The boom of online marketplaces no doubt created opportunities to make money from reselling. Some sellers started listing their pre-loved items as a means to declutter and then ended up turning this side hustle into a profitable full-time business!

The great thing is that sold listings aren't the only ones that can put money into your pockets. If you're a reseller that likes to shop or even just to look around online, consider becoming an affiliate. You have the potential to earn a certain percentage from every sale that could be attributed to a link on your site.

Etsy is one of the marketplaces that has a straightforward program for affiliates that you may want to explore. Learn all about it here!

What is the Etsy Affiliate Program, and how does it work?

Through this program, an Etsy-approved affiliate promotes a product or a selection of items available on Etsy through a link on their website or another external channel (e.g., a blog or a social media page).

Every time a buyer purchases on Etsy using an affiliate's link, a commission is earned provided that the link was clicked and payment was made within 30 days (if the buyer is using the web) or seven days (if using the app).

The purchase must also be verified before the commission is credited to you. Validation takes about 30 days.

Please note that this affiliate program is not run by Etsy but by Awin Affiliate Network, a third-party provider. There is a $5 refundable fee you need to pay upfront.

Also worth noting is that the Etsy Affiliate Program is available in other countries aside from the US. If you are based in France, Germany, Australia, the UK, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, and Scandinavian countries, make sure to apply as an affiliate for the corresponding version of the program. If you do not live in any of these countries, choose the “EU” or “Rest of the World” version. Make sure you select the right one to avoid any technical problems down the road.

Etsy provides all affiliates with creatives such as banners, as well as access to ready-to-use affiliate links.

Who can join the program?

Anyone 18 years old and above can be an Etsy affiliate as long as they have a website, a blog, or a social media page with a good reputation and fairly substantial existing content already.

If it is just now that you plan to start making one of the platforms mentioned above, building it up first before applying to the program is recommended. Remember, applications may be rejected if the external channel doesn't seem credible or presentable enough.

For an Instagram page to be approved, it must have at least 500 followers and an engagement rate of 3% or above. Pinterest and YouTube pages may be allowed on a case-to-case basis.

Etsy sellers can also join, but with limitations set in place which we will discuss below.

How do I apply as an Etsy Affiliate?

All aspiring affiliates must course their application through Awin on this page. If you are planning to use more than one website or social media page as your affiliate channel, you need to process the application for each one individually.

If you're an Etsy seller, you are required to disclose the shops you own, manage, or are associated with on this marketplace.

Once you complete the application, you will be prompted to complete the Etsy Affiliate Survey as a final step.

There is no contract involved. However, it is mandatory to read and agree to the policy and terms and conditions for your application to progress. Should you want to quit the program at any time, you are free to do so.

What is the commission structure?

Etsy offers affiliates a commission equivalent to 4% of the item's selling price before taxes and shipping fees. This running rate published on Etsy should be used as a guide only.

As stated in their policy, the actual commission rate may be more complex as it depends on several considerations (e.g., the nature of the channel and its content).

For instance, qualified sales from what was identified as user-generated content earn the affiliate a 2% commission.

How do affiliates get paid?

The commissions are transferred directly to the payment method chosen upon application. On your first payout, you can expect the $5 joining fee to be refunded back to your account.

Remember that there's a holding period of about a month to validate all qualified sales. Keep this in mind in anticipating the payout schedule.

What are the instances when affiliates do not get paid?

The validation period mentioned earlier is necessary for Etsy to check the technicalities of the qualified sales attributed to your affiliate link.

You will not get any commission in the following scenarios:

• Your link leads to an Etsy shop you own, manage, or are connected to in one way or another (for example, the same bank details).
• The item was purchased using a gift card.
• The qualified sale was eventually canceled or returned.
• There was an involvement of pay-per-click channels or paid searches somewhere in the process. Etsy will accept only clicks on organic pages.
• There was a malicious scheme to outsmart the system for your benefit.

Also, note that if a buyer clicks on several affiliate links, including yours, within 30 days, the commission will be awarded to the most recent link clicked right before the purchase.

Be that smart, savvy reseller today!

If you haven't explored the affiliate marketing world, Etsy Affiliate Program is a good place to start. Four percent commission may not be huge, but it adds up. Maybe you can focus on recommending high-value items with a strong market or perhaps curate a selection of items revolving around a particular style or function.

It's up to you to strategize - just make sure you don't break any rules.

Finding ways to earn extra cash with little effort is one of many ways to be smart and savvy. Taking advantage of innovative tools to make your workflow run much more efficiently is a clever move, too.

If you sell on multiple marketplaces such as Poshmark, Mercari, and Depop, seize the chance to make your reseller life easier with OneShop's automation capabilities and order management functions.

Let OneShop help you automate tasks and cross-list across multiple platforms to grow your business. Start your 7-day free trial with no risks involved and get set up within three minutes. See how this automation service can improve reselling operations.