Behind the E-Design Business: Affiliate Links Explained
Have you ever been browsing Instagram or reading a blog post and seen the phrase “affiliate link” and wondered what exactly that means? Or maybe you have a pretty good idea of what those are, but are curious why you should care. If it all feels a bit mysterious or you’d just like to know a bit of the “why” behind using them, today’s post is for you!
What are affiliate links?
First of all, affiliate links are trackable URLs that offer sales-based commissions to those who share them. The commissions generally range from 5-10% of the total sale and are paid out by the retailer to those who promote them.
Sharing and promoting affiliate links to products has become a very common practice for folks like bloggers and influencers, and you’re seeing it more and more in the interior design world as well - particularly with e-design services like I offer here at Mix & Match Design Co.
Where might you see affiliate links?
The short answer is…anywhere links can be shared! Websites, blogs, Instagram, email newsletters, and design client shopping lists are some common places.
I primarily include them in my blog posts, on Instagram, and in my e-design client shopping lists. I also share them through the LTK app (you can follow me here if you’re on there!). You know how I’ll provide lists of sources for my projects, or furniture and decor roundups? Those are typically affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission from your purchase and it costs you nothing!
An example of one of the roundups I’ve shared here on the blog
Why should you, as a consumer, care about them?
As a consumer, you should love affiliate links. That’s a bold statement, I know, but here’s why…
Affiliate links offer a way for small businesses (like mine!) to share furniture and decor we love, and offer helpful resources and design tips for F-R-E-E. I’m a big believer that everyone should be able to have a beautiful home that they enjoy, and part of my way of helping people achieve that that is by sharing my expertise through public online spaces like the blog and and Instagram.
It takes a lot of work to consistently do the research, create helpful resources, and publish in those places, so rather than charging a fee for that, I use affiliate links instead. So when you click through any of the links you see and make a purchase, you’re directly supporting a small business and providing a way to continue sharing things like it in the future. Oh, and psst! It doesn’t have to be the exact item - any purchase counts!
On the client side of things, affiliate links have benefits as well. When I design a room or home, one of the final pieces of the project is putting together a shopping list of the exact pieces they’ll need to bring the plan to life. That shopping list has affiliate links, and the commissions I earn from a client’s purchases help keep the design fees at an approachable price point. It’s a win-win!
So what does all of this mean for you?
If you see a link to a product you love, click on it and purchase through it! Whether it’s mine or another person you follow, those purchases directly benefit us as small business owners in a way that costs you nothing.
I am so grateful to those folks who have done this over the years and supported Mix & Match Design Co. in this way - truly! I hope this behind-the-scenes look affiliate links has helped shed a little light on the idea of affiliate links and how they work. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out - I’d love to answer those!
