REI Affiliate Program: How It Works, Payment Details & More

Affiliate marketing is an excellent place to start if you’re looking for a way to monetize your blog, website, or social media platform.

With so many great affiliate programs to choose from, it can take time to select just one, but the REI affiliate program is a top contender for the best affiliate marketing deal.

Use this comprehensive guide to the REI affiliate program to learn everything you need to know about how it works—and how to maximize your earnings.

Does REI Have an Affiliate Program?

REI has an affiliate marketing program for content creators, influencers, and digital publishers.

As the most prominent outdoor store in the world, REI offers a vast selection of equipment, clothing, and gear for niche activities and sports. Thus, the affiliate program is ideal for people who have outdoor education or sports blogs, publications, stores, or groups.

What is the REI Affiliate Program?

The REI affiliate program is a program that facilitates partnerships between content creators or digital publishers and REI, a massive internet superstore for outdoor products.

The program aims to partner with creators seeking to monetize their content with REI’s 20 million customers. Creators simply add affiliate links to their websites and drive traffic to them, earning commissions.

How Does the REI Affiliate Program Work?

The REI affiliate program is relatively simple and functions like most other user-accessible affiliate structures.

First, you must meet the requirements to work with the brand. Though the conditions are flexible, you’ll need to be a content creator. Once approved, you can post your affiliate links on your site and earn commissions each time a user clicks on your link and completes a sale.

Is the REI Affiliate Program Free?

The REI affiliate program is completely free. The application does not require a fee or initial investment, and you won’t have to pay for an ongoing membership.

There are restrictions on when and how to withdraw your funds, but these are relatively flexible and advantageous to content creators.

What Products Can You Promote For the REI Affiliate Program?

Because REI is such a massive corporation, the outdoor sports outlet sells everything from clothing (men’s, women’s, and children’s) to obscure sports equipment (snowshoes, spelunking gear, etc.)

Consider the top products below to determine which items to promote for the REI affiliate program.

Survival Equipment

REI was born in 1935 when a young couple attempted to sell ice axes in Seattle. Since then, the company has prioritized selling outdoor equipment and survival gear for adventurous folks.

Run a blog or website focusing on survivalism, outdoor sports, or education. You can promote mobile cooking sets, knives, camouflage, first-aid kits, and emergency bags. You can even encourage ice axes!

Men’s and Women’s Clothing

REI sells more clothing than items in any other category, and its selection is broad and diverse. You can sell men’s products – three thousand currently listed on the website – from fleece jackets to cargo pants.

You can also sell women’s or children’s clothing, most of which are sports-optimized, outdoor-themed, or appropriate for variable or severe weather.

Camping and Hiking Gear

If you’re an avid camper or hiker, you might consider promoting REI’s current selection of camping and hiking accessories.

You can promote the following:

• Tents and Shelters
• Hiking Boots
• Backpacks and Bags
• Food and Cooking Items
• And more!

REI also sells car camping accessories and festival gear, so even if outdoor leisure isn’t your niche, you can market products tailored to your area of expertise.

Fitness Gear

If you are a marathoner, fitness coach, personal trainer, or workout influencer, you might consider advertising REI’s top-tier fitness products.

The company sells clothing, gym equipment, yoga mats and accessories, triathlon necessities, and more. REI also offers a broad range of footwear for many different sports.

Outdoor Sports Equipment

REI is known for its sports equipment, and the company offers many products that are hard to find elsewhere.

For example, you can find cycling gear, ski and snowboarding equipment, surfboards, canoes, kayaks, hammocks, and more.

Many of these products appeal to a broad audience—even those who aren’t particularly outdoorsy.

Other Things You Can Promote With This Program

There are many additional products you can market for REI. The company sells gifts, stationery, luggage, sleds, bike racks and car accessories, boxes and cargo equipment, and more.

As the most extensive online outdoor store in the world, REI has the broadest selection of items available, making it an ideal choice for content creators of all kinds.

Additionally, you can easily market the company’s REI Co-Op brand that offers similar products to best selling name-brand items at a substantially lower price.

What Products Are Excluded From the REI Affiliate Program?

There are no apparent exclusions from the REI program. All products are promotable.

You should be able to promote any of the products REI advertises on its website. Remember that the state you live in may restrict the sale or promotion of certain specific items, though this shouldn’t apply since REI doesn’t sell controlled items like guns or substances.

Consider speaking with a legal professional before advertising a potentially contentious product.

How Much Do REI Affiliates Make?

REI affiliates can make $6 per customer order on average. This can add up if you run a high-traffic website with hundreds of thousands of visitors per day.

It also works well for low- to mid-traffic sites, enabling you to earn money without much in the way of work. So even if your platform is small, the REI affiliate program makes it easy to earn passive income.

Keep in mind, the Affiliate Market Research Report projects that the global affiliate marketing industry will nearly double in size from 2021 to 2027, offering unprecedented opportunities for digital content creators to capitalize on excellent brand deals.

REI Affiliate Program Commission Rates

REI affiliates make up to 5% on commissions through the AvantLink platform.

You’ll reach your commission when the customer completes the order, so you should not expect to earn from clicks alone.

Since the average order from REI is $120, the average income is $6. If you have a high-traffic website, this could amount to a significant sum.

You can still earn a decent passive income if your platform is small.

How Long Does the REI Cookie Last?

The REI affiliate cookie lasts 15 days, meaning that customers who navigate to REI from your page have up to 15 days to purchase a product (and make you a profit).

Your cookies track your affiliate referrals and trace the customer’s behavior so that you can earn your commission.

Ensure that you don’t “cookie stuff” or incorporate tracking codes without letting your users know that you have done so.

How Do You Get Paid From REI?

There are several ways to get paid from REI.

You’ll need to register for the affiliate program through the AvantLink site, and you can receive your money in two different ways.

First, you can opt for a direct deposit and have the money sent directly to your bank account. This option is best for most users. Alternatively, you can opt for a wire transfer, which may work better for non-US promoters.

When Does REI Pay Affiliates?

REI pays affiliates every month.

This is an ideal payment structure because it allows you to treat your affiliate commissions like your income. Receiving monthly payments lets you better track your income through the program, and you can factor this amount into your monthly budget.

Because promoters are paid a 5% commission, you can expect a relatively hefty sum if you drive severe traffic to your site.

What Marketing Materials and Promotional Tools Are Available?

When you become an affiliate marketer with REI, you’ll receive a legal agreement that details your responsibilities. This document will also describe what you should and shouldn’t post as a company’s affiliate program representative.

The REI Affiliate Agreement dictates that content creators must comply with federal, state, and local regulations and not collect private data or information.

You’ll need to ensure that you aren’t promoting illegal or uncouth activity, and the company reserves the right to identify objectionable content.

Ultimately, REI has relatively flexible content rules, so you can post links in whatever format you choose. Provided your content isn’t illegal, you won’t run into issues.

Some affiliate programs offer advanced promotional tools, but REI does not. However, the AvantLink platform allows you to track clicks and commissions, but there are few additional tools available.

Who Should Join the REI Affiliate Program?

The REI affiliate program is adaptive to the needs and niches of most content creators, digital publishers, and online sellers.

Because the company sells a wide range of products, you can undoubtedly find something to promote on your site or storefront.

Fitness Influencers or Professionals

If you run a fitness-related business or are an influencer with a niche related to outdoor activities, consider working with the REI affiliate program.

The program can help you monetize your digital content, but it can also help drive traffic to and from your site since your audience matches perfectly with REI’s customer base.

Even if your platform is small, you can earn a significant passive income from doing very little.

Small Businesses

Small businesses often struggle in economic downturns, and affiliate marketing programs can help redress that.

While you can’t explicitly sell REI products without a formal agreement, you can embed affiliate links on your website, blog, or podcast.

You can also use the marketing metrics to understand better what your customers are looking for in an online business.

Outdoor Experts or Sports Enthusiasts

REI has the perfect affiliate program if you’re an outdoor athlete (or even a hobbyist). Since the company primarily sells outdoor equipment and sports gear, you can advertise nearly anything from the platform on your site.

If you don’t already have a platform, consider starting a blog or social media account to drive traffic to your affiliate links.

Is the REI Affiliate Program Worth It?

The REI affiliate program is worth it for most users and content creators because it has advantageous conditions and can help you earn passive income.

Consider the following pros and cons before making your decision.

Pros of the REI Affiliate Program

The REI affiliate program offers the following unique benefits.

• Passive Income: The primary benefit of the REI affiliate program is that it offers easy, passive income. All you have to do is add the link to your website or publication and watch the money roll in!
• Flexible Payments: With the REI affiliate program, you can benefit from multiple payment options, including wire transfers and direct deposit. You also get paid every month.
• Favorable Cookies: The REI cookie lasts between 15 and 30 days, though it is more likely to last 15 days. This gives you plenty of time to earn commission on sales.
• Accessible Terms: REI has relatively flexible terms for its affiliate partners, so you won’t have to worry too much about your content contradicting the agreement.
• High Potential Earnings: Because REI is an old company with an established customer base of 20 million people, you have a better chance of earning more through their program.

Cons of the REI Affiliate Program

REI could improve several things in the REI affiliate program.

• Low Commission Rate: REI offers a lower commission rate than most of the company’s competitors, but it should even out because it’s a large company.
• Few Marketing Materials: REI doesn’t have a substantive resource library like some other affiliate programs, so you’ll have to create your promotional materials.
• Few Payment Methods: REI only offers direct deposit and wire payments every month.
• Variable Income: As with any other affiliate program, the REI income is unreliable, so it may not serve as a substitute for your traditional earnings.
• AvantLink Limitations: The AvantLink platform is relatively easy to use but sparse, so don’t expect too many helpful resources.

Conclusion: Is The REI Affiliate Program Worth it?

The REI Affiliate Program is worth it for most content creators and digital publishers.

Regardless of how much you earn, the process is so easy that it justifies itself. Additionally, you can continue to grow and scale your website or platform to build on your commissions.

Because the terms are favorable and protect the creator, you won’t have any significant legal issues to consider.

How to Join the REI Affiliate Program

Joining the REI affiliate program is relatively easy and requires little work on the front end.

To qualify, you must have a platform or website where you regularly publish content. You’ll be asked to provide this information during the application process.

Requirements To Join the REI Affiliate Program

To join the program, you’ll need to provide your basic contact information and links to your publishing site for reference.

Additionally, you’ll have to agree to the terms, which require you to place a disclaimer on your site and comply with federal and local legislation.

REI reserves the right to reject any applicants for any reason.

How to Apply

The application process is straightforward.

1. First, apply for the affiliate marketing program through AvantLink.
2. Then, provide your personal information for the REI program. Provide links to your publishing site and fill in the necessary details.
3. Await approval. This can happen instantly, but it may take up to a week.
4. Once approved, you can call your links from the AvantLink site and embed them on your site.
5. Wait for your visitors to click your links, make purchases, and earn commissions!

How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for the REI Affiliate Program?

More information on the length of time needed to get approved for the REI affiliate program needs to be available.

However, most affiliate programs respond to your queries within 48 business hours. Some platforms offer immediate approval.

You will likely wait up to a week to hear back—no longer.

Does REI Support the Affiliate Program

REI does not support the affiliate program. However, you can leverage the AvantLink support services, which are relatively responsive and efficient.

AvantLink manages many affiliate programs, and their customer support representatives can help you with most queries.

You likely won’t need too much additional support since the affiliate program is relatively simple, but if you do, you can access helpful tutorials online or on YouTube.

How to Make Money With the REI Affiliate Program

Making money through affiliate programs takes time and practice. Thankfully, you can expedite the process by using the tips below.

Find the Best Marketing Tools

Although REI doesn’t provide many built-in features for promoters to use, you can access excellent affiliate marketing tools online.

Some are free, while others are paid, but you’ll need concrete strategies to boost your commissions.

Pay Attention to the Data

Some affiliate promoters embed their links and watch the money roll in, but you may want to consider tracking your data to learn more about what your audience is doing.

If you notice a surplus of clicks on a given product, you can push more like it.

Talk to Other Affiliates

The best way to learn more about an affiliate program is to talk to other creators and influencers involved in similar endeavors.

Consider reaching out to other people using the REI affiliate program. You can also consider reading up on other creators’ experiences online or watching helpful tutorials and video guides on YouTube or any other multimedia platform.

Follow the Rules

To avoid losing your affiliate partnership, you must follow all the rules.

First, remember always to disclose your links since shady advertising practices are a significant deterrent for both customers and companies. Then, ensure you follow all details in the agreement to stay within the company’s good graces.

Additional Skills To Be Aware Of

Observation and creativity are two skills that go a long way for affiliate marketers. Observe what other affiliates are doing to catch the attention of their audience. Then observe how your audience engages with you.

And finally, find a way to creatively blend the two so you can tailor your content to fit your audience’s needs.

Alternatives to the REI Affiliate Program

Consider the options below if you’re looking for other affiliate marketing programs similar to the REI offering.

• Nike Affiliate Program: If you like REI’s program, Nike offers a similar program for fitness-related products and footwear. Use this guide to learn more.
• Cabela’s Affiliate Program: Cabela’s is another outdoor store that offers an affiliate program. Learn more using our guide on the Cabela program.
• Smith and Wesson Affiliate Program: Smith and Wesson is a gun manufacturer that offers an affiliate program. Consider the legal implications before opting for this program, or read our guide to learn everything you need to know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you have any remaining concerns, consider the answers to our most frequently asked questions below.

Wrapping Up

If you’re a digital publisher or content creator, you should consider participating in the REI affiliate program.

This massive outdoor clothing and equipment company offers favorable terms and easy income to creators across many niches so that you will benefit from the program in some capacity.

Comment below if you have any questions or wish to share your experience with the REI affiliate program!

Remember to exercise patience since commissions can take a while to add up. Good luck!

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