Hello there Sea Changers. Welcome back to my series of program lists to assist those of you looking to fund your sea change with affiliate marketing. Today we are going to take a trip onto ice rink to look at my 10 best Canadian affiliate programs to step out on the ice with this year.
One of the advantages of affiliate marketing is that you can essentially market to anywhere in the world. However, due to influences such as local customs and regulations, there are often instances where affiliate marketers have a need to target a specific country.
- Best Buy Canada
- Lowe's
- Indigo
- Skyscanner Canada
- ACP Rail
- Web Hosting Canada
- Questrade
- Square One
- CBD Oil Canada
- Amazon
That's right! Wealthy Affiliate provided me with all of the tools and training I needed to get this post in front of my audience - a.k.a YOU!
You too can start your very own online business here that can make you money from anywhere in the world!!
Before we start, the affiliate lists that I look at on this site are usually niche specific – covering everything from adult products to scrapbooking supplies – however as we are looking at things from a slightly different angle, I am conscious that there are a number of different areas or sub niches that would could look at.
So how have I picked my best 10? Well… I really just wanted to give you a good cross section of what is out there in terms of popular Canadian affiliate programs so I did some searching around, checked a few out and chose them by looking at:
- What they offer
- Commission rates
- Payment terms
- Cookie duration
- Application processes
- Affiliate/Marketing materials provided
Before we start however, let's have a look at what I mean by the term ‘Canadian' when it comes to affiliate programs…
Canadian Affiliate Programs
So, if you are looking for Canadian affiliate program options, let's check out some of the more popular ones below:
1. Best Buy Canada
Our first site, Best Buy, is a massive Canadian electronics and homewares store providing access to just about anything that you could need for the home and office. Their range is massive with way too much to list here however their main categories include:
- Appliances
- Computers, Tablets & Accessories
- Printers, Ink & Office Supplies
- Cell Phones and Accessories
- Cameras, Camcorders & Drones
- Baby, Maternity & Beauty
- Headphones, Speakers & Audio
- Musical Instruments
- TV & Home Theatre
- Video Games & Movies
- Luggage, Watches & Jewelry
- Wearable Tech, Health & Fitness
- Smart Home & Car Electronics
- Toys, Sports & Recreation
- Home, Furniture & Kitchen
The advantage of offering access to country specific stores such as this is that influences such as mobile phone provider access, power points and video game country codes etc. can be matched specifically for those looking to purchase.
This is a great program to join for those looking to cover well-known Canadian brands in any of the niches listed above with the advantage of covering some international options as well. The program is available in both English and French.
Commission Rate: 1%
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not Stated
Application required?: Yes, Best Buy's affiliate program is managed by Impact. You will be required to apply for an account then for the Best Buy affiliate program. You will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners
2. Lowe's
Lowe's Canada promotes itself as meeting the needs of “Canada's home improvement DIYers and contractors alike” with a range on par with the first site above. This includes:
- Appliances
- Bathroom
- Building Supplies
- Cleaning Supplies
- Doors & Windows
- Electrical
- Flooring
- Hardware
- Heating & Cooling
- Home Decor & Furniture
- Kitchen
- Lighting & Ceiling Fans
- Outdoor
- Paint
- Plumbing
- Smart Home
- Storage Solutions
- Tools
- Vacuums and Floor Care
Again, these are all sold to Canadian specifications and requirements.
This is another great site for those looking to get their affiliate programs up and running within the Canadian market with the ability to earn commissions across a number of specialty and generic niche options.
Commission Rate: Not Stated
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not Stated
Application required?: Yes, the Lowe's affiliate program is managed by CJ Affiliates. You will be required to apply for an account then for the Lowe's affiliate program. You will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners
3. Indigo
Indigo is “Canada's biggest bookstore” making it a great option for those working within the books, educational or home office niches aimed at Canadian schools or businesses. Again there is too much within their stock range to list everything here however they do offer a range of:
- Back To School
- Books
- Kids Books
- Kids & Toys
- Baby
- Wellness
- Home
- Fashion
- Paper
- Electronics
- Gifts
This list doesn't even come close to doing the site justice in regards to their offerings with enough here to base numerous affiliate sites upon aimed and Canadians and international purchasers alike. There is also the option to promote free shipping within Canada as well.
As above, there is definitely enough on this site to base an entire affiliate marketing site around if you are dealing with any of the categories listed above.
Commission Rate: 2 – 7%
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not Stated
Application required?: Yes, Indigo's affiliate program is managed by CJ Affiliates. You will be required to apply for an account then for the Indigo affiliate program. You will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Banners, text links, datafeed
4. Skyscanner Canada
Skyscanner Canada is the Canadian version of the international Skyscanner network of travel ‘multi-booking' sites providing discounted and last minute deals to hotels, flights, activities, car rentals and cruises all over Canada. This site works for both affiliates promoting Canadian holiday destinations as well those looking to get their compatriots deals for travel out of Canada too.
They also deal in travel and holiday packages and for affiliate marketers, access to hotel reviews and ‘must see' lists providing great content for your own travel related posts.
Commission Rates: 20%
Payment Terms: Monthly.
Cookie Duration: Not stated
Application required?: Yes – personal and website information required.
Marketing material provided: Text links, widgets, banners and API.
5. ACP Rail
Our next site, ACP Rail makes the list based on the fact that it is Canadian owned rather than Canada centric. It does however offer a large range of rail passes, tours and packages for tourists in Canada as well as numerous countries worldwide including:
- BritRail
- Japan Rail
- Eurail
- Swiss Rail
- Scandinavia Rail
- German Rail
- ScotRail
- Interrail
- Rail Australia
- Amtrak
There is probably not enough to build an affiliate marketing business around however it would be a great companion/add on to just about any travel, holiday or family adventure related site as well.
Commission Rate: Not Stated
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: 3 months
Application required?: Yes, you will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links and banners
That's right! Wealthy Affiliate provided me with all of the tools and training I needed to get this post in front of my audience - a.k.a YOU!
You too can start your very own online business here that can make you money from anywhere in the world!!
6. Web Hosting Canada
Now we take a look into the Canadian web hosting market with Web Hosting Canada. This is a one stop shop site for Canadian web domains and hosting “providing Canadian businesses with the means to succeed online”. Their services are as follows:
- Domain Names
- Websites
- Online Marketing
- Security & SSL
There is definitely enough on this site to base an entire affiliate marketing site around if you are dealing with web hosting etc. especially within the Canadian market with the ability to purchase .ca domains as well. There is also a great blog here covering all aspects of web design and business IT requirements with a distinct Canadian flavour.
Commission Rate: up to $300 per referral (at up to 80%)
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not Stated
Application required?: Yes You will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners, landing pages
7. Questrade
Questrade offers Canadians “better, simple, more affordable ways to take control of your money” via a range of self managed and portfolio investment products designed to “help you confidently take charge of your finances, so you can be more financially successful and secure”.
The advantage here for affiliates working within the Canadian market is that all products are sold in line with Canadian financial laws and investment regulations.
This site is one that you could possibly build an entire affiliate marketing business around however it would be a great companion/add on to just about any financial or investment based online business. And as a means of providing extra information for your site there is also a great blog and Canadian focused financial update section on the site as well.
Commission Rate:
- $70 for every referred customer
- 7.5% of every trade commission generated
- $10 for every affiliate referred
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not stated
Application required?: Yes, You will need to enter personal and website information as well as promotional strategies to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners
8. Square One
Square One is a Canadian based insurance company that “committed to changing how you think of insurance”. They offer expertise in low cost insurance policies with coverage including:
- Home Insurance
- Tenant Insurance
- Rental Property Insurance
- Contents Insurance
- Earthquake Conditions
- Identity Theft Insurance
- Natural Disasters Insurance
- And more
Areas covered are on par with most international sites however as with the financial site above, policies are offered in line with Canadian regulations and insurance laws.
This one has maybe enough to build an affiliate marketing business around however it would be a great companion/add on to just about any insurance or home related site as well.
Commission Rate:
- $50 for each qualified tenant insurance policy
- $100 for each qualified condo owners insurance policy
- $175 for each qualified homeowners' insurance policy
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: Not Stated
Application required?: Yes, you will need to enter personal and website information to apply. To become a Square One affiliate, your website or blog must:
- Appeal to visitors from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario; and,
- Focus on home, finance, insurance or real estate related topics.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners, widget
9. CBD Oil Canada
CBD Oil is a massive online market with vastly different legislative influences and regulations from country to country. Hence, if you are looking to get into this market with Canada, then you could have a look at CBD Oil Canada. This is a good program for those working with Canadian CBD Oil market with a good range of products including:
- Tinctures / Drops
- Capsules / Pills
- Vape Pens / Juice
- CBD Oil For Dogs
- CBD Gummies
- CBD Cream
- CBD Concentrates
This is a great site for those working within the Canadian CBD Oil niche with options inline with local needs and regulations. And as a means for finding more information for your readers or posts for your site, there is a fantastic range of blog posts covering CBD happenings, trends and so on as well.
Commission Rate: 10%
Payment Terms: Monthly
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Application required?:Yes, you will need to enter personal and website information to apply.
Marketing material provided: Text links, banners
10. Amazon
And finally, if you are looking at a large range of options then you could set yourself up within Amazon. Amazon.ca provides access to a good range of products across all markets and has a fairly good affiliate program as well. So if you wish, join the Amazon Associates program, locate the best products relevant to your site within Amazon itself and you can post links on your own site as per below:
Amazon's commission rates are not too bad and some prefer this avenue due to the sheer amount of traffic and trustworthiness that comes with a company site of this size. They do however off er the advantage of free postage across Canada and links to earn commission from purchases made overseas as well.
What do we mean by Canadian affiliate programs?
As mentioned above, we are steering away from niche specific programs here by looking at sites that are domiciled in Canada covering Canadian products in general. That is not to say that there aren't Canadian companies offering affiliate programs in just about every niche you can imagine and it also doesn't mean that you cannot promote them into other countries as well. However, the programs I have chosen below can generally allow for the following advantages:
- Lower shipping costs
- Supplies to meet local restrictions (power supply, servicing etc.)
- Adherence to local legalities and regulations
- Market known items or stores specific to Canada
How to find your own affiliate programs
As stated earlier, by outlining the sites above I have really just tried to give you a good cross section of Canadian programs. That does not mean that you cannot find affiliate programs that better suit what it is that you are trying to do within this space especially as I could never even begin to cover every requirement or sub niche in the one post. Luckily for us, there is a simple way to find these programs online.
All you need to do is enter “affiliate: niche type” into your search engine (substituting ‘niche type‘ for whatever product it is that you are choosing to sell).
There are Canadian based affiliate programs for every other niche you may be working in as well – you will just need to have a look around until you find one or two that suit your site. For example, if you were working with cars your search would be along the lines of “Affiliate: cars Canada” etc.
Once you have completed your searches, you can look through and find programs that:
- Relate to your niche/problems that you are solving.
- Have quality products – your brand can be severely damaged if you promote poor quality products.
- Have solid payment and customer service arrangement.
- Pay decent commissions.
- Have good testimonials covering commission payouts and quality of product.
In most cases, you will need to apply for the program before you are allowed to promote their products – don’t take this step lightly or you will be rejected. Affiliate programs will generally want to know:
- Your website name.
- Traffic levels.
- Why you want to join – (so I can make money by selling your Maple Syrup is unfortunately not generally a good enough answer).
- How you plan to promote their products.
Affiliate Marketing Canada – FAQs
Is affiliate marketing legal in Canada?
Short answer – Yes. Affiliate marketing is absolutely legal in Canada however marketers are expected to adhere to some rules and regulations such as inclusion of affiliate disclaimers and privacy statements. Oh, and of course there can be tax implications in regards to the income earned from affiliate marketing as well.
Conclusion
So… There are my 10 best affiliate programs Canada has to offer this year. I hope it has been helpful for you as you commence your own Canadian based affiliate marketing business and as usual, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, need some advice or have any experiences to share. Oh, and especially comment if you have any experience with these, or any other programs as well.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
Note: If you make a purchase from this page, there is a very good chance that I make a commission from it – these commissions do not increase your sale price. This may include sales made via Wealthy Affiliate.
Do you want further assistance with any of the above or need help to build your own affiliate marketing website?
Are you looking for a comprehensive training platform that can give you step by step training, 24/7 support, tools to develop and host your very own website, ongoing assistance with SEO and social media and access to some of the best affiliate marketing minds on the planet, then click on the following link to read more about Wealthy Affiliate.
Introducing Wealthy Affiliate, My #1 Recommendation for Setting Up Your Own Online Business
When I started, I knew I wanted to work online, but had absolutely no idea where to begin! You see I had watched friends of mine run a sales party to sell essential oils and someone asked if they could just sell them online?
Then, as I sat on the bus heading into my office job, I started to wonder if I could do just that, sell essential oils online.
Anything to stop having to catch this bus to and from work every day right!
The trouble was, as I mentioned above, I had no idea how to even start.
So of course I started to look around online and found all these courses! They all promised me riches then took my money but left me with no riches!
Then I stumbled across the program that didn’t promise me riches, but told me it could help me get started even with no experience!
So I did that, joined Wealthy Affiliate that was it, and the rest as they say, is history!
But it doesn’t come without work!
That is the key here! I began on their starter membership and did the training! I then joined as a member and did some more training!
Each night after work, I would do a little more, then a little more.
And to cut a long story short, after 10 months I realized I didn’t really like writing about essential oils, so I sold the site for about $2000. But I had learned so much that I started another – about fishing and camping!
Then, after 18 months (by which time it had earned me close to $10k), I was offered $17k for the site, so I sold it too.
Now, through my travel blog, I’ve been able to fund my passion for travel and explore different places around the world.
In the past few months, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing destinations, including Bali, Los Angeles, Dallas, Vancouver and Las Vegas.
The success of my travel blog has allowed me to fully fund my travels and explore new destinations with my family.
Try the Wealthy Affiliate as a Starter Member and Build your First Hub!
As you start your journey, Wealthy Affiliate is there for you with the most comprehensive training package I have ever seen – And as I have mentioned, I have used a few in my professional career trust me.
To get you started, Wealthy Affiliate has recently introduced the Hub.
The Hub
The hub is an AI based niche and website creation tool that will get you up and running with the foundation of your OWN business in just a few minutes. This includes:
- Your website – hosted and inclusive of a WordPress editor
- Your brand
- Your ‘done-for-you’ research
- Your blueprint
- A task list that is going to help you drive the creation and growth of your business moving forward.
The hub makes the website creation process simple which allows you to get started on the training with a solid base and understanding of the processes.
All you need to do is choose your subject – which is known as your ‘niche’ – and follow the steps on the screen.
Oh, and as you run through the training below you may realize that what you created above is not exactly what you want. That’s ok, you can just create a new hub!
Wealthy Affiliate Training
Then as you continue your journey, the Wealthy Affiliate Hub is there for you with the most comprehensive training package I have ever seen – And I have used a few in my professional career trust me.
Above we discussed the use of the Hub to set up a website. Once you have done this, you will be able to access the “Step-by-Step Core Training”.
This is available to all members including starter members and will give you everything you need to know to continue to create your online business.
Member Training
There are also Live weekly classes taught by REAL industry experts on a range of topics like artificial intelligence (AI), SEO, YouTube, WordPress, PPC marketing and more.
Great, What Else Does Wealthy Affiliate Have To Help You?
So, let’s keep this short, Wealthy Affiliate is a one-stop-shop platform that provides:
- The Hub – this is the starting point and uses AI processes to assist you in determining your niche and creating your brand.
- Complete training programs to assist with the development of your own affiliate marketing website in your own niche.
- Website creation and publishing tools including access to WordPress editors and themes.
- AI Content article design and content creation
- Domain name purchasing (you get a free domain when you upgrade to the Premium membership).
- Website hosting, security and backup.
- Online help and chat forums.
- Weekly live training events.
- 24/7 support.
- Keyword access tools.
- SEO assistance.
The platform has been active for over 15 years with the original developers and owners, Kyle and Carson, still extremely active in its day to day operations – especially as they rollout their AI capabilities.
You Can Try it Yourself For Free
Now of course I can tell you all about how Wealthy Affiliate works (because it does) until I am blue in the face. But every other program out there – including the shams and scams – will tell you the same thing!
So how about you just try it for free yourself. The Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership is free to join and gives you access to everything you need to get started – all without the need to spend a cent!
With the starter membership, you get:
- 1 Limited Business Hub
- 1,500 AI Word Credits
- Try the AI Author Platform (BETA)
- 1 Practice Website
- Jaaxy Starter
- Limited Help & Support
- Core Niche Training (8 Classes)
And of course I will be there to help you every step of the way as well!
Look, in the interest of transparency, whilst Wealthy Affiliate does offer a free starter membership, this is designed to give you a look around, have a practice and see if it is worthwhile for you – which is a really great option.
However, as with all new businesses, you will need to make some investment so if you are serious about making money online , you will need to upgrade to a premium membership as this will give you access to all the tools you need in the one spot to succeed!
Afterall, every business needs tools to grow!
So How Much Does This Really Cost?
Wealthy Affiliate does not use upsells once you join – but as I mentioned in the video, to succeed here you will need to invest in a membership. There are a couple of options that provide access to all the tools, training and assistance that you could need – and a free domain as well.
Wealthy Affiliate offers a trio of membership tiers, as detailed on their pricing page.
You can opt for the Starter membership at no cost, the Premium membership for $49 per month or the Premium Plus+ membership for $99 per month. That’s the full extent of it – and you can absolutely build your website without having to spend another cent.
You won’t encounter any unexpected additional charges or covert fees and as a Premium member, you’re equipped with all the essentials to initiate, develop and expand a thriving online enterprise.
Those who opt for the Premium membership are provided with
- Hosting for their websites
- A complimentary domain name
- Access to hundreds of hours of current expert tutorials
- Various marketing and research tools
- Personal guidance from seasoned professionals in the field
- And much much more
And for those of you who want to make a serious investment into your future, there are some yearly options as well below to give you peace of mind that you have a whole year ahead of you to get stuff done!
And Don’t Forget the Personal Coaching
Once you join, not only do you get plenty of assistance from me, but you also have access to expert coaching, support and mentorship from real industry experts.
I mean, you can have access to all of the top-tier affiliate marketing training in the world, but inevitably, questions arise, particularly during the initial stages.
With an exceptionally dynamic and engaged community that boasts over 2.7 million members, Wealthy Affiliate offers an environment where you, as a member, can fully immerse and leverage this network.
You’re never alone; you have the collective wisdom of an entire community at your fingertips, ready to assist at any moment.
Plus, there’s always-on, rapid-response website support to handle any technical queries you may encounter.
Wealthy Affiliate Works: Real Results From Real People
As I have mentioned a number of times, Wealthy Affiliate has helped me make real money online though its training and tools.
I have made money each month as well as a sale for $17,000.
But again, those promoting other programs will tell you the same thing!
So let’s get away from me and see what others are saying:
To start with, Wealthy Affiliate has a 4.9 out of 5 Star TrustPilot rating, which is a remarkable accomplishment in any industry, let alone the online business industry.
And here are some of those reviews:
And this is what people are saying within Wealthy Affiliate as well:
So, Let’s Make a Decision!
Let’s be frank, you have read this far so why not go all in, click on the button below to get started on the way to your very online business.
And once you are in and have had a play around with the hub, look for the little envelope on the top right and there will be a message from me. It is of course automated so respond to let me know you are there and we can start this journey together.
(oh, and the profile is mine so you can find me that way as well)
See you there
Paul
