ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin rather than trying to juggle several networks immediately.

My ranking for a small newsletter

1. Awin — best overall starting point

• Broad selection of retail, travel, lifestyle, local-service and other advertisers.
• Beginner-friendly and relatively accessible to smaller publishers.
• The old ShareASale platform has been folded into Awin, so you should look at Awin rather than signing up for ShareASale. Shopify AffBuddy
• Particularly useful if your newsletter recommends things like local activities, shopping, travel, events, home services or consumer products.
• Amazon Associates — easiest for product recommendations

• Good if your newsletter naturally features products: books, household items, gifts, hobby supplies, etc.
• Huge product selection makes it easy to find something relevant.
• The downside is that commissions can be relatively modest, so I wouldn't make Amazon your only monetization strategy. Searvora
• Impact — best if you have a more specific audience

• Strong selection of recognizable consumer brands and software/SaaS programs.
• Good reporting and automation, but individual advertisers can have their own approval requirements. Rubab's Digital Shopify
• I'd move here once you know what your readers actually click on.
• CJ Affiliate — better once you're established

• Lots of established brands, particularly in retail, travel and other major categories.
• I'd put it behind Awin for a brand-new small newsletter because merchant approvals can be more demanding. Shopify Searvora

What I'd do in your situation

Don't turn the newsletter into an affiliate catalog. For a local publication, affiliate offers work best when they're genuinely useful to readers:

“5 things to do around town this weekend” → affiliate ticket/activity offer
“Local back-to-school guide” → relevant product links
“Best gifts from local businesses” → participating merchant offers
“Weekend getaway guide” → hotel/travel affiliate links

I'd start with Awin + a handful of highly relevant direct programs, then add Amazon if your content has a meaningful product component. Affiliate-network comparisons also generally recommend choosing based on your niche and audience rather than simply chasing the highest commission. Rubab's Digital SmileGrows

One important distinction: if your newsletter is primarily local businesses and local deals, you may actually do better negotiating direct referral deals with local businesses than using a conventional affiliate network. A local restaurant, attraction, retailer, or service provider may be willing to give you a fixed amount or percentage for each customer you send—while you give them highly targeted local exposure.

If you tell me what your newsletter covers (e.g. Toledo events, local shopping, restaurants, parenting, business, etc.) and roughly how many subscribers you have, I can narrow this down to the 3–5 affiliate programs most likely to make money for your particular audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d usually start with a platform that has:

• easy approval for a small audience
• lots of local-business or everyday consumer offers
• simple tracking links
• no need for huge traffic volume

My beginner-friendly shortlist:

1. Awin — best overall starting point

awin.com

Best for: local newsletters covering events, shopping, restaurants, services, family activities, travel, and lifestyle.

Why it fits:

• Large marketplace of advertisers
• Works well for smaller publishers
• Lets you apply to individual brands that match your readers
• Good if you want to mix local deals with broader offers

A local newsletter could promote things like:

• online retailers your readers already use
• home services
• subscriptions
• travel or experiences

Shopify AffBuddy## 2. Impact — best for higher-quality brands

impact.com

Best for: newsletters with an audience around technology, small business, finance, productivity, or premium consumer products.

Pros:

• Modern dashboard
• Strong brand partnerships
• Good tracking tools

Cons:

• Some individual brands may want to see more traffic or engagement before approving you. AffBuddy TechYorker

3. CJ Affiliate — best once you have traction

cj.com

Best for: established newsletters with consistent opens/clicks.

It has many recognizable brands, especially in retail, travel, and services, but smaller publishers may find some advertiser approvals more selective. Ad Growth Tools

4. Amazon Associates — easiest audience fit

affiliate-program.amazon.com

Best for: newsletters that include product recommendations.

Examples:

• “5 things local parents are buying this summer”
• “Best gardening tools for Long Island homes”
• “Back-to-school picks”

The downside is that commissions are often lower than specialized programs.

For a local newsletter, I’d also consider direct partnerships

Often the best money is not from big affiliate networks but from local sponsors:

• restaurants offering gift cards
• gyms offering trial memberships
• local events selling tickets
• home services offering referral fees
• local shops offering discount codes

A simple arrangement like “10% of tracked sales” or “$25 per new customer” can outperform generic affiliate links because your audience trusts you.

My suggested beginner setup

1. Join Awin first.
2. Add Impact if you find brands your readers care about.
3. Create a “Local Deals & Recommendations” section in your newsletter.
4. Track clicks and conversions for 60–90 days.
5. Use the data to approach local businesses with proof that your newsletter drives action.

One important note: clearly disclose affiliate relationships in the newsletter and near affiliate links. Trust is usually the most valuable asset for a community publication.

If you tell me your newsletter’s town/region, audience size, and topics (restaurants, events, families, seniors, business, etc.), I can suggest the affiliate categories most likely to convert.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin, then add Impact once you have some traction.

My ranking for a small newsletter

1. Awin — my first choice.
Awin explicitly accepts email newsletters as publisher properties, so you don't necessarily need a large website. It also has a large advertiser directory where you can apply to individual programs. There is a $1 verification deposit, which is refunded through your publisher account. Awin Awin Help Center

For a local newsletter, that makes it particularly attractive: you could promote things like local experiences, travel, consumer products, services, and retailers rather than trying to turn every issue into a generic product-review newsletter.

awin.com

2. Impact — best second platform.
Impact has a marketplace specifically for publishers and creators, with brands you can apply to directly. You need to verify at least one media property before joining the marketplace, but a newsletter can qualify as a media property. Impact Help Impact Help

impact.com

One important consideration for a local newsletter

I'd avoid simply filling the newsletter with affiliate links. Your advantage is the local audience and trust. Instead, I'd create recurring sections such as:

• “This week's local deal” — one particularly useful offer
• “Worth checking out” — a business/product/service you genuinely recommend
• “Weekend picks” — experiences, events, restaurants, etc.
• Seasonal guides — holiday shopping, back-to-school, summer activities
• Reader perks — exclusive discounts or promo codes

That gives advertisers a reason to work with you directly later, potentially for a flat sponsorship + affiliate commission, rather than relying entirely on network commissions.

Also, make the affiliate relationship clear to readers; don't let monetization undermine the community trust you've built.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 1,000 / 5,000 / 20,000) and what your newsletter covers (town/city + topics), I can recommend the specific affiliate programs/offers I'd target first.

2. Impact — best second platform.
Impact has a marketplace specifically for publishers and creators, with brands you can apply to directly. You need to verify at least one media property before joining the marketplace, but a newsletter can qualify as a media property.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin rather than trying to manage lots of individual affiliate programs.

My ranking for a beginner

Why Awin stands out: it explicitly accepts email newsletters as a publisher type, so you don't necessarily need a traditional website. It also gives you access to many advertisers from one account. www.awin.com

Awin publisher signup

Amazon Associates is a good second choice if your newsletter naturally recommends things people buy—books, home products, electronics, local-event gear, etc. However, Amazon requires at least 3 qualifying sales within the first 180 days for its application review, and it has fairly specific rules around affiliate links in email. affiliate-program.amazon.com

Amazon Associates

One important distinction for a local newsletter

I wouldn't make affiliate marketing primarily about generic products. Your advantage is local trust and local relevance.

For example, depending on your community, potentially stronger offers could be:

• Local restaurants or food delivery
• Local attractions and events
• Hotels/travel
• Home services
• Classes and activities
• Local retailers
• Software/services your readers actually use
• Carefully selected national products that genuinely fit your audience

I'd also look for direct affiliate/referral deals with local businesses. A local business offering you $10–$50 per new customer can be much more valuable than Amazon's percentage on a $30 purchase.

One caveat: don't assume every advertiser allows email promotion. Individual programs can have their own restrictions, even within a network. ui.awin.com

My recommendation: start with Awin + 3–5 highly relevant offers, rather than joining 10 networks. Track clicks and conversions for a month, then double down on what your readers actually respond to.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what city/topic your newsletter covers, I can suggest the most promising affiliate categories and specific programs to approach.

For a local community newsletter, I’d usually start with a platform that is easy to join, has recognizable brands, and lets you match offers to your readers. The “best” choice depends on your audience (local shopping, events, services, products, etc.), but these are strong beginner options:

For a small-town or neighborhood newsletter, I’d lean toward this approach:

1. Start with local direct sponsorships first
   • Local restaurants, shops, contractors, events, and service businesses often value a trusted community audience more than a national affiliate link.
   • You can combine: “Featured local business” + affiliate offers that fit the same audience.

2. Use affiliate offers that feel like recommendations

Good examples:

• “Back-to-school supplies guide”
• “Weekend trip ideas”
• “Best gardening tools for spring”
• “New resident starter guide”
• “Holiday gift guide from local makers”

3. Avoid filling the newsletter with random deals

A community newsletter’s value is trust. A few relevant offers will usually outperform many unrelated links.

A simple beginner stack might be:

• Awin for a broad range of merchants
• Amazon Associates for easy product links
• Direct relationships with 5–10 local businesses for higher-value sponsorships

Also make sure you include clear affiliate disclosures in the newsletter and only promote things that fit your readers.

If you tell me your newsletter’s town size, topic (news/events, food, parenting, seniors, business, etc.), and subscriber count, I can suggest the best affiliate categories and platforms for that audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

Why it fits a small publisher:

• Email newsletters are explicitly supported as a publisher type, so you don't need a large website. www.awin.com
• You can browse a large advertiser marketplace and apply to individual brands that fit your audience. Awin says publishers get access to 30,000+ brands and that joining is free aside from a refundable $1 verification deposit. www.awin.com
• It's particularly useful for a local newsletter because you can choose offers that make sense for your readers rather than filling the newsletter with generic ads.

My beginner ranking

Amazon Associates is especially worth adding if you publish things like "10 things to buy for back-to-school" or local event/seasonal guides. Amazon allows monetization through websites and social content, with commissions on qualifying purchases. affiliate-program.amazon.com

But I wouldn't make Amazon your whole strategy. For a local newsletter, local affiliate relationships can be much more valuable—for example, a local attraction, restaurant, event, home-service company, or retailer giving your readers a special offer while paying you for tracked referrals.

One important caveat: check your newsletter provider's rules and each affiliate program's terms before putting affiliate links directly into emails. Also clearly disclose that you may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what your newsletter covers (e.g. McDonough/Henry County events, deals, restaurants, local news), I can suggest the 5–10 affiliate programs/offer types most likely to work for your particular audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

My ranking for a beginner publisher

Why Awin is my top pick: Awin explicitly supports email newsletters as a publisher channel, and says you can join with an engaged audience even without a traditional website. It currently offers access to 30,000+ brands and says affiliate partners can start without setup fees. www.awin.com

That makes it particularly well suited to a newsletter where your audience is geographically concentrated. You can look for merchants whose offers actually make sense to your readers rather than stuffing the newsletter with generic products.

Awin publisher program

When I'd choose the others

Impact is my second choice if you expect the newsletter to grow substantially. Its marketplace connects publishers with brands across retail, travel, beauty, fitness, financial services and more, with fairly sophisticated reporting and tracking. impact.com

Impact affiliate marketplace

Amazon Associates is easy to understand and useful if you occasionally recommend physical products, but I wouldn't make it the foundation of a local newsletter. More importantly, Amazon's current rules have specific restrictions around how affiliate links can be used in email, and its participation requirements say Special Links cannot be used in email in certain circumstances. affiliate-program.amazon.com

Amazon Associates

The strategy I'd use for your newsletter

For a local publication, I'd actually combine:

1. Awin — national/regional affiliate offers.
2. Direct local sponsorships — negotiate directly with local restaurants, shops, events, home services, etc.
3. Impact — add once you have enough traffic to justify pursuing larger brands.
4. Amazon — occasional product recommendations, rather than making it your primary monetization channel.

The key is relevance over volume. A newsletter saying “3 useful deals for Denver families this weekend” is likely to feel much more valuable than a generic affiliate roundup.

Also put a clear affiliate disclosure near affiliate links; Amazon, for example, specifically requires conspicuous disclosure. affiliate-program.amazon.com

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 1,000 / 5,000 / 20,000), your city, and your newsletter niche, I can narrow this down to the best 3–5 affiliate programs/offers to apply for first.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin and impact.com, rather than trying to manage dozens of individual affiliate programs.

My ranking for a beginner

Why I’d pick Awin first: it is explicitly built for publishers, bloggers and media partners, has 30,000+ brands, and lets you search advertisers and generate trackable links from one dashboard. www.awin.com Awin also supports email as a publisher type, which is particularly relevant to a newsletter. help.awin.com

impact.com is my second choice. Its publisher marketplace gives access to thousands of brands and has particularly good tracking/reporting and automated payments. impact.com

Amazon Associates is worth adding if your newsletter occasionally recommends physical products—for example, "5 things to buy for your Virginia garden this spring." But commissions can be quite low; Amazon's current rates range from 0% to 4%+ depending on category. affiliate-program.amazon.com

For a local newsletter, I'd do this

Don't turn the newsletter into an affiliate catalog. Instead, make affiliate offers feel like useful local recommendations:

• "Weekend deals worth knowing about"
• "Best back-to-school deals for local families"
• "Things to do + tickets"
• "Local business spotlight + related offer"
• "Our readers can save $X on ___"
• Seasonal shopping guides

The key is relevance over commission rate. A $5 commission on an offer that 3% of your readers actually use can be much better than a $30 commission on something nobody in your community wants.

One other important point: check your email platform's rules and the affiliate program's terms before sending affiliate links, and clearly disclose that you may earn a commission. Awin itself recognizes email as an affiliate promotional channel, but individual advertisers can impose additional restrictions. help.awin.com

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what your newsletter covers (e.g. Leesburg/Loudoun events, local deals, families, restaurants, jobs, etc.), I can narrow this down to the 3–5 affiliate programs most likely to actually make money for your audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

Awin is particularly beginner-friendly because it explicitly supports email newsletters as publisher channels, lets you browse a large advertiser directory, and has publisher support. It currently requires a $1 refundable deposit to join. www.awin.com

My shortlist

Awin is especially attractive because your newsletter itself can qualify as the publishing channel—you don't necessarily need a traditional website. www.awin.com Current industry comparisons also generally put Awin and Impact among the more approachable major networks for beginners. www.shopify.com

For a local newsletter, though, there's a bigger opportunity

Don't think only in terms of generic affiliate offers. Local relevance will probably outperform random national deals.

For example, you could have sections like:

• 🍽️ This week's local dining deal
• 🏠 Home & neighborhood picks
• 🎟️ Things to do this weekend
• 🛍️ Local shopping deals
• 💻 Useful services for residents
• 🚗 Travel/transport deals

Then approach local businesses directly for affiliate/referral arrangements. A 10% commission from a local business you can genuinely recommend may be much more valuable than a 2–3% commission on generic products.

My recommended setup: Start with Awin + a handful of direct local partnerships, then add Impact once you know what categories your readers actually click. Don't plaster the newsletter with affiliate links—I'd aim for 1–3 genuinely useful offers per issue.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what your newsletter covers (e.g. Hoboken events, restaurants, families, real estate, local deals), I can narrow this down to the best 5–10 affiliate programs for your specific audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin and Amazon Associates, then add Impact once you know what your readers actually buy.

My pick: Awin

For your particular model, Awin is probably the best first network. It specifically categorizes email as a publisher channel, and its publisher platform lets you browse advertisers and create trackable links. help.awin.com

The important distinction is that you don't want to fill your newsletter with generic "affiliate deals." A local newsletter has an advantage that national publishers don't: local relevance and trust.

For example:

• "5 things to do in the area this weekend" → ticket/travel/activity offers
• "Back-to-school local guide" → relevant retail offers
• "Our readers' favorite home products" → Amazon/retail affiliates
• "Weekend getaway from the Bay Area" → hotels, travel and experiences
• "Local homeowner's checklist" → home-improvement products/services
• "New resident's guide" → internet, moving, furniture, household services

I'd aim for 1–3 genuinely useful offers per newsletter, rather than turning the newsletter into an ad catalog.

One thing I'd do before signing up

Make a list of your top 5 recurring newsletter topics and match affiliate programs to them. Audience fit matters considerably more than chasing the highest advertised commission; recent affiliate-network comparisons also recommend choosing based on where the relevant merchants are rather than simply picking the biggest network. rubabsdigital.com

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have, your town/region, and what your newsletter covers (events, restaurants, local news, deals, families, businesses, etc.), I can narrow this down to 5–10 affiliate programs that are actually a good fit for your audience, including likely commission ranges and signup requirements.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin rather than trying to juggle lots of affiliate networks.

My ranking for a beginner

Why Awin is my first choice: it explicitly accepts email newsletters and publishers without a traditional website, and says its publisher offering has no setup fees. It also gives publishers access to 30,000+ brands. www.awin.com

Impact is excellent once you're ready to be more selective. Its marketplace lets publishers discover brands and products and generate tracking links, with a particularly broad selection of major brands. impact.com

For a local newsletter, I'd do something slightly different

Don't fill the newsletter with generic Amazon-style product links. Your advantage is local trust.

For example, depending on your audience:

• Local restaurants → gift cards, dining subscriptions, reservation services
• Local families → activities, attractions, camps, family products
• Homeowners → home services, hardware, gardening
• Local professionals → software, business services, office products
• Weekend events → hotels, travel, activities
• New residents → moving, internet, utilities, home services

A particularly interesting model is local business partnerships: negotiate directly with a local company for a tracked discount code or referral fee. That can be much more valuable than earning a few cents from a product sale.

One important rule

Make the affiliate relationship obvious. Something as simple as:

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.

Also check the specific affiliate program's rules before putting links directly into email.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what your newsletter covers (e.g. local news, events, restaurants, families, businesses), I can narrow this down to the 3–5 affiliate programs most likely to actually make money for you.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin rather than trying to build around one retailer.

Awin works particularly well for small publishers because it explicitly supports email publishers, bloggers, content creators, and niche online communities, and gives you access to a large range of advertisers. help.awin.com

My beginner ranking

Why Awin is my #1: a community newsletter can promote different kinds of offers—restaurants, attractions, local services, retail, travel, etc.—without joining a separate network for every advertiser. Awin says it has 30,000+ brands and specifically recognizes email as a publisher type. help.awin.com

Amazon is useful but I'd make it secondary. It's very easy for readers to understand, and you can earn from qualifying purchases, but Amazon has substantially more program-specific rules. Its current agreement does permit certain solicited email communications containing Special Links, provided you comply with its requirements. affiliate-program.amazon.com

Impact is worth considering once you're generating meaningful traffic or want relationships with larger brands. Its platform is designed to manage affiliates, creators, and referrals in one system, but I'd consider it more of a step-up option than the simplest starting point. impact.com

One important strategy for a local newsletter

Don't just insert generic affiliate products. Your advantage is local trust.

For example, if your newsletter is about Houston, a much stronger monetization mix might be:

• "3 weekend activities we'd recommend"
• local attraction/tour offers
• restaurant or food-delivery partnerships
• local events and experiences
• hotel/travel offers for visiting readers
• products genuinely useful to your local audience

And I'd prioritize direct partnerships with local businesses alongside an affiliate network. If you can negotiate, say, 10% of referred sales or a fixed amount per customer, you may make considerably more per conversion than with commodity retail affiliates.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what your newsletter covers (e.g. local events, news, restaurants, families, jobs, deals), I can narrow this down to the 2–3 affiliate programs most likely to actually make money for your audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

Why it’s a particularly good fit:

• Newsletters are explicitly supported. Awin says publishers can use email newsletters and other digital formats even without a traditional website. www.awin.com
• Good range of advertisers. You can apply to individual brands/programs rather than being locked into one retailer. Awin currently reports 30,000+ brands and 1M+ approved creators/affiliate partners globally. www.awin.com
• Works well for local content. You can look for offers that naturally fit your community—restaurants, local experiences, events, home services, retailers, travel, etc.—rather than filling the newsletter with generic products.
• The platform has tools for finding offers. Its publisher tools include an offers portal where advertisers highlight current promotions. www.awin.com

My beginner shortlist

Amazon is attractive if your newsletter recommends physical products, but remember that Amazon requires clear affiliate disclosures, including its required Associate identification language. affiliate-program.amazon.com

One important point for a local newsletter

I wouldn't make affiliate marketing the primary monetization strategy. Your biggest asset is probably the trust of your local audience. A newsletter saying:

“Here are 5 things happening in town this weekend”

can naturally include a relevant paid/affiliate recommendation.

But inserting random “20% off headphones” links will probably hurt the newsletter more than it earns.

For example, if you're covering a local summer festival, an affiliate offer for a nearby hotel, attraction, parking service, transportation option, or related retailer is much more compelling than a generic national product.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 1,000 / 5,000 / 20,000) and what your newsletter covers, I can recommend the 3–5 affiliate programs most likely to work for your particular audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin as the best all-around affiliate network, with Amazon Associates as a secondary option if your content naturally recommends products.

My pick: Awin

Awin is probably the most useful starting point if your newsletter covers things like local shopping, restaurants, events, travel, family activities, services, or lifestyle. You can look for individual merchant programs rather than trying to make the entire newsletter an affiliate catalog.

For example, instead of a generic "Buy this product" section, you could have:

5 things happening around town this weekend
— Local attraction → affiliate offer
— Hotel/deal → affiliate offer
— Restaurant/event → direct sponsorship or referral
— Product relevant to the week's story → affiliate link

That approach tends to preserve the newsletter's community value.

Amazon: easy, but be careful

Amazon is attractive because readers already know it and there's an enormous product catalog. Its Associates program allows qualifying commissions from tagged links. affiliate-program.amazon.comwww.reddit.com

Importantly for a newsletter, Amazon's current agreement says Special Links can be included in solicited email communications, provided the communication is opted-in and you follow the agreement and applicable marketing laws. affiliate-program.amazon.comwww.reddit.com

Amazon also requires conspicuous affiliate disclosure, including its prescribed Associate statement. affiliate-program.amazon.com

One alternative worth considering: beehiiv

If you're also deciding which newsletter platform to use, rather than just which affiliate network to join, beehiiv is particularly interesting for this use case. Its own Partner Program is open to active users, and it currently advertises recurring commissions of up to 60% for referrals. www.beehiiv.com

I wouldn't choose a newsletter platform solely because of its affiliate program, though. For a local publication, relevant local offers + reader trust will matter much more than the network's headline commission rate.

If you tell me your newsletter's city/region and roughly how many subscribers you have, I can recommend 5–10 affiliate programs that would actually make sense for your local audience.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

Awin explicitly accepts email newsletters as publisher channels, including publishers that don’t have a traditional website. It also has a large advertiser marketplace, so you can look for offers that fit local readers rather than building your own merchant relationships from scratch. www.awin.com

How I’d compare the main options

Why Awin is my first choice: it specifically says email newsletters are accepted and that publishers can participate without a website, provided they have an engaged audience and a way to share affiliate links. www.awin.com

Impact is a strong second choice. Its marketplace is aimed at affiliates, influencers, content publishers, and media/news publishers, and lets publishers discover brand partnerships directly. impact.com

Amazon is attractive because readers already trust it and virtually everything is available there, but its Associates agreement has specific rules governing where and how its special links can be used. I wouldn't make it the foundation of an email newsletter without checking the current program policies first. affiliate-program.amazon.com

For your particular newsletter

I'd actually avoid making it look like a generic affiliate newsletter. A better model would be something like:

“5 deals/events/services worth knowing about in [your city] this week”

Then mix:

• local businesses willing to pay/commission referrals
• relevant national retailers through Awin
• seasonal offers
• products/services that genuinely solve a local need

That tends to fit a community newsletter much better than dropping random product links into the issue.

If you tell me what city/niche your newsletter covers and roughly how many subscribers you have, I can suggest the best affiliate categories and specific networks/programs to apply to.

For a local community newsletter, I’d start with Awin.

Why it fits especially well:

🥇 My pick: Awin

Awin explicitly accepts email newsletters as a publisher format, and you don't necessarily need a traditional website—you can qualify through an engaged digital audience. www.awin.com

That's particularly useful for you because you can look for offers that actually make sense to a local readership: restaurants, events, local services, travel, shopping, subscriptions, etc., rather than filling your newsletter with generic national products.

Join Awin as a publisher

🥈 Impact

Impact.com is my second choice. It has a large marketplace of brands and specifically supports affiliates, content publishers, and media/news publishers. impact.com

I'd move to Impact once you have some experience and want to negotiate more interesting direct brand partnerships.

🥉 CJ Affiliate

CJ Affiliate is another strong network with a large selection of established brands. www.cj.com I'd consider it after Awin rather than making it your first stop.

What about Amazon?

Amazon Associates is probably the easiest affiliate program for a beginner to understand, but I'd not make it the centerpiece of a local newsletter. Amazon's program is designed around special tagged links and has fairly specific operating requirements. affiliate-program.amazon.com

For your audience, relevant local offers are likely to feel much more natural than "here are five products from Amazon."

The strategy I'd use

Start with Awin + 3–5 highly relevant offers, rather than joining 10 networks.

For example:

This week's local deals

• 20% off a local attraction
• $10 off a nearby restaurant
• Special offer from a local service provider
• Weekend hotel/travel deal

The important metric isn't the advertised commission percentage; it's revenue per newsletter click. A 5% commission on something your readers genuinely want can outperform a 30% commission on something irrelevant.

Also, clearly disclose affiliate relationships in the newsletter. That helps preserve the trust that's particularly valuable for a community publication.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have and what city/region the newsletter covers, I can recommend the best affiliate networks and the kinds of offers I'd target first.

For a local community newsletter, the easiest affiliate platforms are usually the ones with straightforward approval, a broad range of merchants, and reliable payouts. Since you're a small publisher, it's also worth prioritizing networks that don't require large traffic volumes.

Here's a comparison:

What I'd recommend for a community newsletter

If your newsletter covers local events, home, parenting, food, or lifestyle:

1. Start with Amazon Associates for everyday product recommendations.
2. Join ShareASale or Impact.com to access merchants that offer higher commissions.
3. As your audience grows, apply to direct affiliate programs from businesses your readers already trust.

Think beyond traditional affiliates

Community newsletters often perform even better with local partnerships than with generic affiliate links.

Examples include:

• Local restaurants offering referral codes.
• Home service companies paying for booked estimates.
• Local event ticketing partners.
• Credit unions, insurance agencies, or real estate services (where permitted by program rules).
• Tourism attractions or museums.

These arrangements can produce much higher revenue per referral than product links because they're closely aligned with your audience.

Tips to maximize earnings

• Recommend products or services naturally within articles instead of placing long lists of links.
• Create recurring sections like "Weekend Picks," "Local Deals," or "Things Our Readers Love."
• Clearly disclose affiliate relationships to maintain trust.
• Track which links receive clicks so you can focus on what resonates with your readers.
• Prioritize relevance over commission rate—a well-matched recommendation usually outperforms a higher-paying but less relevant one.

If your newsletter has under 5,000 subscribers, I'd suggest this simple setup:

• Amazon Associates for products.
• ShareASale for specialty retailers.
• One or two direct partnerships with local businesses that fit your community.

That combination keeps management simple while giving you a good mix of products, services, and higher-value local opportunities.

For a local community newsletter, the best affiliate platform depends on what you write about and how much setup you want. As a beginner with a small audience, I'd prioritize programs that are easy to join, have a wide range of merchants, and provide straightforward reporting.

Here's a practical comparison:

If your newsletter is truly local

You'll often earn more by promoting businesses your readers already use than by relying only on national affiliate programs.

Consider partnering with:

• Local restaurants that offer online gift cards.
• Local attractions or events with referral programs.
• Regional tourism partners.
• Local service businesses (cleaning, landscaping, tutoring, fitness) that pay for referred customers.

Many local businesses don't have formal affiliate programs, but they're often open to:

• Referral commissions.
• Sponsored newsletter placements.
• Coupon codes that track sales.
• Revenue-sharing partnerships.

These arrangements can outperform traditional affiliate links because they're tailored to your audience.

If you cover specific topics

• Home improvement → Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware (where affiliate programs are available through networks).
• Local events → Ticketing platforms that offer affiliate programs.
• Books → Amazon Associates.
• Travel → Hotels, tours, and travel booking affiliates.
• Small business → Software like email marketing, accounting, or website builders often pays recurring commissions.

Tips for a small publisher

• Recommend products or services you genuinely think your readers will find useful.
• Use only a few affiliate links per edition rather than filling every issue with promotions.
• Be transparent by including a brief disclosure such as: "Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you."
• Track which links get clicks so you can learn what resonates with your audience.

If you're just getting started, a simple combination works well:

1. Amazon Associates for product recommendations.
2. Impact.com or ShareASale for brands and services.
3. Direct sponsorships or referral agreements with local businesses as your newsletter grows.

That mix gives you broad coverage while leaving room for higher-value local partnerships as your audience develops.

For a local community newsletter, the best affiliate platform depends on what you're recommending. As a beginner with a small audience, prioritize platforms that are easy to join, have products your readers would genuinely find useful, and offer reliable tracking and payouts.

Here are some strong options:

What works especially well for local newsletters

Rather than filling your newsletter with generic product links, look for offers that naturally fit your community, such as:

• Local events and attractions
• Restaurants with gift cards or reservation programs
• Home improvement products
• Gardening supplies
• Local outdoor gear
• Books by local authors
• Community classes
• Software or services your readers actually use

Readers tend to respond much better when recommendations feel like part of the newsletter rather than advertisements.

If I were starting today

1. Join Amazon Associates for general product recommendations.
2. Join one large network like Impact.com or ShareASale to access hundreds of merchants.
3. After learning what your audience clicks, apply directly to brands your readers already trust, since direct programs often offer higher commissions than networks.

Tips for keeping reader trust

• Only recommend products or services you'd be comfortable endorsing.
• Clearly disclose affiliate links (for example, "This newsletter contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.")
• Keep affiliate content to a minority of each issue so the newsletter remains valuable first and promotional second.
• Track clicks and purchases to learn which recommendations resonate.

If your newsletter has a specific focus—such as local dining, real estate, parenting, outdoor activities, or small businesses—I can suggest affiliate programs that tend to perform particularly well in that niche.

For a local community newsletter, I’d avoid starting with the biggest, most complex affiliate systems. Your advantage is trust and local relevance, so the best platform is usually the one that makes it easy to find useful offers your readers already want (local services, events, products, memberships, deals).

My beginner-friendly shortlist:

For a local newsletter specifically, I’d start with this approach:

1. Join one easy network first
   • Start with Awin or Amazon Associates.
   • Add more platforms only after you know what readers click.

2. Prioritize “community fit” offers

Examples:

• Local restaurant gift cards
• Neighborhood events
• Home services
• Local attractions
• Family activities
• Seasonal shopping guides
• Books or products tied to your community

3. Avoid turning the newsletter into an ad sheet

A good ratio for many community newsletters is something like:

• 80–90% useful local content
• 10–20% sponsored/affiliate content

4. Be transparent

Include a short disclosure such as “This newsletter may earn a commission from some links at no extra cost to you.” Affiliate relationships should be clearly disclosed.

My pick for a beginner running a local newsletter:

• First choice: Awin (more flexibility for finding varied offers)
• Second choice: Amazon Associates (simplest way to learn)
• Upgrade later: Impact.com when you have enough audience data to attract better partnerships

If you tell me your newsletter’s city/region, audience size, and topic (neighborhood news, food, parents, events, business, etc.), I can suggest the affiliate categories most likely to convert.

For a local community newsletter, the best affiliate platform depends less on traffic size and more on how naturally the offers fit your readers' interests. As a beginner, prioritize networks that are easy to join, have reliable payouts, and offer products your audience would actually use.

Here's a practical comparison:

For a local community newsletter

If your newsletter covers things like:

• Local events
• Home improvement
• Restaurants
• Family activities
• Gardening
• Small business news

I'd recommend combining:

1. Amazon Associates for occasional product recommendations (books, gardening tools, local history guides, emergency kits, etc.).
2. One affiliate network like Impact or ShareASale for higher-paying merchants.
3. Direct partnerships with local businesses. These often outperform traditional affiliate links because your audience already trusts your recommendations. Even a local coffee shop, gym, or landscaping company may be willing to pay per referral or sponsor a section.

What tends to work best

Instead of adding banner ads, weave offers into useful content. For example:

• "5 things to do this weekend" → link to tickets.
• "Best gardening tips for August" → recommend tools.
• "Back-to-school checklist" → recommend supplies.
• "Favorite local hiking gear" → recommend products.

This usually gets much better engagement than standalone advertisements.

Beginner strategy

A simple setup could look like this:

• Join Amazon Associates.
• Join Impact or ShareASale.
• Include only 1–3 affiliate recommendations per issue.
• Add a brief disclosure (for example: "Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.")
• Track which links get clicks before expanding.

For most small publishers (under about 5,000 subscribers), focusing on highly relevant recommendations generally produces better results than trying to include lots of affiliate links.

If you share:

• your newsletter platform (Beehiiv, Substack, Mailchimp, etc.),
• your approximate subscriber count, and
• your newsletter's topic,

I can suggest affiliate programs that are particularly well matched to your audience and likely to convert.