The written word still holds significant value to people worldwide, and that’s why the book industry is worth an annual estimated value of US$119 billion.
Though it can be difficult, it’s possible to build a profitable affiliate site focusing on this topic.
The key is to remember that people read for a lot of reasons – entertainment, the necessity for school, or because their parents read to them when they were younger.
Keep this in mind when creating content for your site; you’ll be well on your way to success in the industry.
Top 10 Books Affiliate Programs
1. Indigo Books
Indigo is Canada’s largest book retailer. They survived the dotcom bust as well as digital downloads and the Kindle.
For each book you sell, you’ll earn 5%, but if you refer someone to the Indigo rewards program, you’ll receive 10%.
URL : Indigo Books
Commission: 5%
EPC: $43.89 (CAD)
Cookie duration: 7 days
2. Textbook Solutions
Two Texas A&M University students who noticed a void in the educational industry founded Textbook Solutions.
The typical college student spends up to USD 1,200 per year on mandatory reading.
They started a textbook rental company, which allows students to avoid paying up to 90% of the price of books outright.
URL:Â Textbook SolutionsÂ
Commission:Â Â 30%
EPC:Â $101.17
Cookie duration:Â 1 day
3. Barnes & Noble
With 1 million titles in stock at any given moment, Barnes & Noble is the top bookstore in the country.
Contrary to popular belief, printed books still have a sizable market through the affiliate program, you may market them for free, but you shouldn’t partner with them exclusively.
URL: Barnes & Noble
Commission: 2%
EPC: $4.77
Cookie duration: 1 day
4. Bigger Books
From 2001 through 2014, Bigger Books was a notable online retailer of both new and old college textbooks. They now provide a complete selection of eTextbooks in place of bulky books for e-readers.
On all book purchases and rentals, this affiliate marketing network gives a commission of 5.5 percent.
URL:Â Bigger Books
Commission:Â Â Up to 6.5%
EPC:Â $90.42
Cookie duration:Â 30 days
5. Thrift Books
You will earn a 5% commission as an affiliate for each purchase made by one of your visitors.
However, if you recommend more than $10,000 in sales each month, you’ll receive an 8% commission.
The largest online seller of secondhand books in the US is ThriftBooks.
URL:Â ThriftBooks
Commission:Â Â 5%
EPC:Â $21.85
Cookie duration:Â 7 days
6. Second Sale
Second Sale, a company that specializes in used books, has approximately 10 million volumes on hand.
They provide books to your guests for as cheap as $3.78.
However, they are as pleased to purchase secondhand books from your visitors or anybody else. More than 30% of their traffic results in affiliate purchases.
URL:Â Second Sale
Commission:Â Â 5%
EPC:Â $81.03
Cookie duration:Â 90 days
7. Calendar Club
They cater to a local or global audience because they have both US and UK storefronts. In comparison to some of the other affiliate programs listed there, they give a 45-day cookie, which is 44 days longer.
This could be extremely beneficial to you if you are looking for a longer window in which your audience has to purchase for you to receive a commission.
URL:Â Calendar Club
Commission:Â Â Up to 10%
EPC:Â $26.81
Cookie duration:Â 45 days
8. Eagle Saver
Looking to make some quick and easy cash? Then look no further than Eagle Saver. They’re interested in buying your used books, CDs, DVDs, and games so you can get paid right away – no waiting around for weeks or even months to get your money.
Plus, the money will be deposited directly into your PayPal or checking account within 24 hours of the purchase being made.
So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make some extra cash, then head on over to Eagle Saver and start selling your stuff today!
URL:Â Eagle Saver
Commission:Â Â 5%
EPC:Â $78.70
Cookie duration:Â 45 days
9. Vital Source
At Vital Source, we partner with 7,000 educational institutions, 500 stores, and 1,000 publishers. As an affiliate, you can earn a commission of 3% for every customer you refer to us. Additionally, that interested visitor has 30 days to convert into a paid lead.
We’re proud to work with so many great organizations, and we’re always looking for new partners. If you’re interested in joining this affiliate program, please contact us. We’d be happy to chat with you about how we can work together.
URL:Â Vital Source
Commission:Â Â 3%
EPC:Â $53.28
Cookie duration:Â 30 days
10. Premier Collectibles
If you love books, then you probably dream of finding a signed first edition of “The Hobbit” one day. Premier Collectibles is the perfect place to find rare and collectible books.
Regardless of the book’s value, you’ll receive a 15% commission on each transaction. So start your search today and find the perfect addition to your collection!
URL:Â Premier Collectibles
Commission:Â Â 15%
EPC:Â $34.25
Cookie duration:Â 60 days
Ending Note
Do you want to start off in the affiliate marketing industry? If you’re interested in books, then you should know that book companies are willing to pay much higher commission rates than many other types of websites.
For example, while large companies might offer a 2% commission, smaller book companies could offer up to 5x that amount! Not only that, but these smaller book companies also tend to have better performance metrics overall.
