, that is, tracking clicks, managing payments, and providing unique referral links. Popular affiliate networks include platforms like ShareASale, Impact, and CJ Affiliate, which host thousands of brands and streamline everything in one place.

However, not all companies rely on external networks. Mainstack, for example, runs its own in-house affiliate system. This means affiliates can sign up directly on Mainstack, generate referral links, and track performance from their dashboards. Thus, no third-party platform is needed. 

Affiliate marketing has transformed beyond simple website links. Now, affiliates leverage blogs, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and emails to promote products and earn commissions. Bloggers may compare digital tools with affiliate links, YouTubers create product tutorials with links in descriptions, and TikTok creators share engaging product demos. Email marketers also provide personalized recommendations, converting loyal subscribers into repeat customers.

Why Affiliate Marketing Is Still Profitable in 2025

If you're wondering if affiliate marketing is still profitable in 2025, the answer is yes, but it's evolved. 

With the rise of the creator and influencer economy, anyone can now make money by promoting products they genuinely believe in. Whether you’re a YouTuber, blogger, or TikTok creator, it’s profitable because it’s built around freedom, creativity, and strategy. Here’s why it works so well:

  1. You don’t need a big budget to start
    There’s no product to make, warehouse to rent, or customer service to manage. All you really need is your platform and an internet connection. That low barrier to entry makes it easy for anyone to start earning quickly.
  2. Your content keeps paying you back
    A well-optimized video or blog post can keep earning long after you’ve published it. Once people start discovering it, the commissions can roll in for months or even years without you lifting a finger.
  3. You earn based on results, not hours
    Affiliate marketing doesn’t care about your résumé or work schedule. If your content converts, you get paid. That performance-based system means your earning potential grows with your skill.
  4. Some products pay you over and over
    The smartest affiliates focus on products that pay recurring commissions like subscription tools or digital services. One referral can turn into a steady stream of income as long as the customer stays subscribed.
  5. You can run it from anywhere
    Whether you’re working from your bedroom, a coffee shop, or the beach, affiliate marketing fits around your lifestyle. You can scale it up when you have time, or let it run in the background when you don’t.
  6. People buy from those they trust
    The more authentic you are with your recommendations, the more your audience listens. Over time, you build a reputation that turns casual followers into loyal supporters, and loyal supporters into constant buyers.
  7. You get paid to share what you love
    At its core, affiliate marketing is about connection. You’re sharing products you already use or believe in. That makes it feel less like selling and more like helping. The income that follows feels organic, not forced.

How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 2025 (Step-by-Step)

Starting affiliate marketing in 2025 is easier than you think. You don’t need a large audience or costly tools—just strategy and consistency. This section covers how to set up your affiliate business, pick the right products, and earn commissions sustainably.

Step 1 : Pick a Niche

Choosing the right niche is key to success in affiliate marketing. It defines your audience, products, and earning potential. The best niche balances demand, relevance, and personal interest.

To pick a niche, start by focusing on topics you care about. Is it tech, lifestyle, beauty, or finance? Choose a product you believe in so your content feels authentic and builds trust. But passion alone isn’t enough. Your niche also needs to be in high demand and solve a real problem.

For example, a niche like “how to become a ghostwriter” works better because it targets people who already know what they want and are actively looking for tools, courses, or platforms to help them get started. On the other hand, a broad topic like “how to make money” might be too vague. It attracts a wide audience but rarely converts because most people are just browsing for ideas, not ready to buy.

The key is to find the sweet spot: something you're interested in, that people are looking for, and that has affiliate programs with good commissions.

Once you’ve defined that, everything else; your content, audience, and income, starts to fall into place.

Step 2 : Research Affiliate Programs

After choosing your niche, the next step is finding the right affiliate programs to join. Not all programs are created equal, so it’s important to look for ones that align with your audience and offer real earning potential. Look for programs with good commissions, reliable tracking, timely payouts, and solid reputations.

Begin by looking at what successful creators in your niche are promoting; this is often an indicator of what works well. Then, compare the program structures. Check for details like:

  • Commission rates: What percentage do you earn per sale?
  • Cookie duration: How long after someone clicks your link do you still get credit for the purchase?
  • Payment terms: Are payouts monthly, weekly, or threshold-based?
  • Support and resources: Does the program provide marketing assets, analytics, or help for affiliates?

For beginners, Mainstack offers an easy affiliate setup for creators selling digital products or services. You can generate links, track clicks, and earn up to 30% commission on each sale, which is paid monthly.

Other strong options include Amazon Associates for physical products, ClickBank for digital items, and Impact for big brands and SaaS tools.

Choose programs that align with your content and audience. Promoting products you trust builds credibility and trust drives sales.

Step 3: Create a Platform to Promote Products

After you've chosen your affiliate programs, the next step is to decide where you'll promote them. The best platform is determined by your strengths. 

If you enjoy writing and sharing detailed insights, a blog or website is an excellent place to start. For example, successful affiliate marketers, like Wirecutter, use SEO-driven articles to review products, compare tools, and rank on Google for high-converting keywords. 

This approach builds long-term visibility and passive traffic.

If you’re more comfortable on camera, YouTube is a great platform. Creators like Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) include affiliate links to products they review. Video content is great because it helps viewers see the product in action before making a decision.

For those who prefer short-form content, TikTok and Instagram are ideal for quick, engaging product demos or tips. Influencers like Erika Kullberg and Kat Norton (Miss Excel) utilize short videos to showcase products while subtly including affiliate links in captions or bios.

And if you already have an email list, newsletters can be an effective channel for affiliate promotions. Creators such as Ali Abdaal and James Clear use email to recommend products, courses, or tools they personally trust, driving high engagement and repeat clicks.

To make managing your links easier, Mainstack offers an all-in-one solution. You can create a personal link-in-bio page or digital storefront that houses all your affiliate links, products, and offers in one place. 

Even better, it provides real-time analytics to track clicks and conversions, helping you see which platforms or products perform best.

Learn more: How to start Affiliate marketing on Mainstack

Step 4 : Choose A Products to sell

After choosing your niche and platform, decide which products to promote. The success of your affiliate marketing journey depends on what product you sell and how well it matches your audience’s needs.

Focus on three important factors: price, quality, and reputation. Products with favorable customer feedback and visible demand are more likely to convert. It's not just about making big commissions; it's about promoting something people will actually buy and appreciate you for recommending.

For beginners, avoid promoting too many products at once. Start small with two or three products that fit your niche, then expand as you grow. For example, designers can promote tools like Canva or Adobe Express that solve real problems.

Be authentic. Promote products you use or truly believe in. The most successful affiliates are not pushy salespeople; rather, they are helpful guides who provide real value.

Over time, you can test new offers or bundles, and consider creating your own digital products to scale further.

Step 5 : Create High-Quality Content

The success of affiliate marketing lies in creating content that informs, educates, or solves real problems. Audiences don’t respond to random product links; they want useful insights and genuine experiences.

Create content that builds trust and positions you as an authority in your niche. Some effective formats include:

  • Tutorials: Teach your audience how to use a tool or service. Example: “How to design stunning social media graphics using Canva.”
  • Product Comparisons: Help readers make better decisions, like “ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Which is better for email marketing?”

  • Listicles: Curate valuable resources such as “Top 10 tools every freelancer needs in 2025.”

Use SEO to make your content discoverable and storytelling to make it relatable. Combine this with social media content for faster growth.

Ensure you publish consistently to keep your audience interested. The more value you deliver, the more trust you earn, and that’s what drives affiliate conversions.

Step 6 : Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links

Creating exceptional content is half the job; the next step is driving traffic to it. Without it, even top-notch affiliate content won’t convert.

There are both free and paid methods to drive traffic, and most beginners start with the free options before scaling up.

Master free strategies first to learn what works. For example, you can optimize for SEO to rank on Google or YouTube, share short tutorials or demos on Pinterest or TikTok, and use email marketing to send tips and recommendations to subscribers.

Once you gain traction, scale with paid promotion for faster growth. Test paid options like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Ads to reach targeted audiences, or collaborate with influencers for wider exposure.

Step 7: Track Results and Optimize

Tracking performance separates hobbyists from serious affiliate marketers. After publishing your content, monitor clicks, conversions, and earnings. Ideally, your affiliate platform should have a dashboard to help you monitor this. You can also use tools like Google Analytics to track content and channels that drive results.

For instance, a “Top 10 Tools for Remote Work” post might outperform tutorials, or TikTok videos might convert better than emails. Use this data to refine what works; adjust link placement, update calls to action, or test new products.

Treat affiliate marketing as an ongoing experiment. Review data regularly, optimize top links, and refine strategy to increase conversions and income over time.

Common Mistakes Beginner Affiliate Marketers Should Avoid

Many beginners rush into affiliate marketing without a strategy. One common mistake is promoting too many products at once, which makes content feel cluttered and less trustworthy.

Neglecting content quality also hurts sales; the best products won’t sell if your message isn’t valuable or actionable. Always disclose affiliate links to stay credible, and be patient; consistent effort is what leads to steady income.

Start your affiliate journey today

Affiliate marketing isn’t about luck. It requires strategy, perseverance, and the use of the appropriate tools. The beauty of it lies in its flexibility: you can build a business from your laptop, promote products you already love, and earn while you sleep. 

Every post, video, or email you share is an opportunity to grow your influence and your income.

If you want an easy way to organize your affiliate links, host products, and track clicks in one place, Mainstack gives you the structure you need to turn your ideas into income.

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21 Best Digital Marketing Tools in 2025
Discover the 21 best digital marketing tools for 2025. Compare features, pricing, and benefits of top platforms for SEO, social media, and email marketing
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
Read more
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As more businesses find ways to thrive in a crowded market, the best digital marketing tools in 2025 provide smarter, faster, and more efficient methods to reach customers. 

What began as manual tracking and guesswork has now evolved into powerful systems that streamline every stage of marketing. This evolution enables startups and established brands to compete and grow in meaningful ways.

This guide will give a complete, step-by-step plan and downloadable checklist to help you choose the right tools, set up effective strategies, and track your progress with ease.

What Are Digital Marketing Tools?

Digital marketing tools are online platforms, apps, or software that help businesses plan, manage, and measure their marketing strategies across channels like social media, email, SEO, content, and advertising to boost engagement, generate leads, and increase sales.

Why Use Digital Marketing Tools?

Digital marketing tools make life easier by automating repetitive tasks such as post scheduling, email distribution, and campaign tracking. Instead of getting overwhelmed with manual tasks, you have more time to focus on the creative aspects of growing your business. 

They also provide real-time feedback on what works and what doesn't. With clear data on customer behavior and campaign performance, it's much easier to make better decisions that are impactful to your business.

With how fast the business world is moving, the right tools can help your brand stand out. Whether it's personalizing your messages or reaching the right audience faster, they give you an advantage over businesses that still rely on traditional methods.

And the best part? They’re often far more affordable than traditional marketing. Small businesses can now benefit from effective tools without breaking the bank, making online growth more accessible than ever. Traditional marketing, on the other hand, usually involves methods like print ads, billboards, TV, or radio spots, all of which are costly and difficult to track.

For example, a small bakery wanting to advertise through a newspaper ad might spend hundreds of dollars for just a single placement, with no clear way to measure how many people actually came in because of it. With digital marketing tools, that same bakery could run targeted social media ads for a fraction of the price, track clicks and conversions in real time, and adjust the campaign instantly to get better results.

Best Digital Marketing Tools by Category

With many options available, the right tool depends on your marketing goals. Here’s a list of top digital marketing tools by category to help you find what fits your business.

All-in-One Tools for Creators 

For creators who want everything in one place, all-in-one tools make it easier to manage content, grow an audience, and track performance without juggling multiple platforms.

1. Mainstack for all-in-one storefront and landing page

Mainstack user homepage

Mainstack is an all-in-one platform for creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to build landing pages, showcase products, and sell directly to their audience. It enables you to transform your online presence into a monetizable hub without the need for multiple tools, making it ideal for anyone who wants to manage everything in one place.

Some of its standout features include customizable landing pages, a built-in storefront for both digital and physical products, and an analytics dashboard that tracks audience engagement. It also comes with payment integrations for seamless sales and a simple link-in-bio option that works perfectly across social platforms.

Mainstack offers a free plan with core features, making it accessible to beginners. The platform supports flexible payment options, including one-time fees, subscriptions, pay-what-you-want models, and even crypto payments in over 135 currencies. The icing of the cake is that Mainstack doesn’t charge monthly fees. It only collects a small 3% platform fee when you earn, so you keep more of your revenue.

The Best SEO & Content Marketing Tools

SEO and content marketing tools help businesses attract the right audience and rank higher on search engines. They simplify keyword research, on-page optimization, and content planning to improve results.

2. Ahrefs for keyword research

Ahrefs homepage

Ahrefs is a leading SEO platform for keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitor insights. Its free tools let you generate up to 150 keyword ideas, check difficulty, and track rankings. This makes it ideal for small businesses or individuals starting out.

Ahrefs is known for its accurate data and keyword precision, which gives marketers better keywords to target. The downside, however, is that you need a paid plan to unlock advanced features like detailed backlink reports or larger keyword volumes, which can be pricey. 

Regardless, the upgrade unlocks one of the most powerful SEO suites on the market.

Ahrefs pricing homepage

Pricing: Free; paid plans start at $129/month.

3. Semrush for competitor analysis

Semrush

If you want to carry out a detailed competitor analysis, then Semrush is the best tool for that. It gives you a clear picture of who your competitors are, which keywords they rank for, where their traffic comes from, and what ads they run. 

This makes it a powerful tool to find strategy gaps and new growth opportunities.

While using Semrush is great, its wide range of insights can be overwhelming for beginners. Also, pricing may be high for small teams. However, for businesses ready to take SEO and digital marketing seriously, Semrush provides exceptional value.

Pricing: Free trial available; paid plans start at $139/month.

Semrush pricing page

4. Google Keyword Planner (best free SEO tool)

Google keyword planner

Google Keyword Planner is a solid free tool for basic keyword research. Originally built for Google Ads, it lets you find keyword ideas, search volumes, and competition levels using data directly from Google. It’s less detailed than paid tools like Ahrefs or Semrush but great for getting started on a budget.

Social Media Management Tools

Managing multiple social accounts is time-consuming, but social media tools help by scheduling posts, tracking performance, and boosting engagement. Here’s how the top options compare:

5. Buffer for simple scheduling

Buffer homepage

Buffer is a simple social media tool for scheduling and publishing posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter). Its clean interface makes it ideal for small businesses and creators who want an easy way to stay consistent. 

While Buffer’s free and lower-tier plans offer only basic analytics, its paid plans include more in-depth performance insights. Where it really shines, though, is in reliable, straightforward scheduling that keeps your content organized and on time.

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $5/month per channel.

6. Sprout Social for analytics and reporting

Sproutsocial

Sprout Social is a powerful social media tool with advanced analytics, detailed reporting, and engagement features. It’s ideal for teams and agencies that want to track campaign performance and make data-driven decisions.

What makes Sprout Social stand out is the quality of its insights. You can track audience growth, engagement trends, and campaign performance in detail, all while collaborating with your team on one platform. The downside of using Sprout Social is that it comes at a higher cost, which may be challenging for small businesses.

Pricing: Free trial available; paid plans start at $249/month.


7. Bonus: A Free Alternative — Meta Business Suite

Meta Business suite

If you’re not ready to invest in a paid scheduling tool, Meta Business Suite is a great free option. Designed for Facebook and Instagram, it lets you plan and schedule posts, reply to messages, and check performance insights, all from one dashboard.

While it’s limited to Meta platforms, it’s surprisingly effective for small businesses, creators, and entrepreneurs who mainly use Facebook and Instagram to reach their audience. You can manage both accounts in one place without needing extra tools, making it a simple, no-cost way to stay consistent online.

Email Marketing & Automation Tools

Email marketing tools help businesses send campaigns, automate follow-ups, segment audiences, and personalize content. The right choice depends on your audience size and goals.

8. Mailchimp (best for all-in-one email campaigns)

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is known for its ease of use and range of features, from drag-and-drop email builders to automation workflows and audience segmentation. It’s great for managing campaigns in one place: from design to copy to planning to tracking analytics.

The free plan is generous, but pricing scales as your subscriber list grows.
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $13/month.

9. Kit formerly ConvertKit (best for creators selling digital products) 

Kit (formerly convertkit)

One advantage of using Kit is how  it supports audience growth and monetization. You can tag and organize subscribers based on their actions, build custom sequences, and nurture leads without needing advanced technical skills. 

While its email templates are minimal, it offers an efficient system for growing and monetizing your audience.

Pricing: Free plan available for up to 1,000 subscribers; paid plans start at $15/month.

10. MailerLite (best for simplicity and affordability)

Mailerlite

MailerLite is a lightweight, budget-friendly option that still covers essential features like automation, landing pages, and sign-up forms. It’s particularly appealing to small businesses or beginners who want a straightforward way to run email campaigns without complexity.

Pricing: Free plan available for up to 500 subscribers; paid plans start at $9/month.

Analytics & Reporting Tools

Analytics tools help businesses understand how campaigns perform, how users behave on websites or apps, and where to improve to maximize ROI. Here are some analytics tools:

11. Google Analytics 4 (best for website performance tracking)

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the go-to tool for tracking website traffic, conversions, and user behavior. It helps you understand where visitors are coming from, how they interact with your content, and which channels drive the most revenue. While it’s powerful, the setup can feel complex for beginners.
Pricing: Free.

12. Hotjar (best for visual behavior insights)

Hotjar takes analytics further by providing heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback tools. Instead of just numbers, you can see exactly how people click, scroll, and interact with your website, making it easier to spot usability issues and optimize conversions.
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $32/month.

AI-Powered Marketing Tools

AI tools are transforming digital marketing by helping businesses create content faster, personalize messaging, and make smarter predictions about customer behavior.

13. Jasper AI (best for long-form marketing content)

Jasper AI specializes in generating blog posts, ad copy, and marketing emails using AI. It’s trained on marketing frameworks and tones, making it a solid choice for brands that want polished, conversion-focused writing at scale.
Pricing: Plans start at $59/month.

14. Copy.ai (best for quick copywriting)

Design & Creative Tools

Great marketing requires visuals that capture attention, and design tools make it easy for anyone even without design skills to create professional-looking graphics and campaigns.

15. Canva (best for quick, versatile designs)

Canva is one of the most popular design tools, offering templates for social media, presentations, ads, and more. It is so beginner-friendly that anyone could work around the already existing templates and create a masterpiece. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple for non-designers, and the free version is robust enough for most small business needs.

Pricing: Free plan available; Canva Pro starts at $12.99/month.

16. Figma (best for collaborative design)

Figma is a design tool built for collaboration. Teams can create, edit, and comment on designs in real time, making it perfect for marketers working with designers or agencies. It’s especially useful for UI/UX projects and campaign mockups.
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $5/month depending on the collab, dev or dull seat..

17. Adobe Express (best for professional-grade templates)

Paid Ads & PPC Tools

Running paid ad campaigns requires precise targeting, careful budgeting, and clear tracking to make sure every dollar counts. Paid Ads and PPC tools simplify campaign management, measure ROI, and help businesses reach the right audiences faster.

18. Google Ads (best for search engine campaigns)

Google ads

Google Ads is the most widely used platform for pay-per-click advertising. It allows businesses to bid on keywords and display ads at the top of search results, reaching customers at the exact moment they’re searching for solutions. Its strength is intent-driven traffic, though competition for popular keywords can make costs high.
Pricing: Pay-per-click model, no fixed monthly fee.

19. Meta Ads Manager (best for social ad targeting)


Pricing: Flexible budget; pay-per-click or impression.

Collaboration & Project Management Tools

With so many moving parts in digital marketing, project management tools help teams stay organized, collaborate smoothly, and ensure campaigns launch on time.

20. Trello (best for visual task management)

Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks in a highly visual way. It’s simple, flexible, and perfect for small teams that want to manage campaigns, brainstorm ideas, or track workflows without overwhelming features.
Pricing: Free plan is available; paid plans start at $5/month per user.

21. Asana (best for structured workflows)

Asana is more than just a to-do list. It’s a collaboration tool that helps teams stay organized and finish big projects on time. You can use it to see how tasks connect (called dependencies), view everything on a clear timeline, and start new projects quickly with ready-made templates. This makes it perfect for marketing or creative teams that handle tons of campaigns and deadlines at once.

Asana integrates with more than 200 applications, including Google Workspace, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, eliminating the need to switch between different programs. 

You can add custom fields to track what matters most to your team, and use workload tools to see who’s busy and who has time to help. Automation saves time by handling small, repetitive jobs automatically. Plus, Asana now includes smart AI helpers that can spot delays, suggest next steps, and keep projects running smoothly.


Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $10.99/month per user.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Marketing Tools

Using digital marketing tools effectively goes beyond just signing up. To maximize results, review analytics regularly and adjust strategies based on real data. Automate repetitive tasks like emails, scheduling, and reporting to free up more time for creativity and strategy. 

Combine tools for a full stack. For example, you can pair analytics with email automation or project management with social scheduling to create a more powerful marketing system.

At the end of the day, marketing tools are there to make life easier, not harder. Start small; choose two or three that address your biggest needs, like audience growth, time savings, or better content, and expand as you grow.

Looking for an all-in-one digital marketing solution built for creators? Mainstack lets you host digital products, track analytics, and manage engagement, all from one simple dashboard.

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How to Join the Mainstack Affiliate Program
Learn how to join Mainstack's affiliate program in minutes. Step-by-step guide covering requirements, application process, approval tips, and how to earn
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
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Every day, people are monetising at scale and generating revenue globally- not because they launched a business, but because they started sharing links. While you’re still planning your next move, others are already earning from products that aren’t even theirs.

The window is wide open right now. The first set of affiliates is getting in early, securing the audience, and grabbing attention that’ll look unreal in a few weeks. You can either watch the numbers grow or be the one getting paid from them.

You already know how powerful Mainstack is - now imagine earning every time someone buys from it. No products to create. No barriers. Just your voice, your reach, and a link that makes you money.

Here’s how to start:

Step 1

From your Mainstack dashboard, click your display picture and select Affiliate Program.

Step 2

On the affiliate dashboard, click the “Discover Offerings” button. You’ll see a list of products from different merchants that you can promote to earn commissions. 


Step 3

Browse through the available products. You can filter them by amount, commission rate, or merchant.

Step 4

Once you find a product you’d like to promote, click on it to view more details and walk through its offer page.

Step 5

Choose an offer and click ‘become an affiliate’ which gives you access to share your unique affiliate link.

From the moment a sale comes through, you earn. Mainstack pays you directly - fast, clean, and in your preferred method. 

While others are waiting to “start earning online,” you could already be collecting.
The only thing between you and your next payout is a few clicks.

GET STARTED HERE

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Why Everyone’s Talking About Mainstack’s Affiliate Program
Discover why Mainstack's affiliate program is gaining buzz among creators. Learn about commission rates, benefits, product variety, and how creators earn
Mainstack Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
10 min read
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It’s a whole new ballgame.

For years, creators and entrepreneurs in Africa have been told the same story: “Build your product. Sell it. Repeat.” However, the truth is that the online world doesn’t reward hard work alone; it rewards networks, visibility, and speed.

And that’s exactly what Mainstack’s Affiliate Program is built for.

This isn’t just another earning tool. It’s a gateway to limitless sales and income, powered by collaboration.

For Merchants: Imagine Hundreds Selling for You

You already created something valuable. Now, imagine hundreds of people selling it for you.
That’s what happens when you list your product on Mainstack’s Affiliate Marketplace.

Instead of doing all the marketing yourself, you tap into an army of affiliates ready to share, promote, and sell your product to audiences you might never reach on your own. Every time they sell, you earn effortlessly.

It’s not just marketing. It’s multiplication.

Your reach expands. Your sales grow. Your brand travels faster than your ads ever could.
And with Mainstack’s 24-hour payouts across Naira, crypto, PayPal, and DOM accounts, you don’t wait to see results.

HERE IS HOW TO LIST YOUR PRODUCT 

For Affiliates: Earn Without Limits

If you have influence, community, or just good digital instincts, Mainstack gives you a new way to earn without creating anything.

You can promote digital products from verified merchants -from courses to eBooks to templates - and earn a commission for every sale.
No setup. No stress. Just pure earning potential.

Whether you’re a content creator, influencer, or someone who just knows how to connect people to what they need. This is how you turn your voice into consistent income.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN JOIN

It’s a New Economy, Bigger than Sales

The Mainstack Affiliate Program isn’t about links. It’s about liberation.
It’s about creators and merchants across Africa finally getting paid for the value they bring -  without waiting on gatekeepers, ad budgets, or platforms that don’t understand our market.

It’s the freedom to earn faster, smarter, and together.
It’s the new way to sell. The new way to grow. The new way to win.

You can be part of the movement - or watch from the sidelines while others cash out.

Start now. Build smarter. Earn faster.

GET STARTED NOW 

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