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Affiliate networks (Awin and others)
Affiliate networks connect publishers with brands: you share trackable links and can earn commission on approved sales or other results, but rates and individual earnings are not stated <a href="https://www.awin.com/ie/publishers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Awin for publishers</a> <a href="https://www.awin.com/gb/getting-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Awin Get Started</a>. Awin’s supplied publisher information does not state an age limit, so this guide is aimed at adults and you should check the current terms before joining <a href="https://www.awin.com/ie/publishers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Awin for publishers</a>.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You share useful content about products you know.
- You can add links that track visits and sales.
- Some approved sales may earn you commission.
- You must label adverts clearly.
- Earnings are not guaranteed, and may be zero.
Who it suits
People who already make useful content—such as a blog, social posts, videos or product guides—and can recommend products that genuinely suit their audience. It is less suitable if you need guaranteed or immediate income.
People may use your recommendations to find products that suit their needs. Brands may pay commission when a referred sale or other result is approved and tracked; the amount and whether you earn anything can vary.
Step by step
- Choose a subject you know and can explain helpfully. Think about what your audience asks or needs before choosing products. Pick a subject you can cover honestly, rather than choosing products only because they have affiliate programmes. About 30-60 minutes.
- Choose where to publish and prepare your profile. Pick a website, blog or social channel that you can manage. Write a short profile describing your content and who it is for; keep it factual and clear. About 1-2 hours.
- Check the current sign-up terms for your market. Compare the terms for the UK and Ireland before you register. Awin’s UK page says publisher sign-up is free; its Ireland page lists a refundable 1 GBP/USD/EUR security deposit but does not say which currency applies in Ireland. Awin Get Started Awin for publishers About 20-40 minutes.
- Register with accurate details about your content. Complete the publisher registration form and describe your content honestly. Awin says publishers register before exploring brands and campaigns. Awin for publishers About 30-60 minutes.
- Shortlist suitable brands and apply to their programmes. Browse the advertiser directory and choose brands that fit your audience. Apply to relevant programmes individually; each advertiser handles its own approval. Awin for publishers Why Use an Affiliate Network? About 1-2 hours.
- Read each programme’s rules before promoting a product. Check which products and promotional methods the advertiser allows. Look for how it defines a commissionable result and any conditions that could mean a sale is not approved. About 15-30 minutes per programme.
- Create trackable links with the network’s tools. Use the network’s link or image tools and check that each link goes to the intended product. Awin says referred visits and approved sales are recorded in its dashboard. Awin for publishers About 10-20 minutes per link.
- Make useful content and label commercial links clearly. Explain why a product may be useful and who it might suit; do not just post a link. In the UK, content referring to a product alongside an affiliate link or code counts as advertising, and a prominent upfront “Ad” label is recommended. In Ireland, label commercial influencer content “#Ad”. ASA affiliate marketing guidance ASA social media guidance CCPC influencer guidance About 30 minutes-2 hours per item.
- Review recorded results and keep a simple earnings record. Check the dashboard at a planned time for recorded orders and commissions, and note what has actually been paid or approved. Commission depends on results; there is no typical rate or individual earnings figure. Awin for publishers About 15-30 minutes each week.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose one subject, draft a useful product guide for your audience, and check the relevant Awin signup terms before applying to any brand programme.
The money
You usually do not set the commission rate: advertisers set programme terms, and the amount depends on approved, tracked results. Before promoting a product, check the current commission conditions and any costs you have. Do not treat dashboard estimates as guaranteed income.
Example only: these figures are made up to show the maths, not an earnings forecast. In one week, £20 approved commission minus £5 of costs = £15 before tax. Separately, €20 approved commission minus €5 of costs = €15 before tax.
The rules
There is no general affiliate-publishing licence for the UK or Ireland. Follow the advertising and tax rules that apply to you, and the terms of any advertiser programmes you join. Check the current network terms before you apply. If you sell directly or process personal data, check the rules for those activities too.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Advertising labels. If your affiliate content mentions a product and includes a link or code, it counts as advertising. Put a clear “Ad” label near the start. “Affiliate” on its own may not be enough. Brands and affiliates may both be responsible for making affiliate advertising easy to recognise, even if the brand did not control the content. ASA affiliate marketing guidance ASA social media guidance
- Trading income and tax. The trading allowance covers the first £1,000 of trading income each year, before expenses. If you earn more, tell HMRC. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year. GOV.UK trading allowance Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK Self Assessment
- Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The advertising and tax rules above apply across the UK. If you live in Northern Ireland, Go Succeed offers free start-up advice. Mid Ulster District Council
- Data protection fee. The ICO lists advertising or marketing another person’s goods or services as an example of an activity where a fee is required. There is no one rule for every sole trader. Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a fee. ICO wholesale and retail guidance
- Awin approval and terms. Applying does not mean an advertiser will approve you. Awin says each advertiser makes its own decision for each programme. Advertisers set commission rates. You may not earn commission on a sale or action unless it is tracked and approved. Follow the advertiser’s programme terms and Awin’s code of conduct. Awin programme guidance Awin for publishers
Ireland
- Advertising labels. Label commercial influencer content with “#Ad”. The CCPC says, “if in doubt, label it”. CCPC influencer guidance
- Tax returns. If you work in PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those amounts, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. Check your situation with Revenue or a tax adviser. Revenue
- Self-employed tax. If you are self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC under self-assessment. Your preliminary tax is due by 31 October. Citizens Information: becoming self-employed
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. The online fee is €20. CRO business name registration
- Awin approval and terms. Applying does not mean an advertiser will approve you. Awin says each advertiser makes its own decision for each programme. Advertisers set commission rates. You may not earn commission on a sale or action unless it is tracked and approved. Follow the advertiser’s programme terms and Awin’s code of conduct. Awin programme guidance Awin for publishers
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Promoting products that do not genuinely suit your audience.
- Assuming an application guarantees approval or that a click guarantees commission.
- Posting an affiliate link without a clear advertising label.
- Skipping programme rules or using a promotion method the advertiser does not allow.
- Treating estimated commission as paid income or forgetting to record costs and earnings.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.