How Does Rakuten Make Money For Affiliates?

How does Rakuten make money as your side hustle?

Well, we thought you’d want to know. Did you know that Rakuten is a multifaceted powerhouse for affiliate marketers?

Workers on computers: how does Rakuten make money for your gig?

Disclosure:  We recommend products we believe to be suited for our own use and for our readers. We may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you through purchases made via affiliate links on this page.

Rakuten offers a surprising depth of advantages both for businesses as well for content publishers in the affiliate marketing sphere.

In this article we explore the strengths of Rakuten and its treasure trove of coupons and cash back opportunities that make this platform either a hidden gem or a best kept secret as an online shopping marketplace.

Businesses and Publishers Benefit

Rakuten’s concept is simple and effective. Stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending their members (like you) to shop at their websites, and Rakuten shares the commission with you as "Cash Back".

In the process, businesses get wider reach, performance-based marketing, sophisticated analytics, and opportunities to expand globally.

As an affiliate marketer, you get access to a slew of programs to promote, from physical products to virtual services, like hotel bookings, etc.

You also get to use a cutting-edge platform with user-friendly tools, dedicated support and greatly empowering commissions.

Aside from commissions, Rakuten empowers publishers in unique ways.

How Does Rakuten Make Money for You? Beyond Just Commissions:

While all affiliate networks connect publishers with affiliate programs, Rakuten is one of the networks in the growing trend of offering a commission approach with more perks, including:

Commission Flexibility

Rakuten offers a variety of structures to choose from, like:

  • Cost-per-Sale (CPS), where you earn a commission for each sale generated through your affiliate link.

  • Cost-per-Click (CPC), where you get rewarded for every time someone clicks through your link, regardless of whether they make a purchase.

  • Cost-per-Lead (CPL), where you earn a commission for each qualified lead you generate for a business.

This flexibility allows you to choose the commission structure that best aligns with your content and audience engagement strategies.

Dynamic Commissioning

You are incentivized to maximize your production. This means you can potentially earn higher commission rates by exceeding specific performance goals.

For example, the base commission might be a flat rate for every travel booking made through your link. But with the dynamic commission structure you can earn a higher commission if higher-value luxury travel packages are booked.

This incentivizes you to go the extra mile, creating high-quality content that targets customers likely to book more expensive travel experiences for higher commissions.

Targeted Marketing

Through its laser-focused approach, Rakuten allows you to tap into a targeted audience of deal-seekers with high buying intent, actively searching for specific products and brands.

When you write a blog post packed with insightful reviews or comparisons and you integrate Rakuten deals and cash back opportunities into your post, you're reaching people actively looking to make a purchase, not just browsing the internet aimlessly.

With this targeted approach, there is a higher chance of your audience clicking through your affiliate links and making a purchase. This ultimately boosts your affiliate performance by increasing your click-through rates and conversions.

Extra Resources

  • Detailed Reporting: By tracking performance, analyzing commission rates, and identifying areas for improvement you’re put in the driver’s seat of your affiliate journey.

  • A treasure Trove of Deals: Because Rakuten is a haven for deal-seeking shoppers, it helps affiliate marketers reach out and recruit the public widely with bonuses, coupons, exclusive discounts, promo codes, and cash back opportunities that translate to attractive substantial gains.

  • Easy of Use: The user-friendly platform makes finding deals and activating cash back a piece of cake.

A Symbiotic Ecosystem with Benefits for All

In short, Rakuten fosters a win-win situation for everyone involved in this symbiotic ecosystem.

Businesses gain access to a targeted audience through high-converting affiliate recommendations.

Affiliates earn competitive commissions and build a connection with their audience by offering deals and savings.

Shoppers find fantastic deals for savings and for stretching their budgets further.

Bonus Perks for Savvy Shoppers

Rakuten goes beyond just offering coupons and cash back.

New Rakuten members often receive a welcome bonus, providing them with additional benefits on their first purchase. It's a great way for newcomers to test the waters and get introduced to the Rakuten experience.

The Rakuten mobile app lets you browse deals, activate cash back, and track your earnings on the go. This convenience allows shoppers to find and maximize savings anytime, anywhere.

So, how does Rakuten make money for your side hustle?

When shoppers stumble upon a website overflowing with discount codes, cash back offers, and so many deals, their inner bargain hunter goes into overdrive.

Your audience discovers these deals and savings through your Rakuten-linked recommendations, and it builds a connection. People see you as someone who's bringing them value, not just pushing products on them.

This is mutually beneficial online experience that is neither a common occurrence nor widespread knowledge. So, you have an edge when you expose your audience to it.

Ultimately, Rakuten offers a unique and powerful ecosystem that benefits all parties involved. Whether you're a business seeking targeted reach, a publisher aiming to monetize your content, or a shopper looking for the best deals, Rakuten has something to offer.

It's a win-win situation as your audience gets great deals, and you get rewarded handsomely for your content creation efforts as they make purchases through your links.

To make money or to find deals, join the Rakuten Refer-A-Friend program by clicking here: www.rakuten.com.

Getting Started as a Rakuten Affiliate

If you already have an active website, signing up for a Rakuten affiliate account is not complicated and only takes a few minutes.

Go to rakutenmarketing.com and click on the “Publisher’s Sign Up” button. Fill out some basic information (your name, email address, website URL, etc.)

You should immediately get approval and access to the Rakuten affiliate dashboard. Remember that you are given access to literally thousands of merchants and products.

Your approval to Rakuten does not automatically give you approval to all affiliate programs in the network.

You may still have to apply for approval for some of the specific products or merchants you’re interested in promoting.

Review products, merchants, and commission structures for top selections and if you’re new to affiliate marketing, take advantage of Rakuten’s Affiliate Intelligence and publisher support.

You might like these


Are YOU on Track for Financial Success in Your Future?

Personal Finance Quiz

Take This Quiz
to Assess!


Start Making Money
with Affiliate Marketing!


Recent Articles

  1. Is the Travelocity Affiliate Program Right For Your Audience?

    Travelocity Affiliate Program
    Is The Travelocity Affiliate Program Worth it? It depends! Find out why.

    Read More

  2. Be Your Own Bank: Practical Tips

    Be Your Own Bank
    How to be your own bank: learn how to accomplish this, and why it may give you not only a financial benefit, but peace of mind as well.

    Read More

  3. How To Withdraw Money From Robinhood

    How To Withdraw Money From Robinhood
    An easy guide to How to withdraw money from Robinhood and troubleshoot your nuisance.

    Read More