Affiliate Marketing in Nigeria - How To Get Started As a Beginner + Case Study

affiliate marketing in Nigeria

If you want to earn a passive income and forget about your 9-5 job, then affiliate marketing is the thing.

Maybe you wish to be like Joy Agbim, with impressive figures of over $128,000 in 18 months.


That's a lot of money, right?

I bet you that sum of money is nothing compared to her recent earnings...

As impressive as these figures are, she didn't just make the money overnight.

Or you want to be like Toyin Omotoso, who is widely recognized as the visionary founder of the renowned affiliate program, Expertnaire


As sweet as their stories...

Maybe you think you can make money via affiliate marketing as quickly as possible.

Here's the bad news: Hey, it's a long-term game...

You don't expect anyone to click on your affiliate links and buy a product because you get started today or because you are loved by them.

No, people don't buy because of your product, people buy your consistency. If you aim to achieve it, rather than disturbing people with your affiliate links.

And if you can stay consistent for 6 months, creating valuable content for the product on sale, you can scale up your affiliate business, I know this...

Nothing beats the excitement of making money while traveling, relaxing at home, or even sleeping.

With well-placed links and strategic marketing, you can generate five to six figures in affiliate commissions every month.

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a simple yet effective model where publishers earn a commission for every sale they generate for a merchant or retailer.

The process involves 4 main models: 

  • You
  • The consumer
  • Affiliate program
  • Vendor

Each of these parties plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of affiliate transactions.

Vendors

The vendor is the entity that creates and sells a product.

These vendors pay commissions to affiliates who drive sales to their businesses.

In some cases, they run their affiliate programs, while others leverage third-party networks to manage commissions and partnerships.

Some of these affiliate programs offer attractive commission rates or packages.

The reason is that there's strict competition, with over thousands of affiliate programs in Nigeria, publishers are encouraged with high commission to promote their products.

The publishers(You)

The publisher(You) promotes one or multiple affiliate products and earns commissions based on sales.

jumia affiliate marketing platform

Your primary goal is to attract potential customers and convince them of the product’s value, leading to successful conversions.

You might be wondering if you need to create a website to get started.

Well, it's all straightforward.

Once you sign up for an affiliate program, you receive a unique affiliate link.

After all, you can start to promote the affiliate link to your audience via your favorite channels.

And every time a consumer purchases through the link, you earn a commission.

This commission could either be a percentage of the total sale or a fixed amount, depending on the program.

That's why I recommend that you choose a profitable affiliate program and niche that will earn you higher commissions in sales.

Standard affiliate marketing focuses on high-volume, low-cost products, requiring frequent sales to accumulate significant earnings.

High-ticket affiliate marketing, on the other hand, focuses on selling fewer but higher-priced products, resulting in larger one-time commissions.

Consumers(People)

If the consumers(people) are not clicking on your affiliate links, you are not going to make any sales.

It's not only about getting them to click on your affiliate links and them jumping on the landing page of the products, without a purchase.

The best bet is to get them to click on your affiliate links and make a purchase.

It is then you make a sale and you get your commision.

Consumers are the ones who click on the affiliate link and buy the recommended product.

While they may not always be aware that they are part of an affiliate transaction, their purchase triggers the commission paid to you.

Affiliate program

If you want to get started, you need to sign up for an affiliate program.

That's why they act as an intermediary between vendors and you.

Let's say you started making sales, you can track your earnings and reports within 24 hours.

Platforms like Expertnaire go beyond by sending commison payments via emails.

In case you don't know, someone has purchased via your affiliate link.

Some other platforms are:

  • Jumia 
  • Konga
  • CJ affiliate
  • Amazon associates
  • Temu Affiliate 

You can earn commissions by promoting their products tailored to your audience.

How to start online affiliate marketing in Nigeria

Now, you already know what affiliate marketing is and how to get started.

Right?

Let's look at how you can become a successful affiliate marketer and start bringing in sales.

Choose Your Niche and Affiliate Program

Until now, you have heard about the term 'Niche'.

You have seen people talk about why you need the right niche.

You've heard some people also say why you need a profitable niche as well.

They are all right, your first step is to know your niche.

The niche you choose is your target market, it is how your audience finds you.

In a simpler version,

A niche is a specialized segment of the market that aligns with your interests, expertise, and audience demand.

Rather than opting for a broad category like "fitness,".

A niche helps you narrow it down to something more specific, such as "home workout equipment for beginners" or "vegan protein supplements."

A focused niche allows you to target a more engaged audience and stand out in a competitive market.

Once you’ve identified your niche, the next step is to find a suitable affiliate program.

So, how do you know the right affiliate program to choose?

  • Commission Structure: What percentage or flat rate do you earn per sale? Some programs offer recurring commissions for subscription-based products.
  • Payment Terms: How frequently are payments processed? Common payout schedules include monthly or bi-weekly.

  • Payment Methods: Does the program support PayPal, bank transfers, or other payment gateways?

  • Minimum Payout Threshold: What is the minimum amount you must earn before receiving payment?

  • Marketing Restrictions: Are there limitations on promotional methods? Some programs prohibit paid ads or require pre-approval for certain strategies.

  • Support and Resources: Does the program provide marketing materials like banners, product images, or email swipes?

Create High-Quality, Honest Product Reviews

Once you’ve joined an affiliate program, the next step is to create content that promotes the products effectively.

However, you must make your reviews honest, detailed, and genuinely helpful to your audience.

Types of Affiliate Content You Can Create:

  • Blog Posts: In-depth reviews, comparison articles, and "best of" lists perform well.

  • Social Media Content: Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are ideal for short, engaging posts and videos.

  • Video Reviews: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels allow you to demonstrate products in action.

  • Email Marketing: Build an email list and send curated product recommendations to subscribers.

How to Generate Content Ideas

Coming up with fresh content ideas can be stressful.

I know that.

In most cases, you don't know what your target audience is searching for.

For instance, they may be searching for weight loss, because you don't have idea they are searching for weight loss.

You may target keywords like fat loss.

That's why I recommend that you do keyword research on the products you want to promote.

With the right keyword research, you can easily know your audience's search intent.

Instead of targeting random keywords that your target audience is not searching, you can easily know their mind by simple keyword research.

Here's the way out...

A keyword research tool like Askthepublic, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can help identify what your target audience is searching for.

For example, if your niche is "health insurance," you might discover that people frequently search for "best health insurance for age 60" or "how to start affiliate marketing with no money."

These insights can guide your content strategy.

Plus, it helps you know the volume of the search and their interests for the products.

When writing reviews, focus on the pros and cons of each product, real-life use cases, and comparisons with similar products.

Make sure you use your affiliate links in the review descriptions, plus call-to-action.

Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links

Creating great content is only half the battle, you also need traffic.

Without visitors, your affiliate links won’t generate sales.

Organic Traffic(SEO)

Search engine optimization(SEO) helps your content rank higher in search results,

This brings in free, targeted traffic.

You can optimize your content by:

  • Use relevant keywords naturally within your articles.

  • Writing compelling meta titles and descriptions.

  • Building backlinks from reputable websites.

  • Ensuring your website loads quickly and is mobile-friendly.

Paid Advertising

If you have a budget.

You can run paid ads on Google, Facebook, or Instagram to drive immediate traffic.

However, make sure the affiliate program allows paid promotions before investing in ads.

Social Media Marketing

With over 50 million people in Nigeria on social media, affiliate marketers can use social media to catch more eyes and get in front of their target audience.

With TikTok becoming the go-ahead social media platform, it is generating leads for many affiliate marketers.

You can leverage the platform to share your content and engage with your followers.

Email Marketing

Building an email list allows you to nurture relationships with potential customers.

If you want to generate a bunch of leads with this, try to offer a freebie(maybe an eBook) in exchange for email sign-ups.

Then send the subscribers valuable content and affiliate recommendations over time.

Analyze and Optimize Your Strategy

Affiliate marketing is not a "set it and forget it" business.

To maximize earnings, make sure to track performance and refine your approach.

Key Metrics to Monitor:

  • Click-through rate (CTR): The percentage of people who click your affiliate links. A low CTR may indicate weak calls to action or irrelevant content.

  • Conversion Rate: The percentage of clicks that result in sales. If conversions are low, reassess the quality of the products or your review style.

  • Earnings Per Click(EPC): The average amount earned per click. This helps determine which products are most profitable.

Scaling Your Efforts

Once you find a winning formula, scale by:

  • Creating more content around high-converting products.

  • Expanding to new platforms(e.g., starting a YouTube channel if you’ve only been blogging).

  • Partnering with other affiliates or influencers for collaborations.

Types of affiliate marketing in Nigeria

Content-Based Affiliate Marketing(Blogging & YouTube)

This involves creating valuable content such as blog posts, YouTube videos, or social media posts that naturally incorporate affiliate links.

Bloggers and YouTubers in niches like tech reviews, fashion, health, and finance often partner with brands.

They write detailed product reviews, "best of" lists, or tutorials, embedding affiliate links within the content.

For example, a tech blogger reviewing the latest smartphones might include affiliate links to where readers can purchase the phones.

If a reader buys through that link, the blogger earns a commission. 

Social Media Affiliate Marketing

With over 30 million active social media users in Nigeria, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have become gold mines for affiliate marketers. 

Influencers, especially in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, often partner with brands to promote products.

They share discount codes(e.g, Use code for 10% off) or swipe-up links in Instagram stories.

The beauty is that social media offers affiliate marketers a viral reach.

A single viral post can generate hundreds of sales overnight.

Email Marketing for Affiliate Promotions

You have generated a lot of leads and probably made sales.

But you don't want these leads to turn into cold prospects, they need to know about the next big products.

Right?

That's why you need email marketing.

You need to build the list of subscribers, nurture them, and turn them into loyal and returning customers.

For example, if you are a fitness coach, you might collect emails from people interested in weight loss.

You can then send weekly newsletters featuring affiliate links to fitness gear, supplements, or workout programs with affiliate links.

Since email subscribers are already warm leads(people who have willingly shared their contact details), conversion rates tend to be higher than random social media promotions.

I recommend you use tools like Mailchimp and ConvertKit, it make it easy to automate email campaigns, track open rates, and optimize for better results.

Pay-Per-Click(PPC) Affiliate Marketing 

For those with a budget, PPC affiliate marketing can be highly profitable.

This method involves running paid ads(on Google, Facebook, or TikTok) that direct traffic to affiliate offers. 

You can use PPC to promote high-ticket affiliate products like software, online courses, or financial services.

For instance, an affiliate marketer might run Facebook ads targeting entrepreneurs with a link to a business e-book.

If the eBook sells for ₦20,000 and offers a 50% commission, each conversion earns ₦10,000, making the ad spend worthwhile.

Coupon & Deal-Based Affiliate Marketing

Affiliates partnering with e-commerce platforms can share exclusive discount links.

When a shopper uses their link to make a purchase, they earn a commission.

This works well because buyers are already in purchase mode; they’re actively looking for deals, making conversions easier.

Which Type of Affiliate Marketing is Best for You?

The best type of affiliate marketing depends on your skills, budget, and audience:

  • If you enjoy writing, blogging and SEO-driven content marketing may be ideal.

  • If you’re great on camera, YouTube or TikTok promotions could be your path.

  • If you have a budget for ads, PPC marketing offers fast returns.

  • If you prefer direct engagement, WhatsApp and Telegram affiliate marketing may work best.

What affiliate marketing platforms pay in Nigeria

Picture this.

Let's say you’re sipping on a chilled Chapman, lounging in your favorite spot, while your phone keeps buzzing with notifications, not from random group chats.

But from sweet, sweet affiliate commissions rolling in.

Sounds like a dream? Well, for many savvy Nigerians, this is their everyday reality.

And that's what affiliate marketing offers you.

First, all programs are not created the same.

Some affiliate programs may promise you the world but deliver peanuts.

While others quietly turn everyday promoters into silent money-making machines.

So, the question is, which affiliate programs pay well in Nigeria and abroad?

Let's take a look,

E-Commerce Affiliate Programs

If there’s one thing Nigerians love, it’s a good deal.

And where there are deals, there’s money to be made.

Jumia Affiliate Program

Their affiliate program is like the cool aunty who always slips some extra cash into your pocket.

You choose a product to promote(phones, fashion, or groceries), and when someone buys through your link, you earn a commission ranging from 1% to 10%.

The best part? They pay via bank transfer, so no PayPal headaches.

But here’s the sweet spot...

Jumia often runs massive sales(Jumia Anniversary or Black Friday).

During these periods, your earnings can skyrocket because everyone’s in a buying frenzy.

Konga Affiliate Program

With commissions up to 12% on some categories, it’s a gold mine for promoters who know how to push high-ticket items like electronics and home appliances.

What makes Konga special?

They have a 30-day cookie duration, meaning if someone clicks your link and buys within a month.

You still get paid.

Plus, their real-time tracking dashboard lets you see your earnings grow like a well-watered plant.

Amazon Associates

Amazon’s global reach means you can promote almost anything books, gadgets, even kitchen blenders.

The downside?

Their commission rates have dropped over the years(some categories pay as low as 1%).

But here’s the thing...

Now, we have Nigerians who are buying more from Amazon than ever, especially for items not available locally.

If you focus on tech gadgets, books, or luxury items, you can still make solid earnings.

Just make sure you have their payment method because Amazon pays via Gift Cards(which you can sell) or direct bank transfer(if you meet the $100 threshold).

ClickBank & Digistore24

ClickBank specializes in e-books, online courses, and software, with commissions sometimes as high as 75% per sale.

Digistore24 works similarly, with instant payouts to Nigerian banks.

The trick?

Pick products that solve a problem, like weight loss, making money online, or relationship advice, you can earn more because people demand these products.

The Fintech & Financial Affiliates 

If you want to earn big, look at financial services.

Nigerians are always searching for better ways to manage, save, or multiply their money, 

And affiliates are cashing in.

PiggyVest Affiliate Program

You earn ₦500 for every new user who signs up and saves at least ₦1,000.

Now, imagine sharing your link in WhatsApp finance groups or creating TikTok videos on "How to Save Money with PiggyVest.

Do the calculation of how much you will earn per referral.

Binance Affiliate Program

Crypto is still king.

With Binance, you earn 20-40% commission on trading fees from every user you refer.

The best part?

Crypto traders are always active, meaning your earnings can grow passively over time.

Just share your referral link in crypto communities, create YouTube tutorials, or even run Facebook ads targeting traders.

Betting & Gaming Affiliates 

Nigeria’s betting industry is massive, and companies like 1xBet pay affiliates for every new user who signs up and deposits.

With high Commissions as ₦5,000 per active user, some programs even offer lifetime revenue share.

If you have a sports-loving audience(or run a football fan page), this could be your golden goose.

Web Hosting & Domain Affiliates 

Every new business needs a website, and hosting companies pay generous commissions(up to $100 per sale).

If you can gather an audience in businesses or online services, you will see your referrals stack up quicker. 

Which One Should You Choose?

The best program depends on your audience and style:

  • Love social media? Jumia, Konga, or betting affiliates work wonders.

  • Prefer writing? Amazon Associates or ClickBank could be your playground.

  • Have a finance-savvy audience? PiggyVest and Binance will make you smile at the bank.

FAQ

Here is a list of affiliate marketing platforms in Nigeria:

  • Piggyvest affiliate platform
  • Temu affiliate 
  • CJ Affiliate
  • Jumia
  • Konga
  • Expertnaire
  • Whogohost
  • Amazon associates
  • 1x bets
  • Opay Affiliate platform
  • Bolt & Uber affiliate
  • Travelstart
  • FairMoney
  • Selar affiliate


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