Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the fastest growing industries. Today, we’ll discuss CBD affiliate marketing programs, what a CBD affiliate program is, and review current programs available. But first let me tell you about the CBD market.
The LEGITIMACY OF CBD AFFILIATE PROGRAMS
The CBD market is expected to grow by 700% by 2020 with the passing of the 2018 farm bill that legalized industrial hemp and hemp extracts like CBD. Even with the passage of the bill and legalization of recreational marijuana becoming a reality in more states every year, the FDA and the federal government are still not on board as of yet despite the fact that CBD has now been removed from the list of Schedule I drugs.
LAWS
The laws surrounding CBD products are still very much in the hands of the individual states. While the farm bill does protect the hemp farmers, it fails to address the distribution of the end products. To say that the regulations are hazy does not even begin to cover the gray area that CBD products reside under. The FDA has approved Epidiolex, a form of cannabidiol, that will be legally used to treat Lennox-Gestaut syndrome and Dravet Syndrome, two serious and rare types of Epilepsy. Epidiolex is the first approved treatment for Dravet Syndrome, according to the FDA.
PUBLIC TESTIMONials HELP VALIDATE THE BENEFITS
While there are numerous stories, blog posts, testimonials of the effectiveness of CBD products, according to the FDA, there is no irrefutable evidence of these results that some might consider no less than miraculous. Still, new products come out every day touting the next best thing to treating chronic pain, cancer, aging, dementia, etc. Despite the FDA’s failure to recognize CBD in the manner it deserves, there is still a large percentage of the population that gets relief from these products and uses them regularly.
MARKET SIZE
Despite the continuing risks related to the federal government, the CBD industry is projected to exceed $22 billion by 2022. The privileges enjoyed by the CBD industry due to the absence or near-absence of THC in the product has positioned the industry quite favorably for standard marketing techniques.
MARKETING FIRMS GUIDE CBD ENTREPRENEURS
The digital age and growth in numbers of blogs and websites have not escaped the attention of marketing professionals, and a number of CBD affiliate marketing firms have taken hold and are thriving. With the point-and-click impulse buys made possible with affiliate marketing, the industry should enjoy further growth as these marketing firms become more popular.
CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN CBD AND THC MARKETS
It is important to remember that while they both come from cannabis plants, CBD and THC are quite different from each other. Their molecular structure is almost identical with the difference lying in one atom. That single atom gives THC the psychoactive factor that gives the ‘high’ typical of marijuana. CBD does not have this psychoactive factor, so there is no ‘high’ involved with CBD products.
While both THC and CBD have proven health qualities, CBD is actually extracted from hemp. While hemp is a breed of the cannabis plant, it tends to be absent of any notable THC levels. CBD products are required to have no more than .03% THC.
Many CBD products are currently offered in stores and dispensaries, regulations are now such that the online CBD business is growing rapidly with little signs of the industry slowing down.
What are CBD Affiliate Programs?
An affiliate program is a performance-based marketing effort whereby a business is connected to the consumer in an environment that has a shared interest in the product. CBD affiliate programs are marketing efforts that are solely dedicated to the sales of CBD products. These programs target websites and blogs with large followings that can provide customers to CBD companies. This highly successful branch of e-commerce allows for impulse buys as potential customers see the ads on their favorite blogs, websites, or social media. All they have to do is click on the link to be routed to the website selling the CBD products. With affiliate program marketing, the owner of the blog or website makes a commission on every sale that originated from their site.
How to Make Money With CBD Affiliate Programs
Since the CBD industry is experiencing such rapid growth, it only makes sense that those whose sites advertise CBD products should make high profits from their affiliate program. The site or blog owner gets a commission of on average 15% to 20% of each sale made to their site visitors. Most affiliate programs require a large following of at least 10,000 potential customers for a blog or website to be cleared to advertise their products.
How to Sign Up And Get Paid
Due to the risk factors with the federal government, affiliate programs within the CBD industry are very picky as to what qualifies a site for their advertisement and thus their site owner for their commission payments. If you pass their stringent requirements, usually number of followers or website visits per month, then you are a short application and approval process away from making commission off of your own customers or readers. You must be prepared with data analytics proving your visitor statistics.
Most affiliate programs pay monthly although a few will pay more frequently. There is always a period of time between the actual order being placed and when a commission is paid. This allows for returns for refund, lack of customer satisfaction, or any other factor that might interfere with the company receiving their money for the sale.
Getting Started as a CBD Affiliate
The basic process for getting started as an affiliate is as follows:
- Do your homework. Find the CBD business that best aligns with you and your followers.
- Apply to become an affiliate with the business you have determined is the best fit. The application process is free, but each program has different requirements. Be prepared to tell the company how you plan to promote their products.
- Once your application is accepted, you will be issued a specific link to their affiliate program. This link is placed on your blog, channel, social media site, etc.
- Your visitors will click on the link you provide.
- Through tracking programs involving cookies, your visitor does not even need to place an order on their first visit to the site. Each subsequent visit will be tracked and you can earn commission on any and all purchases they make.
Ten CBD Affiliate Opportunities
Of the numerous CBD affiliates available, here are ten that look promising due to the quality of their products, reviews, etc.
No Borders Naturals
No Borders Naturals claims to be the highest quality lab tested CBD. They also claim to be the fastest growing hemp brand. They state that their products will “speed recovery, reduce tension, and improve focus.” Their products include edibles, oils, topicals, and a line for pet care.
They offer a 20% commission on verified sales. No data are available on length of time they have cookies on the customer. No data are available as to when commission is paid following a verified purchase.
No Borders Naturals has only been in business since December 2018. They are a subsidiary of No Borders LLC which is dedicated to health and wellness. Their mission is wellness without borders.
Natural Stacks
Natural Stacks has products that focus on the mental clarity aspect of CBD. They are committed to transparency and their motto is ‘Build Better Brains’. Their affiliate program is known as their ‘Optimizer Program’. They claim to be the world’s first open-source supplement company.
They offer a 25% commission on verified sales. They maintain cookies on the customers for 14 days following the first visit. They request that all applicants provide a URL of their website or a description of their traffic source.
Hemplucid
Hemplucid touts their whole plant formulation in their products which allows them to use several different cannabinoids. Their line of products include edibles, tinctures, oils, pills, and a line of pet products.
Hemplucid offers 20% commissions and monthly payouts. Payouts will be automatic once you surpass the $20 minimum in commissions. There is no statement regarding the length that cookies remain in place.
Glori Blends
Glori Blends is a natural non-GMO organic CBD company. They are committed to “healing the planet through hemp.” There is little information on their site regarding the affiliate program. The only discussion on commission comes in the form of the $20 minimum to get paid, and that payments are monthly.
Star West Botanicals
Star West Botanicals has been in the natural herb business since 1975. It was only natural for them to get into the CBD industry. With over 3,000 products, an affiliate program relationship with them could become quite lucrative. Star West Botanicals partners with Shareasale which is one of the top affiliate networks.
Star West Botanicals pay 15% commission and have a 60-day cookie duration. They state that they have easy return policies, competitive pricing, and guarantee their products. They do not allow coupon or incentive sites. They specialize in bulk and organic herbs and spices. They have a large selection of essential oils and aromatherapy supplies. They do require that you become a member of Shareasale before they will accept you in their affiliate program.
HempMeds
HempMeds was the very first mainstream hemp oil distributor. Their motto is ‘your trusted CBD source.’ They were established in 2012. They offer 24-hour access to your statistics and reports on traffic, sales, account balance, and general performance. Their pricing is competitive. They support an organization called ECHO (Education, Collaboration, Hope) which provides CBD to families who have found themselves in extenuating circumstances. They boast having over 100,000 customers.
They pay a 15% commission. Payouts come monthly as long as you have a $100 minimum balance. Cookie duration is not listed at this time.
Pure Hemp Botanicals
Pure Hemp Botanicals focuses on raising awareness and always practicing ‘compassion in action.’ They donate a percentage of every sale to one of the charities who has proven themselves compassionate. All of their products are whole-plant, which incorporates more cannabinoids. Their business philosophy is based on “compassion above profit and communication above productivity.”
Their commissions are based on the total amount of sales that come from your affiliate link. You will earn 15% commission on sales totals from $0 to $3,749; 18% commission on $3,750 to $7,499; 21% commission on sales totals $7,500 to $14,999; and 25% commission on sales totaling $15,000 or more. Payouts are the 10th of every month as long as you have a $100 minimum. Your commission on a sale will come 33 days following the sale.
Endoca
Endoca has a primary focus on research. They want to make their hemp products available worldwide. Their belief is that Cannabinoids are the key to putting our bodies into a naturally balanced state. Their products are 100% organic and they use a CO2 extraction system. The products offered are produced under pharmaceutical oversight, and lab tested. They set industry standards when it comes to technology and product testing. And they have even received awards from the United Nations (UN) for resource efficiency and their clean production methods.
Endoca is one of the few affiliate programs that allows you to offer a 10% discount to your clients or followers. Referrals are rewarded with 5% of their sales. They pay on the 15th of every month, but their commission structure is not listed.
Hemp Bombs
HempBombs is one of the best affiliate programs. They pay weekly, and they have two structures. They are very strict about what companies they are willing to do business with. They observe and gather data on your website or blog, noting the levels of activity, number of followers, the longevity of your site, and whether you are knowledgeable about their industry. Those who pass this stringent examination will be able to earn 20% commission from the beginning. If your website is a newer one or they don’t feel that you are quite knowledgeable enough yet you can earn a 10% commission until the applicant proves their worth and receives a higher commission.
Hempbombs has a 30-day cookie duration. The weekly pay covers the previous 7 days of sales. They use the PayPal system for your commission payment. They are extremely selective when it comes to choosing affiliates. They want websites that are relevant to their product and the industry. They don’t want to see spam.
Hempbombs CBD Vape
The second Hempbombs affiliate program is their CBD E-Liquid. For this program, there is a 30-day cookie duration, a 20% commission, and high conversion rates. They are highly respected in the vaping community. They pay every Friday.
Their affiliate area gives you your statistics, referrals, visits, payouts, and graphs. They also supply you with banner ads and your affiliate link.
To pre-register for our cannabis affiliate network platform as a either an affiliate or advertiser please click on the links below.