Is Clickbank Legit? A Comprehensive Review of the Popular Affiliate Network
As an experienced affiliate marketer, I am often asked about the legitimacy and effectiveness of various affiliate networks. One network that has been around for over two decades is ClickBank. Founded in 1998 as a small garage start-up, ClickBank has grown into a billion-dollar business that primarily focuses on digital products. In this article, I will provide a comprehensive review of ClickBank, including its ease of use, available affiliate programs, payment structure, and overall reputation.
Key Takeaways:
- ClickBank is a legitimate and popular affiliate network that primarily focuses on digital products.
- While it offers weekly or bi-weekly payments and a low payment threshold, it also has some cons, such as a dated interface and a 90-day refund policy that some customers can abuse.
- To make money with ClickBank, affiliates need to find quality products that match their niche and audience, create affiliate links, and promote them through various channels.
Is ClickBank Legit?
Based on the information available, ClickBank is a legitimate affiliate marketing network with a long-standing history of success. It has been in operation for over two decades and has built a network of almost 100,000 affiliate marketers from around the world. With over 4,000 products listed in the ClickBank marketplace, it’s clear that vendors also find value in the platform.
According to our affiliate marketing statistics page, ClickBank is the second-most-popular affiliate network, with only Amazon being larger. ClickBank has leveraged its global reach to generate over $4 billion in commissions, and it has a 4.5-star rating from more than 2,300 reviews on Trustpilot.
Given the substantial numbers and positive reviews, it’s unlikely that ClickBank is a scam network. The company’s reputation and success are proof of its legitimacy.
Signing Up for ClickBank
When it comes to signing up for ClickBank, the process is straightforward and easy to follow. As a new affiliate, you will need to enter your personal details, including your name, location, telephone number, and email address. ClickBank offers a multilingual signup page, making it easier for users to navigate the process in their preferred language.
After entering your personal details, you will need to accept the terms and conditions by clicking on the ‘Accept Terms and Conditions’ button. Once you have completed this step, you can click on ‘Join ClickBank’ to complete the signup process.
It is important to note that ClickBank can only make direct deposits to certain countries. Therefore, it is crucial to review the terms of service before signing up to ensure that your country is supported.
Once you have completed the signup process, you will be offered free training and a welcome video to help you get started. ClickBank encourages you to complete your publisher profile, including payment and contact details, to optimize your performance on the platform.
To fully utilize the platform’s features, you will need to create a nickname within your main account. This nickname will be part of your referral URL and cannot exceed ten characters. You can use something related to your niche to make it easier to remember.
Unlike other affiliate networks, ClickBank does not ask for SEO metrics or traffic details during the signup process. This low barrier to entry makes it easier for anyone to start promoting digital products.
It is important to note that ClickBank sells both digital and physical products from brand names that may not be recognizable to everyone. However, many of these products can still sell by the truckload and earn the average affiliate marketer a substantial amount of money.
In conclusion, signing up for ClickBank is a simple and easy process that can be completed in just a few steps. With its low barrier to entry and a wide range of products, ClickBank is an excellent platform for affiliate marketers looking to promote digital products.
Ease of Use
As someone who has been in the affiliate marketing industry for two decades, I can confidently say that ClickBank’s website is easy to use. While it may not be the most visually appealing dashboard, it keeps things simple by using WordPress as its backend. This is a common platform, so many users will already be familiar with how it works.
One of the advantages of ClickBank’s dashboard is that it doesn’t overwhelm users with excessive features. There are only a handful of functions available, including Dashboard, Tickets, Transactions, Reporting, Accounts, Users, Affiliate Marketplace, Profile, and Support. This makes it easy to navigate and find what you need.
The Transactions function is particularly useful for tracking down serial refunders. However, the Affiliate Marketplace is the most important feature for affiliates, as this is where they can find offers to promote.
Overall, ClickBank’s dashboard is user-friendly and straightforward, making it a great option for both new and experienced affiliates.
Finding Affiliate Programs on Clickbank
Creating Affiliate Links
Creating affiliate links on ClickBank is a straightforward process. Once you find a product you want to promote, you simply click on the “Promote” button. A pop-up window will appear where you can add the account nickname you created during the setup process. After that, you click “Generate Hoplinks” to create your link. The link will look like this: http://AFFILIATE.VENDOR.hop.clickbank.net.
It’s worth noting that ClickBank doesn’t guarantee that vendors will provide banner links and graphics for your site. Some vendors do provide these resources, but others don’t. If you need promotional materials beyond banners, you may have to email vendors and ask for them.
Despite this decentralized process, ClickBank’s affiliate link creation process is still less convoluted than what you might experience on other affiliate networks.
Getting Paid
Payment Timeframe
Unlike most affiliate networks that operate on a net 30 payment schedule, ClickBank offers weekly or bi-weekly payments. However, it takes an additional two weeks after your payout date to receive your payment. Therefore, it takes 4 – 6 weeks for your ClickBank payments to start overlapping with each other until you feel like they’re weekly or fortnightly. In my experience, I have never had a problem getting paid by ClickBank – they always paid on time.
Payment Methods
ClickBank offers two payment methods: check or direct deposit. International affiliates should note that ClickBank checks don’t arrive overnight, so they should expect up to seven days of delay. While some affiliates might prefer other payment methods like Payoneer, PayPal, or wire transfer, ClickBank only permits check or direct deposit. However, this lack of options is probably due to a lack of demand from affiliates who are mostly happy with these two options.
Payment Threshold
To trigger a ClickBank payment, affiliates need to earn a minimum of $10 in commissions. However, I would recommend setting a higher threshold if you can only receive payments by check. Bank charges for checks under $100 in value can be quite high, so it’s better to keep your ClickBank payment threshold set to several hundred dollars. Additionally, affiliates need to generate at least 5 sales before they can receive a payment. This requirement helps prevent fraudulent activities that we discuss in the next section.
Refunds
ClickBank offers a 90-day money-back guarantee to customers, which is good news for them. However, some unscrupulous people abuse this policy by ordering digital products, downloading them, and then requesting a refund. Unfortunately, most of these people are affiliate marketers who pretend to be affiliates. This issue can eat into ClickBank affiliate commissions, but it’s not a major problem as long as you promote quality products and avoid working with scammers.
Publisher Help
As a ClickBank publisher, I found their support system to be limited. The only options available are the ticketing system and the knowledgebase. While the knowledgebase is comprehensive, it lacks mixed media like screenshots and tutorial videos. The blocks of text are fine, but they look dated. ClickBank University is another option, but it is only suitable for vendors and advertisers, and it comes at a cost.
It seems like ClickBank is trying to create a community section, but it is currently blank. In my opinion, they would be better off setting up a Slack channel. Overall, there is nothing wrong with their support options, but they could benefit from more modern and interactive resources.
ClickBank Reviews
As an affiliate marketer, I have researched and analyzed various ClickBank reviews to understand the experience of users with this network. While some users are happy with the site and making good money, others have faced issues like account termination.
One user mentioned in a review that he is still receiving checks from ClickBank for blogs he no longer updates, indicating that the same products are converting eight years later. However, it is essential to note that not all reviews are altruistic in nature, and some users may have a traceable online history leading to their account termination.
Despite this, ClickBank stands out from the crowd with its active social media presence, including a Facebook page with 91k followers and no visible negative feedback. This suggests that they have nailed their customer service.
In conclusion, while ClickBank has its fair share of negative reviews, it is crucial to research and analyze them critically to understand the user experience and make an informed decision.
ClickBank Review Summary
Weighing it up
In my objective assessment of ClickBank, I found several pros and cons worth noting.
Pros
- ClickBank is the oldest network dedicated to digital products, providing a vast selection of products for most niches.
- The network offers high commission rates, with some products offering up to 90% commission.
- ClickBank is one of the few networks to offer recurring commissions, which can be a significant source of passive income.
- Creating affiliate links is effortless, and no approval is needed to promote products.
- ClickBank provides a 60-day cookie across the board, allowing affiliates to earn commissions for a more extended period.
- The network offers weekly and fortnightly payouts, providing affiliates with quick access to their earnings.
Cons
- The ClickBank dashboard can be confusing, with old and new interfaces mixed together.
- Finding high-quality products amidst the hype can be a challenge.
- ClickBank is no longer the only player in the digital product marketplace, with other networks like Udemy also offering similar products.
Overall, ClickBank is a reliable network with attractive commission rates and a wide range of digital products. However, the dashboard’s clutter and the challenge of finding quality products can be a downside.
Conclusion: Is Clickbank Legit?
In summary, ClickBank is a marketplace that provides affiliates with a wide range of digital and physical products to promote. While the platform has a negative reputation due to the presence of low-quality products, there are still many legit products available that can help affiliate marketers make money.
One of the main issues with ClickBank is that anyone can sell a product on the platform, including “get rich quick” and “internet marketing” gurus. However, by doing proper research, reading reviews, and looking for legit products, affiliate marketers can find quality programs to promote and make money.
Although ClickBank has a lackluster interface and some teething problems, it is still a popular platform for affiliate marketing. While there are other alternatives available, many people still make money promoting products through ClickBank.
Overall, while ClickBank may not be perfect, it is a legit platform for affiliate marketing. As with any marketplace, it is important to do your due diligence and research before promoting any product. By focusing on quality products and building a strong affiliate marketing strategy, it is possible to make money through ClickBank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ClickBank pay its affiliates?
ClickBank offers several payment options to its affiliates, including direct deposit, wire transfer, and check. The payment frequency and minimum payment threshold vary depending on the payment method chosen by the affiliate.
What are the benefits of using ClickBank?
ClickBank offers a user-friendly platform for both vendors and affiliates. Some of the benefits of using ClickBank include a large marketplace with a wide range of products, high commission rates, and reliable payment processing.
Are there any downsides to using ClickBank?
While ClickBank has many benefits, there are also some downsides to consider. One potential downside is the high competition among affiliates, which can make it difficult to stand out and make sales. Additionally, some products on the ClickBank marketplace may not be of high quality, which can lead to negative reviews and damage to the affiliate’s reputation.
What is the ClickBank marketplace?
The ClickBank marketplace is a platform where vendors can sell digital and physical products, and affiliates can promote these products and earn commission on sales. The marketplace offers a wide range of products in various niches, making it a popular choice for affiliates looking to promote products in their area of expertise.
Can you really make money with ClickBank?
Yes, it is possible to make money with ClickBank as an affiliate. However, success on the platform requires a combination of factors, including choosing the right products to promote, creating high-quality content to promote these products, and implementing effective marketing strategies.
Is ClickBank a trustworthy platform?
ClickBank is a legitimate and trustworthy platform for both vendors and affiliates. The platform has been in operation for over 20 years and has a solid reputation in the industry. However, as with any online platform, it is important to do your research and exercise caution when choosing products to promote or purchase.