I came across the Smart Marketing Affiliates Blog, where they have a post on The Best Kind of Affiliate Link, which reinforces my experiences in testing different types of affiliate links.
The best converting affiliate links you can use are text links that offer a coupon code or mention some sort of discount.
Here’s what I’ve discovered. Internet shoppers are looking for a deal. Anything that’s “in your face” such as large banners, they don’t believe. It screams obnoxious, scammer, etc. Text links they do believe.
Subtle sells. A text link comes across as a recommendation. A text link mentioning a coupon code or discount turns your recommendation into a timely treasured secret.
In the decade or so that I’ve been an affiliate and an affiliate manager, text links have routinely outperformed banners.
The irony is that banners are typically used more often by affiliates.
But another reason why many affiliate programs have a small group of affiliates generating the bulk of sales or leads.