ClickBank

ClickBank: The Brutally Honest, Must-Read Guide for 2024

by Qhubekani Nyathi

on

Want the truth about ClickBank? In this post, you'll find out if this affiliate network is right for you.

So you want to make money through affiliate marketing, huh?

You can smell the moolah.

And among hundreds of affiliate marketing networks out there, all promising you a piece of the scrumptious $12 billion pie, one has caught your fancy.

ClickBank.

But there’s a problem.

You’ve heard a lot of good things about ClickBank.

You’ve also heard many bad things.

What’s true? What’s fiction? Can you really make money on ClickBank? How can you successfully navigate the rich but perilous waters of the ClickBank platform?

That’s what this step-by-step guide is all about.

An unvarnished look at ClickBank, warts and all.

Let’s get to it.

ClickBank

ClickBank: Q&A

What is ClickBank?

Founded in 1998 in a garage in San Diego California, ClickBank is one of the granddaddies of affiliate marketing networks.

You can make money with ClickBank as a physical or digital product vendor or affiliate marketer without working like a frazzled cubicle slave.

Here are some staggering numbers about the ClickBank marketplace:

  • 200 million customers spread across 190 countries
  • 87th largest Internet retailer in North America
  • 276 categories and 21562 product listings
  • 6 million entrepreneurs on the platform
  • Over 200 million dollars in annual sales

In short: you can make a killing on this leading affiliate marketplace.

The best part?

Joining a lucrative ClickBank affiliate program is not labor-intensive like writing for money or making money blogging.

ClickBank is a good option for bloggers, entrepreneurs, and digital content creators who wish to promote digital products on their niche website or platform.

It’s also a great affiliate marketing option for those who don’t want to be another “Amazon Associate”.

How is ClickBank Different From Other Affiliate Networks?

ClickBank is not your typical affiliate marketing network.

Five good things stand out:

  1. Simplicity. The sign-up process is straightforward. You can sign-up for a ClickBank account within a few minutes and start trading without complicated paperwork to fill or administrative hoops to jump through.
  2. Inclusivity. Anyone can join the network for free. It’s perfect for beginners who want to learn the ropes of affiliate marketing.
  3. Duality. On most affiliate marketing networks, you either have a vendor or an affiliate account. ClickBank allows you to enter the fray both as a vendor and a marketer so you maximize your earnings.
  4. Large Selection. With thousands of dazzling affiliate products in every conceivable niche to choose from, your affiliate program choices are numerous.
  5. Good Commission Rates. ClickBank pays high commissions of up to 75% or even 100%. Plus, they pay fast so you won’t have to wait long to splurge on that you-know-what you’ve had your eye on.

However, there are cons as well:

  • Slow Customer Service. Some reports from the Better Business Bureau claim ClickBank may take up to 7 days to respond to customer emails; however, they do provide live chat and VOIP phone support on the support section of their site.
  • Charges on Dormant ClickBank Accounts. You are charged $1 per day after 90 days of no earnings, $5 per day after 180 days of inactivity, and a hefty $50 per day after 360 days of no sales.
  • Some Junk Products. More about how to overcome this in a bit.
  • Fierce Competition for Quality Programs. A good problem to have, if you ask me.

What are the Sign Up Requirements for ClickBank?

ClickBank is free for anyone, both new affiliates and old, to join.

All you need to join is:

  • Live in an eligible country (United States, Canada, etc.)
  • Enable cookies in your browser
  • Have a Tax ID or Social Security number (if you live in the U.S.)

If you plan to register as a ClickBank vendor, you must pay a one-time activation fee of $49.95. You pay only $29.95 for any additional accounts.

What Affiliate Programs are Available with ClickBank?

Whether you are a tentative newbie who wants to dip a toe into this make-money-online thing or a veteran digital marketer who wants to grow their earnings, ClickBank has got you covered.

There are many affiliate programs and multiple products and categories to choose from:

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • As Seen on TV
  • Betting Systems
  • Business/Investing
  • Computers/Internet
  • Cooking, Food, & Wine
  • E-Business & E-Marketing (Internet Marketing)
  • Education
  • Employment & Jobs
  • Fiction
  • Games
  • Green Products
  • Health & Fitness
  • Home & Garden
  • Languages
  • Mobile
  • Parenting & Families
  • Politics/Current Events
  • Reference
  • Self-Help
  • Software & Services
  • New Age & Alternative Beliefs
  • Sports
  • Travel

Not sure where to start? No worries.

Dan Brock, of Deadbeat Super Affiliate, reveals seven hot niches you can try in this video.

Free Bonus: Click here to get our “cheat sheet” for affiliate marketers delivered straight to your inbox (for free).

What are ClickBank’s Payment Methods?

With ClickBank, you can receive payments in four different ways:

Payment Method #1: Check

The good old paper check is the default payment option. It’s mailed to the address listed in your account.

Payment Method #2: Direct Deposit

ClickBank offers direct deposit in the U.S. and other select countries at no extra charge. Direct deposits take 1-2 business days to reach your account.

Payment Method #3: Wire Transfer

You can receive payments by wire transfer. This option is for countries not covered by international direct deposit. Payments take up to 5 days (depending on where you live).

Payment Method #4: Payoneer

You can also get paid using the Payoneer Mastercard, an international money transfer service you can get for free. Payoneer allows you to open a U.S bank account where your money is deposited.

As you see, ClickBank gives you a lot of options. Plus:

ClickBank doesn’t tie you to the payment method you’ve chosen.

You can change your payment method at any time. It’s your money, so you receive it your way. But, it may take up to seven days for the new payment method to work.

Whenever you change your email address or password, you can’t switch payment methods for a week. This protects you from fraudsters.

You can set the payment threshold as low as $10.

Is ClickBank a Scam? Or, as the Kids Would Say, is ClickBank Legit?

Is ClickBank an elaborate racket or a genuine online business?

Yes, it’s true. Some ClickBank affiliate programs are of low quality. Overhyped junk products are a dime a dozen. But that’s half the story.

There are solid programs on there too.

ClickBank’s like a mega supermarket packed with assorted goods.

Don’t like what’s on the shelf? No problem. Move to another aisle. You’ll soon find what you want.

With a seemingly infinite number of digital products from entrepreneurs all over the world to choose from, your perfect product awaits.

That’s why millions of entrepreneurs are on the platform. Some ClickBank affiliates and vendors have been with them for decades.

But, ultimately, it’s your reputation on the line. You owe it to yourself and your audience to double-check other people’s products before you promote them.

Here are some tips to help:

5 Smart Ways Not To Get Burned on ClickBank

To weed out the garbage and uncover the gemstones, follow these tips when choosing a product:

1. Try the Product First

You genuinely want to help people, right?

Then why not ask for a review sample product from the product creator to see if it’s the real deal. If they say no, buy the product yourself.

This way, you’ll be sure of the product’s authenticity.

2. Check the Product Reviews

Scour through customers’ feedback about the product you intend to sell. Not just reviews by other affiliates because those may be biased. Look for reviews on trusted review sites like Trust Pilot. If the product is popular, it’s likely to have a product review somewhere on the web.

3. Check the Product’s Gravity Score

Gravity is the number of affiliates who have sold a vendor’s product in the last 12 weeks.

Each gravity point is an endorsement of the product, and the higher the gravity, the higher the product’s trustworthiness.

4. Watch Out for Overblown Claims

While it’s possible to make money on ClickBank, it’s not magic. If a ClickBank offer promises you a million dollars overnight while you binge-watch Friends on Netflix, stay away.

They’re fake. They’re tricksters. And they’re out to get you.

Run, and never look back.

5. Be on the Lookout for Shadowy Vendors

Cheats lurk in the shadows. They don’t want to show their faces.

Google vendors that interest you.

Can’t find them? Think twice.

Good vendors have a traceable online history.

Editor’s Note:

These tips aren’t only for ClickBank — smart bloggers and entrepreneurs use them for CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, eBay Partner Network, Amazon Associates, and every other affiliate platform.

It doesn’t matter how much affiliate marketing experience you have or how well known the affiliate network is, you need to do your homework.

How Do I Sign Up for ClickBank?

Let’s go through the step-by-step process.

To sign up for an account, go to clickbank.com and click on ‘create account’ on the top right side of the menu.

ClickBank menu

Next:

Step 1: Fill in your personal info

ClickBank Account signup step 1

Make sure you complete all fields otherwise you won’t be able to move to the next step.

Click on ‘next step.’

Step 2: Provide your bank details

Remember to check the small box to acknowledge that you’ve read the terms and conditions.

ClickBank Account signup step 2

If you want to be paid through your company enter your business name in the Payee field instead of your personal name.

Your bank info is not used to send payments. That’s why they don’t ask for your account number, just the name of your primary bank.

You pick a payment method after your account is created.

Click on ‘next step’ to move on to the last step.

Step 3: Create your account

You’ll then be asked to create a nickname.

Your nickname is your user ID. It’s visible to all customers, so don’t make it too personal.

ClickBank signup stage 3

Affiliate marketing strategy expert Warren Wheeler shares a little-known but powerful secret you can use when creating your ClickBank user ID.

The last step is creating your password. Once you’ve chosen a strong password, click ‘create account’ to finalize your account.

You’ll see a customer survey page. Once you see it, know that your account is now active.

Congratulations!

You’re now ready to do business on one of the biggest affiliate marketplaces in the world.

How Does ClickBank Work? Crucial Code Terms To Master

Before you begin choosing a ClickBank affiliate program, be sure to familiarize yourself with the language used on the platform.

Here are some key ClickBank terms to master:

  • Gravity – This figure tells you how many affiliates have successfully sold the product in the past 12 weeks. The higher the gravity the greater your chances of succeeding with that program. It’s updated daily and can go up to 600+. A product with a gravity score of at least 50 is a safe bet.
  • Initial $/Sale – This number portrays the average dollar value of an initial sale, excluding rebills, credited to the affiliate.
  • Avg %/Sale – Represents the average affiliate commission percentage for a sale, including both initial and rebill commissions.
  • Avg %/Rebill – Represents the average total affiliate commission percentage for a sale, including only rebill commission, for a recurring billing product.

Your true north? The one metric that should guide you?

Gravity.

Why?

Because it shows you what’s selling now.

All other metrics are secondary.

Most affiliate marketers rush headlong, look for the product with the biggest commission rate and highest gravity.

That’s the wrong way to go about it.

Here’s how to do it right…

How To Make Money With ClickBank: Unearthing Gem Programs And Sidestepping Rubble

Let’s say you want to sell a health and fitness product.

First, click on the affiliate marketplace on the menu and then choose your category on the left:

ClickBank categories

You’ll then see a list of products displayed. You can choose how the results are sorted: popularity, Ave $/Sale, Initial $/Sale, Ave %/Sale, Gravity, and so on.

ClickBank sort results

Results are sorted according to a program’s popularity by default. Zoom into the product that meets your predetermined metrics. Two crucial metrics to consider are gravity and Average $/Sale aka your cut.

Here’s a product with potential:

ClickBank program example

With a high gravity of 137 and a fine commission of $66, this program can be a moneymaker for the right affiliate site! Now that you’ve found a good product. it’s time to click promote and enjoy the delightful ka-ching cash register sound, right?

Not so fast, my friend.

Dig deeper.

Go to the program’s affiliate page to find out more about the product.

Critical Bench Products

Always be on the lookout for vendors with affiliate promotion tools pages. These are serious vendors who have done the heavy lifting for you to make your work easier.

Typical tools you’ll find include:

  • Banners
  • Product images
  • Videos
  • Pre-sell content
  • Swipes for email marketing campaigns
  • Keywords
  • Press releases
  • Sales/Landing page examples
  • Opt-in rates
  • Customer demographics

Here’s an example:

Afilliate promotional tools

Surely with all these materials on hand, even a slacker like you can make this work. 🙂 Remember, these tools are tried and tested. Use them as they are. Only tweak them if you are double sure the change will make them a better fit for your audience.

Another cool tip is to search for discounts on the affiliate program page so you get a bigger cut.

When you’re done, click promote, fill in your account details, and grab the affiliate link you’ll use to promote the product:

ClickBank Hoplink

That’s how you join a solid program.

Now, want to explode your profits?

How To Make Money On ClickBank: 4 Top Tips to Rake In Big Bucks

I won’t lie to you.

Making money on ClickBank, like anything worthwhile, won’t be smooth sailing, especially at the beginning.

It’ll take creativity, trial and error, a jumbo size coffee urn for that much-needed caffeine fix — and loads of patience.

Here are 4 tips to help get you started:

1. Don’t Be Obsessed With High Gravity and $/Sale

It’s not necessarily the product with the highest gravity or Ave$/Sale you should focus on.

Programs with a very high Av$/Sale have stiffer competition.

And, they usually have lower conversions.

Those in the middle have higher conversions.

Find the right balance.

2. Wrap Up Your Offer in Relevant Content

A successful affiliate offer hinges on context. You can put the offer on your newsletter, a high-performing blog post, or on a ‘products we recommend’ page.

Here’s a little case study of this tactic right here on Smart Blogger. Click on ‘Tools We Recommend’ on the menu and you’ll see this:

Smart Blogger affiliate links

What I love about this is that they don’t just provide a bare shopping list of resources like many WordPress sites do. They package their recommendations in the form of a post. This way the endorsements look natural, not forced.

The result? More sales.

You can craft a special piece of content for specific offers.

Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle. Your free content provides a piece that can only be completed by the offer.

3. Get the Product/Audience Fit Right

With thousands of flashy products on show, the temptation to promote any top-selling program to your audience is strong.

Resist it.

Two reasons:

  1. If your offers aren’t a good fit for your audience, you won’t make money, period. Eventually, you’ll get discouraged and curse the ClickBank gurus for ‘misleading’ you.
  2. Offers that don’t resonate with your audience will wear them down. They’ll develop ‘offer blindness’. They won’t respond to future offers. Ultimately, they’ll stop trusting you.

Only join programs that add value to your audience.

It’s best for everyone.

Your audience will adore you for proposing great products to them.

You’ll make more money.

4. Create an Evergreen YouTube Funnel

Most ClickBank affiliate marketing strategies focus on email marketing (sending emails to your list), social media promotion (tweeting or sharing your affiliate link), or SEO (creating top-notch content around your affiliate product and getting it to rank on Google).

But there’s another traffic source that most e-commerce gurus ignore: video. Specifically, YouTube.

Smart marketers take advantage of the powers of YouTube, the second largest search engine, to set up a high-converting ClickBank funnel.

Here’s how:

  1. Find the right product to promote
  2. Search for popular content related to the product on YouTube
  3. Dissect the content to see why it’s popular
  4. Produce similar content in your own YouTube channel

Link to the product in your video. Watch the money come in like clockwork.

Need a real-life example? Check out this review of a popular ClickBank product, The Flat Belly Fix.

ClickBank Review Verdict: Boo or Bravo?

Let me ask again.

Can you make money on ClickBank?

Absolutely.

Just be sure to do your homework.

If you thoroughly vet the programs, you’ll cash in.

Many folks like you make $50-$100 a day on ClickBank. That’s a yummy $1500+ passive monthly income made while you catch some Z’s.

You can do it too. Hop over to ClickBank and get started now.

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Qhubekani Nyathi

Qhubekani Nyathi is an offbeat long-form content writer who helps SMBs grow their income through zingy content that ranks, drives leads, and builds authority. He contributes to prestigious blogs like Search Engine Watch, Crazy Egg, Business 2 Community, Get Response, Clickz, and The Drum.

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Written by Qhubekani Nyathi

Qhubekani Nyathi is an offbeat long-form content writer who helps SMBs grow their income through zingy content that ranks, drives leads, and builds authority. He contributes to prestigious blogs like Search Engine Watch, Crazy Egg, Business 2 Community, Get Response, Clickz, and The Drum.

40 thoughts on “ClickBank: The Brutally Honest, Must-Read Guide for 2024”

  1. Hey Qhubekani,

    First off, congratulations for being featured on Smartblogger. And I must add that you outdid yourself on this one. Kudos!!

    I’ve used ClickBank before in market research to see the trending offers on a specific product but I never got to figure out how people make money from it.

    Your post has been an eye-opener. Thank you.

    Off to share it on Twitter :).

    Reply
    • Hi Shadrack,
      Thank you for your kind words.

      It feels kinda weird to be responding to comments on Smart Blogger. I’m so used to reading posts here, not writing them 🙂

      Happy you gleaned some tips.

      Thanks for giving the post some love.

      Reply
  2. Hey Qhubekhani,

    Thanks for this in-depth guide. Wow! I’ve read a lot of affiliate marketing guides but this one takes the cup! I’ve tried dipping my feet into the world of affiliate marketing before but gave up along the way. This guide has set off so many “lightbulbs” in my mind and I think I might just try giving it another shot.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Hi Kato,

      Glad the post resonated.

      Do give affiliate marketing another shot. Remember the children’s poem:

      Try, try again,
      If at first you don’t succeed,
      Try, try again… 🙂

      Get your second wind. As I said in the post, ClickBank doesn’t have a steep learning curve so you can succeed on the network. I wish you all the best in your next attempt!

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Greetings Qhubekhani,

    You aced this one and l must say the addiction kicked in from the first word. From then on, l was hooked to the end.

    Do l need a rehab?

    Not at all, because this is the kind of stuff l don’t want to shake off.

    Reply
  4. Hey Qhubekani,

    Thanks for writing the detailed post. Affiliate marketing offers lucrative commissions but its a game of patience, perseverance and gracefully creating content or unless you won’t get any sale through.
    ClickBank is a good one to bet on with so many choices of retailers. Thanks for shining some light on, hopefully we’ll get the spark as well. Also, I checked your blog, very nice and informative buddy.

    Thanks a lot, Qhubekani.
    -Rajat Chauhan

    Reply
  5. Hi Qhubekni,

    Very well-written and informative post on the affiliate marketing. Thank you for the share, however, affiliate marketing is a game of patience, perseverance and gracefully creating content to get some good results to generate some revenue through.

    Also, I’ve gone through your blog and I must say its quite informative and worth to follow and I will visit you again.

    Thanks a lot Qhubekani.

    – RajatChauhan

    Reply
    • Hey Rajat,
      Happy you found the post helpful.

      Yes, affiliate marketing is a game of patience and having the right strategy.

      The good news is if you work hard and do things right, you’ll smile all the way to the bank 😀.

      Thanks for stopping by. Please come back again. There’s a lot of great content to go through here on Smart Blogger.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Reply
      • SmartBlogger is awesome and I closely follow Jon and Kevin, they are the best when it comes to better writing. 👍

        Thanks again Qhubekani 😀

        -RajatChauhan

  6. Hi Qhubekni,
    Nice article! Two quick questions

    I’m looking at a panic ebook that has a gravity of 6. Is it possible that it’s a good product that just doesn’t sell alot?

    Also, how do you create those graphics with the red arrows that point to things like in your post? I’ve always been curious about that. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hey Randy,
      Happy you enjoyed the post.

      Yes, it’s possible to have a good product with a low gravity score. Maybe it’s new or people haven’t seen its brilliance yet. The key factor is to make sure the product is of high quality and fits your audience’s needs. Then you stand a good chance of making money off it…assuming your marketing skills are great 🙂

      As for your second question, there are many free screenshot software tools with all the fancy arrows and more. I use Awesome Screenshot. You can take your pick here:
      https://thegeekpage.com/17-best-free-screenshot-tools-for-windows-10/

      I wish you all the best with your ebook sales. Go make a killing and come back here to brag 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  7. hie Qhubekani.

    I am happy i just read your post i am wish to be involved in this i have been tryig to understad what really it is the pro and cons of it but i am happy you gave a detailed massage on what really i am desiring to do. thanks hoping to reread again.

    Reply
  8. Hi Qhubekni,

    What an amazing post – so detailed! I’ve bookmarked so I can refer back to it as I need it. I’m a complete novice to affiliate marketing but keen to get started!

    Thanks

    Rebecca

    Reply
  9. HI, I enjoy reading right to the point intel, my question I tried y open acct but was flagged I’m in the Philippines but USA citizen. I used VPN at first but I do have USA business account with EIN# BUT IT WILL NOT LET ME OPEN ACCOUNT? any advice? thank you

    Reply
  10. Hi Qhubekani ,

    Thank you for sharing the in-depth information about ClickBank Affiliate Program. I have joined the ClickBank a while ago, but still trying to figure out how to do sales and promotion of the ClickBank Products, now I got more information than I expected you cleared my misconception with ClickBank.

    I’m going to try the tips you share here with ClickBank Products, I hope I could hit some sales in 2020 and planning to become a daily reader of Smart Blogger.

    Reply
    • Hi Alex,
      I’m glad you got value from the post.

      Yes, use the tips because success only comes when you take action. So go get those sales and start off the year with a bang 🙂

      See you around.

      Reply
  11. Outstanding post, well done Qhubekani Nyathi! I have been both affiliate and vendor on Clickbank for years. Love this platform. And I couldn’t agree more with purchasing and testing what you intend to promote. After all, knowledge is the key. And digital marketing is the art of turning knowledge into profit.

    Reply
    • Hey Deon,
      I appreciate your kind words.

      Glad to hear from someone who’s been there done that and printed his own T-shirts on the subject 😃.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  12. Hi Qhubekani,

    Great post & I think the main problem is fake reviews tons of products get bad reviews without them actually being bad just so that they can suggest their product.

    Reply
    • Hi Sam,
      Thanks for weighing in.

      Yes, fake reviews are a big online. This is why it’s crucial to buy and test a product first if you want to sell it with confidence and genuinely serve your audience.

      Have a nice day 😃

      Reply
  13. Great content! You should take a look at ExoFunnels when you have a minute.

    They’re similar to ClickBank, JVZoo, WarriorPlus, etc. But they have a ton of ways they help affiliates and vendors generate more revenue. For example, whenever a customer purchases a product, they start promoting additional products to them and use your affiliate link.

    So, if your the affiliate or vendor that’s associated with a specific purchase, your affiliate link will be used to promote other products instead of them just taking the credit for those sales like other networks do.

    Also, you can earn money by referring new affiliates and/or vendors to their network. I don’t think any of their competitors offer an option like that. Just another way to make money with them 🙂

    Reply
  14. Hello,

    Great post, I have a question. You say about serving your audience. Does that mean you need to already have an audience or online presence for this to really work? Some tutorials just show the use of squeeze pages to funnel to the affiliate link before purchasing. Is that a method for people with a website or blog?

    Thanks again for the information

    Reply
  15. Hey Ahmahd,
    Happy you liked the post.

    Yes, I’m referring to your blog audience. But you can also drive traffic to your affiliate offers through paid traffic.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  16. Hey Qhubekani!
    It is totally what I wanted to know. Great help!
    There’re some other alternatives like JVZoo, Maxbounty, CJ but Clickbank is super simple and provides an awesome user-friendly experience.

    Thanks for this valuable piece of information.

    Reply
  17. I have been trying to integrate Clickbank to our affiliate lists and monetization strategies for blogging and this post has address almost all my concerns. I am very grateful for the time you guys take in making these facts ready for readers.

    Thanks for these insights.

    Reply
  18. first time i left out the date and got rejected so i reposted with teh daye and it says duplication

    for me it is easy to find high converting offers.
    what is not so easy is to find products that are not I scam or rip off for the buyer.
    particularly in the health Wellness and white loss sector I have found so many that looked very promising but when I look at places like trustpilot and read it for independent reviews I’m seeing tons of bad reviews saying the product is a scam and doesn’t work do not buy do not trust.

    when you are trying to build a following of people who like and trust you it is essential to offer only quality ethical products that work and I am finding it so hard to find something that matches that criteria.

    Reply

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