Using Affiliate Links

One way that you can make additional money is by referral programs which are offered by most of the Microstock websites. They are also referred to as affiliate programs. On the internet the use of these programs is common and can be advantageous to both the artist and the agency. The artist can make a little extra money and the agencies can gain more business from new buyers and contributors.

Basically the way it works is that you refer new customers or artists to the website and in return you are rewarded for it.

In order to earn money the new buyers or customers are not just required to sign up with the websites. If that were the case the agencies would pay out a lot of money for nothing since most people who sign up as buyers never actually buy products from the sites. Even more contributors who sign up never actually upload and sell any artwork or photographs. So in order to protect themselves the websites have rules that apply to what has to happen in order for you to make any money from the affiliate programs.

Most of the websites provide their own banners and ads that are pre-made that you can incorporate into your own website. The ads are linked to your account so that the agencies know that anyone who clicks on that link is getting there as a referral from you. Anything that takes place after that initial click of the link will be connected to your account.
For example, Charles goes to your website and decides, after reviewing your information, to click on one of the links you have that takes him to a specific website. He signs up as contributor. Two weeks later he uploads his first illustrations and two weeks after that he has his first sale. Because you referred him to the agency not only does he make money but you will get paid a certain amount as well.

The websites offer different kinds of programs and the details of each can vary. Let’s take a look at some of the various referral programs offered. This will give you a better idea as to whether this is something that you might be interested in pursuing.

Shutterstock (information from the website)

For referred contributors

Earn $0.04 per download each time an image* is downloaded for the first two years after your referred contributor is approved.

They provide you a link and html to use on your webpage that directs the artist or photographer to the contributor sign up page.

For referred movie clips contributors

Earn 10% per download each time a clip* is sold for the first year after your referred contributor is approved.

Use the same link and html that you use above to direct the photographer to the contributor sign up page.

For referred customers

Earn 20% of the first payment by your referred customer to Shutterstock, up to $200.

They provide links to their homepage, your portfolio or any specific page that you want to direct the customer to. They also provide simple html and banner ads that you can place on your website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Here is the link to the Shutterstock referral program page.

iStock (information from the website)

What you get

$20 USD for every new customer you refer who makes a purchase of 30 credits or more within 30 days of clicking your link.

20 credits (a $30+ USD value) for every new customer you refer who makes a purchase of 30 credits or more within 30 days of clicking your link.

20% on the sale of a new customer's first credit pack purchase within 30 days of clicking your link, with no minimum purchase and no cap on your commission.

What the customers gets

10 free credits (must be redeemed within 30 days)

9 million+ photo, illustration, flash, audio and video files to choose from.

Rules

New referrals only

The referred purchaser must not be a current member and cannot have previously had an iStock account or you won't receive the referral payout.

First time's the charm

You'll only earn the referral bonus for the new member's first purchase. Makes sense, no?

We love cookies

Your referrals will need to have cookies enabled throughout the entire process so we can track them as coming from you. No cookies for them, no referral bonus for you.

Best before date

Your referrals must make a purchase within 30 days of clicking your referral link, or their cookie will expire and you won't get paid.

No referrals for reversals

If the referral's purchase gets reversed for any reason, you won't get paid. You know, because we didn't get paid. Imagine that.

Play nice

We designed this program for personal and corporate referrals, not cash-hungry spammers. We reserve the right to revoke anyone's participation in the program if we decide at our sole discretion that you're behaving badly.

Give me some credit

If you select credits for your payout plan, please allow 4 days for us to credit your account. We promise, it'll be worth the wait.

Getting paid

If you've chosen the flat rate cash or % commission payout option, you can request a payout as soon as you have at least $100 USD in your account. Allow 10 days for us to process the payment.

Couldn't agree more

You'll need to review and agree to the terms and conditions of the Referral Program before you start raking in the cash.

Here is the link to the iStock referral program page.

Fotolia (information from the website)

What is the affiliation program?

The Fotolia affiliation program is a web-based system that enables members to promote Fotolia to their friends and associates to earn rewards instantly from new member purchases, on a recurring basis. When you refer a new member via this program and the new member makes a purchase on Fotolia we will automatically deposit a reward into your Fotolia account. If your affiliate purchases a Daily Subscription Plan, you will earn 20 credits, 10 credits if he purchases a Monthly Subscription Plan.

Characteristics of the program

You receive:

  • Affiliation commission = 15 % of net*
  • 20 credits earned if your affiliate purchases a Daily Subscription Plan (limit of one per affiliate)
  • 10 credits earned if your affiliate purchases a Monthly Subscription Plan (limit of one per affiliate)
  • 5 credits earned if your affiliate purchases a Monthly Subscription Plan with a quota lower than 25 downloads per month (limit of one per affiliate)
  • Powerful affiliation tools
  • Promotional materials
  • Real time reporting
  • Add an unlimited number of affiliates
  • Recurring reward (up to 12 months of an affiliate’s purchases)

*Affiliate commission is calculated as (sales price – photographer commission) x 15%

Here is the link to the Fotolia affiliate program page.

Dreamstime (information from the website)

Referral commission

10% from EVERY sale/purchase made in the next 3 years (gross price)

Referral fee

Credits packages - between $1 - $10 for EACH credit package
Subscriptions - between $5 - $380 for EACH subscription package
All referral shares are supported by Dreamstime!

Cookie length

30 day

Payment Method

Check, PayPal, Payoneer or Moneybookers

Real time reporting

Unlimited number of affiliates

Awarding all referred contributors and buyers

Sign-up tracking page - anywhere on the website

Recommend Dreamstime to as many people you can - friends, colleagues or relatives. Even competitors can bring you a share of their Dreamstime purchases or earnings! 10% of all sales made within the first 3 years from registration for each referred member, contributor or buyer.

You can refer people by giving them the URL (any user coming to our site automatically becomes your referee) or by using the referral ID (any user entering this code in the registration form is automatically marked as your referee). You choose the method that suits you best: word of mouth, e-mail, badge, banner, forum post, or referral link. No spam please.

A $5 instant bonus may be received if you decide to display visibly banner badge on your site and you submit the URL using the field below. Submitted sites are reviewed for relevancy, usefulness and visibility given to the badge.

Dreamstime offers many links and multiple banners to use on your website.

Here is the link to their referral page.

CanStockPhoto (information from the website)

How it Works:

Choose any of our banners, and place them on a website or in an e-mail. When someone clicks on your link, our site will automatically remember that you referred them. You will then be eligible for a referral commission!

How much can I make?

From Purchases: You will earn a flat 10% of that member's purchases, within 6 months, up to $50. Example: You refer a member who purchases a 6 month subscription. You'll earn $50. Example: You refer a member who purchases 55 credits each month. You'll earn $15.

From Photographers: You will earn $5 for every 50 photos that they sell within 6 months, up to $50. Example: You refer a photographer who sells 150 photos in the first 6 months. You'll earn $15. Example: You refer a photographer who sells 425 photos in the first 6 months. You'll earn $40.

From Both: If they become a photographer and purchases photos, you can earn double commission! Example:You refer a new member who sells 400 photos in the first 6 months, and also purchases a six month subscription. You'll earn $90.

How can I refer people?

Using our banners/links, it's easy to refer people. We supply a variety of layouts and button types to chose from. Here are some easy ways to use your referral links:

- Place a CanStock search box on your website
- Put banners or text links on your website
- Have a blog? Use our text links!
- E-mail our link to friends and family
- Use our text link in your e-mail signatures
- Member of discussion forums? Put a link in your signature!
- Recommend us on an open site, and use your link
- List CanStock on a directory website, and use your link

How do I get paid?

Each time you earn a referral, your account balance will automatically be credited. As usual, once your account reaches $100, you will be able to cash-out. You can choose to receive a cheque, or PayPal transfer.

Or if you would like, you can also covert some of your account balance into download credits - your choice!

What are the rules?

We ask that you do not abuse the system. This means no referring fake members, etc. Also, please do not spam people with your links. If you break these rules, we may terminate your account.

CanStockPhoto offers several links and multiple banner images for use on your webpage.

Here is a link to their referral program page.

In conclusion

As you can see the advantages are very different from website to website. Some only offer the program as it pertains to customers, while others include customers and contributors.
If you have a website there is really no reason not to at least try making use of these affiliate programs. It is easy to incorporate the links and banners and could make you a little or a lot of money.
Some of the websites suggest that if you don’t have a website you can still take advantage of the links on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m not sure how receptive Twitter is to the idea since it could be considered spam. I would probably stick to Facebook. You can either use your everyday profile or you may want to create a separate profile for your artwork or photography.

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