An affiliate marketing program creates an impactful partnership between a creator (the affiliate) and a brand, potentially benefiting both parties. The agreement means the affiliate promotes the brand’s product or services to their audience on social media, and each time someone from that audience purchases through that creator’s affiliate link, the brand pays that creator a commission.
Sounds pretty straightforward and easy, right? Well, for the most part, it can be. But when it comes to discount code promotion, sometimes we need some extra help in the creativity department. That’s where we come in.
But first, let’s talk about why you should partner with affiliates that use TikTok and Instagram Reels or why, as a new affiliate, you should leverage those platforms.
As of 2024, TikTok has amassed 1.6 billion active users monthly, and 2.3 billion people interact with the Instagram Reels feature each month. While both have a reputation for being “just for kids,” a massive chunk of these user bases are in the 25-34 age bracket. The short-form, punchy video style is excellent for entertaining, educating, and, most importantly, holding people’s attention more than an email blast or long-winded newsletter.
Discount codes are particularly enticing on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Affiliates can upload videos with dedicated affiliate discount codes to boost engagement and earn more revenue for themselves and the brands they work with.
Now that we understand how discount code promotion works, let’s look at some of the most compelling examples that work for both TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Why it works: A try-on haul is a favorite among audiences who love fashion and clothing. Sophia shows off products and talks about the company’s values and mission in a voiceover overlaid so her audience can more closely resonate with the brand.
In the description, she uses a call to action, “What are some of your favorite eco-conscious brands to shop from?” to drive engagement and interest the viewer in clicking. She then lists instructions for various affiliate discount links in the description.
Why it works: ASMR, anyone? Cloudnoela uses this calming and alluring ASMR-style mechanical keyboard review to promote their affiliate discount code. It’s super enticing for keyboard aficionados and anyone who enjoys “oddly satisfying” content. The discount code instructions are in the description, and they preemptively calculated the total, with the discount, to draw users in with that marked-down price.
Why it works: Motivational content is popular and can be used to promote various products. Matt Choi uses his motivating day-in-the-life-style reel to get his audience to imagine themselves in his shoes (literally). The discount he’s offering on the running shoes is a simple discount code text box at the end of the TikTok. Clean. Concise. Effective.
Why it works: Another satisfying reel on our list, purple_unniverse is completing a craft with a top-down filming style, which allows users to experience using the product, a beautiful stationary set, from their point of view. They use a link-in-bio technique and tag the brand to keep it simple.
Why it works: Much like the way Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos are popular, Get UN-Ready With Me videos are trendy. Who doesn’t like to cozy up after a long day and wind down before bed? Sanagrover takes us with her to do just that: put on comfy clothes, light a candle, and show us the products she’s promoting so we, too, can associate them with comfort. She’s listed her discount code in the description and made the video in collaboration with the brand so users know where to head for savings.
Why it works: Everybody loves a good unboxing. It feels just like Christmas. That’s exactly what calamitykyle is doing to promote his partnership with this cookware brand. He’s listed the brand as a paid partner and added his affiliate discount code to the description, making it easy for buyers. In his intro, he uses “A few of you have been asking about…” to build trust and affirm the demand, making viewers feel more inclined to buy.
Why it works: This GRWM with Bernadette Kirwarn is unique because she tells us about a revelation about discovering she has curly hair. Discovery-type content captures viewers because it recreates that sense of wonder and excitement for everyone. Viewers want to feel like they can discover something about themselves, too. Again, she labels the paid partnership and writes her discount code in the description.
Why it works: Renovation content is both satisfying and exciting. Dom Wood takes us through an at-home project, and highlights the tools he’s promoting as integral to the success of it. He writes a simple caption about the work, mentions his discount link that lives in his bio, and at the end of the reel we get to see a beautiful job well done.
Why it works: Courtney captivates her TikTok audience by having a clean “Black Friday Sale” text box above her, showing off different protein powders and drinks. She includes her discount code in the description, uses dozens of applicable hashtags, and tags the company to buy from. She also raves about what she personally buys and enjoys so her followers can understand what their favorite influencer stocks up on.
Why it works: Lastly, we have an example of an affiliate showing his audience how to level up their creative skills. Leo Becker starts by demonstrating the pain point (having to struggle and squint to notice design errors in his software) and then provides the solution, which is the product that auto-detects minor errors for you. It’s a pain that likely impacts his audience, so this structure will effectively garner interest. He mentions the discount amount in his description and prompts people to head to his bio to use the link and purchase.
Simple Affiliate is a powerful affiliate marketing tool and one of Shopify’s trusted partners. With a user-friendly interface, convenient affiliate dashboard, automated payments, and powerful analytics, it’s the perfect match for both creator and brand.
Kicking off your affiliate marketing program has never been easier. Get set up fast, connect with affiliates, and build a strong revenue-driving partnership for the long haul. Have fun, and see you on TikTok and Instagram.
To learn more about Simple Affiliate, book a demo today.
