Affiliate Marketing Tactics for Social Media: Research from

Affiliate marketing on social media is all about balance: engaging content that resonates with audiences and drives conversions. 

Our research highlights the strategies and formats that work best, offering actionable insights for brands and creators looking to optimize their efforts.

How We Know: Research at

has a full team of researchers who support our product, marketing, and service teams to make sure our user’s needs are front and center in everything we do. 

This survey was conducted in June 2024, gathering insights from 198 social media creators to explore their affiliate marketing tactics that work. 

Instagram Is Still the Go-To Social Platform for Affiliate Marketing

Our research shows that Instagram remains the top platform for sharing affiliate links, with 71.8% of creators using Stories and 70.4% leveraging link in bio pages (such as ’s Link in Bio) to promote affiliate products. 

Interestingly, although many of the surveyed creators also manage blogs or websites, this traditional affiliate-sharing method is used far less frequently, with only 40.8% using it for affiliate links. 

This trend highlights a shift: while blogs and websites have long been staples in traditional affiliate marketing, social media influencers find that directly embedding links into their Instagram content—particularly Stories and Reels—drives better engagement and results.

Stories and Reels Drive the Highest Conversions

Not only are Stories and Reels the most common formats for sharing affiliate links, but they also deliver the strongest conversions. 

Instagram Stories top the list as the highest-converting format (59.2%), followed closely by Reels (46.5%). 

Stories add a personal, immediate touch that prompts followers to swipe up or tap links, while Reels, though they don’t allow direct links, drive impressive engagement due to their shareable and highly engaging format.

For brands, focusing affiliate campaigns on Instagram’s Stories and Reels is a strategic way to maximize reach, engagement, and conversions, with the added benefit of authentic creator-driven content.

Data Insight: Leveraging Instagram Stories and Reels for affiliate links combines high audience reach with powerful conversion potential, making these formats essential for brands seeking measurable impact.

Authentic, Integrated Content Wins

When it comes to content, authenticity is the clear winner—a concept that’s long been recognized in influencer marketing. The most effective marketing is also more subtle. 

Rather than straightforward product reviews (38.7%) or tutorials (27.5%), and certainly more than overt tactics like giveaways or contests, lifestyle content that seamlessly integrates the product is the top-performing approach, with 54.9% of creators seeing strong results when they weave products naturally into their everyday lives. 

Here, the product doesn’t need to be the main focus; instead, audiences follow creators whose lifestyles they admire and resonate with. 

This subtle integration aligns with what the audience values and aspires to, making lifestyle-driven content the most impactful for affiliate marketing.

Start Scaling Affiliate Marketing on Instagram

For brands ready to level up their affiliate marketing, ‘s Mavely integration offers all the tools needed to work effectively with creators. Here’s why marketers love working with for affiliate marketing:

• Generate Custom Affiliate Links in Seconds: Create unique tracking links for each influencer and watch sales and engagement data roll in automatically.

• Access Real-Time Performance Insights: Track live campaign metrics including clicks, conversions, and commissions. Make data-driven decisions to optimize your campaigns.

• Automate Commission Payouts: Let Mavely handle influencer payments automatically. No more spreadsheets or manual processing is required.

• Keep Your Existing Networks: Already using Rakuten, Impact, or CJ? Perfect. Mavely supports all major networks.

• Connect with Major Retailers: Access 1,200+ brands including Walmart and Target. Send your audience where they’re already shopping and boost conversion rates.

Book a demo today to get started.