Involved affiliate marketing is a strategy where the affiliate has a personal connection to the product or service they're promoting, often having used it themselves, and shares their experiences with their audience. Wirecutter uses involved affiliate marketing by conducting thorough research and testing on products, providing expert recommendations, and ensuring they only refer their audience to the best products on the market. This approach builds trust with their audience, which in turn increases the likelihood of purchases through their affiliate links.

PCPartPicker provides value to its audience by offering a mix of advice, examples, and interactive advanced tools on its website. This includes comprehensive guides for building PCs, cost comparisons for parts, and reviews on specific components. Their in-depth knowledge of their niche and commitment to serving a specific audience has allowed them to build a high level of trust and become a go-to resource for PC building enthusiasts.

This Is Why I’m Broke employs a unique strategy by promoting unusual and quirky products with amusing descriptions, which makes their content highly shareable on social media. The site is designed more for entertainment, and while many products may not be directly sold to their audience, the high level of social media shares leads to increased clicks on affiliate links, thus generating revenue. They rely on a mix of pay-per-click affiliate models and social media engagement to drive their affiliate marketing success.

Skyscanner's travel blog enhances its affiliate marketing efforts through SEO optimization, driving organic traffic to the site. The blog features in-depth travel guides and articles that are optimized to attract readers, who are then directed to Skyscanner's search aggregator via links within the text. Each booking made through these links generates affiliate revenue. Additionally, Skyscanner runs its own affiliate program, which contributes to its success by offering another source of traffic and potential income.

The key factors contributing to the success of an affiliate marketing website include:

• A great website design: A user-friendly and visually appealing design that facilitates easy navigation and access to information.
• Valuable and informative content: Content should be targeted to a specific niche and audience, providing useful insights, advice, and product recommendations.
• A drive for both organic and paid traffic: Utilizing SEO, social media, and other marketing strategies to attract visitors to the site.
• Generating trust among an audience: Establishing credibility and trust with the audience to encourage them to make purchases or use the services/products promoted through affiliate links.