Can you do Affiliate Marketing with Google Ads?

By: Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads Coach

Thinking about diving into affiliate marketing with Google Ads? Many marketers are curious about leveraging Google's advertising platform to drive affiliate sales. But can you really make it work? And more importantly, can you do it successfully? This question is crucial because navigating Google Ads, especially with affiliate marketing, requires a strategic approach.

In this article, we'll discuss:

• Whether you can use Google Ads for affiliate marketing.
• The essential Google Ads policies you need to be aware of.
• The common challenges affiliate marketers face, particularly with conversion tracking.
• Why conversion tracking is vital for effective Google Ads campaigns.
• Alternative Google Ads campaign types that might be better suited for affiliate marketing.

Can You Do Affiliate Marketing with Google Ads?

The short answer is yes, you can. Google Ads allows for affiliate marketing, but it comes with specific guidelines and policies.

The real question is whether you can do it successfully. Success in affiliate marketing with Google Ads hinges on your ability to navigate these policies and overcome common challenges.

Understanding Google Ads Policies

Google has strict policies regarding affiliate marketing to maintain the integrity of its advertising network. These policies include:

• Abuse of the Ad Network: Avoid practices that manipulate or deceive users.
• Misrepresentation: Ensure your ads accurately represent the products or services you're promoting.
• Copyrights and Trademarks: Respect intellectual property rights and avoid infringing on copyrights or trademarks.
• Destination Requirements: Ensure your landing pages meet Google's quality standards and provide a positive user experience.

Adhering to these policies is crucial to avoid account suspensions and ensure your campaigns run smoothly.

The Challenge of Conversion Tracking

One of the biggest hurdles affiliate marketers face is accurately tracking conversions. Without precise conversion data, optimizing your Google Ads campaigns becomes extremely difficult. This is particularly true for Performance Max campaigns, which rely heavily on conversion signals to automate bidding and targeting.

Why Conversion Tracking Matters

Conversion tracking is the cornerstone of effective Google Ads campaigns. It allows you to:

• Measure the effectiveness of your ads.
• Identify which keywords and placements are driving conversions.
• Optimize your bidding strategies.
• Make data-driven decisions to improve your ROI.

Without it, you're flying blind. Since many affiliate links don't afford you the opportunity to track conversions, THIS is the key reason many affiliate marketers can't get Google Ads to be profitable.

Alternative Google Ads Campaigns for Affiliate Marketing

While Performance Max can be used for affiliate marketing, other campaign types might be better suited, especially if you struggle with conversion tracking.

• YouTube Campaigns: Visual campaigns that can drive views and awareness, rather than website visits.
• Demand Gen Campaigns: Targeted visual campaigns that can engage specific audiences and drive website visits.

These campaign types offer more flexibility and control then PMax, which can be beneficial for affiliate marketers who need to work around tracking limitations.