Recruiting affiliates is one of the hardest parts of running an affiliate programme. You have built the programme, set up commissions, and prepared your links — but where do you find people to promote your app?
The Insert Affiliate Marketplace solves this by connecting mobile app companies with affiliates who are actively looking for programmes to join.
What the Affiliate Marketplace Actually Is
The Marketplace is a shared directory inside Insert Affiliate where your programme sits alongside other apps that affiliates can browse and apply to. Instead of you cold-emailing creators one by one, affiliates who are already on the platform looking for something to promote can find you.
It works on a simple matching idea: affiliates filter the directory by category, commission type, and app category, then open the listings that fit their audience. So a fitness creator can narrow to health and fitness apps, see your commission terms up front, and apply — without you ever reaching out first. The better your listing matches what they're searching for, the more likely they are to find and join you.
That's the core difference from manual recruitment: the Marketplace turns affiliate discovery into something affiliates do to you, rather than something you have to chase.
How the Marketplace Works
For Companies
Your affiliate programme is listed in the marketplace, visible to all affiliates on the platform. Affiliates can browse programmes, learn about your app, and apply to join.
- Programme visibility — Your app, commission rates, and description are shown to potential affiliates
- Inbound applications — Affiliates come to you instead of you searching for them
- Quality filtering — Combined with manual approval, you control who joins
For Affiliates
Affiliates browse available programmes filtered by category, commission type, and app category. They can view programme details and apply directly.
- Discover new programmes — Find apps that match their audience and niche
- Easy application — Apply to join with one click
- Multiple programmes — Promote several apps simultaneously
Who the Marketplace Is Best For
The Marketplace is most useful if you don't already have a list of creators lined up to promote your app. In practice, it tends to suit:
- Early-stage apps that have a working programme but no audience of promoters yet — the Marketplace gives you reach without a recruitment budget.
- Solo founders and small teams who don't have time to run constant outreach. Inbound applications mean recruitment keeps happening while you build.
- Apps in clear niches — fitness, finance, education, productivity — where affiliates can immediately see whether your app fits their audience.
- Subscription apps that can offer a recurring share, which is exactly what audience-driven affiliates look for when they pick a programme to commit to.
If you already have an established roster of partners, the Marketplace is still worth using as a top-up channel — it simply runs in the background and surfaces new applicants over time.
Making Your Programme Stand Out
To attract the best affiliates, make sure your marketplace listing is compelling:
- Clear description — Explain what your app does and who uses it
- Competitive commission — Affiliates compare rates across programmes
- Marketing materials — Provide resources that make promoting easy
- Quick approval — Affiliates prefer programmes that respond fast
How to Make Your Listing Attractive to Affiliates
The four points above are the checklist; here's how to actually act on each one so your listing earns applications instead of scroll-pasts.
- Write the description for the affiliate, not the app store. Affiliates want to know who your app is for and why their audience would convert, so lead with the audience ("budgeting app for freelancers") rather than a feature list. One or two clear sentences beat a paragraph of marketing copy.
- Set a commission rate that's worth their effort. Affiliates compare listings side by side, so a rate that's competitive for your niche gets you noticed. As a starting point to test, many app programmes begin somewhere around 20–30% of a first purchase, and subscription apps often add a smaller recurring share to reward affiliates who bring customers that stay. Start a little lower than you think, watch who converts, then raise it for your best performers.
- Make promoting genuinely easy. Affiliates favour programmes where the work is half-done for them — ready-made links, a few sample captions, and a screenshot or two. The less they have to create from scratch, the faster they start.
- Approve fast. An affiliate who applies is at their most motivated in that moment. If approval drags, they move on to the next listing. If you use manual approval for quality control, set yourself a rhythm — even once a day — so applicants don't go cold.
The Network Effect
As more companies and affiliates join Insert Affiliate, the marketplace becomes more valuable for everyone. Companies get access to a growing pool of motivated promoters. Affiliates get access to more programmes that match their audience.
This creates a virtuous cycle: better affiliates attract more companies, which attracts more affiliates.
Getting Started
Your programme is automatically visible in the marketplace when you enable affiliate self-signup. Make sure your company profile and programme details are complete to maximise your visibility.
Learn more about the App Affiliate Marketplace.
How to Get Started (Step by Step)
If you're setting your listing up from scratch, here's the order that works:
- Enable affiliate self-signup. This is what places your programme in the Marketplace in the first place — without it, your programme isn't discoverable.
- Complete your company profile and programme details. A half-filled listing rarely gets applications. Fill in your app name, description, category, and commission terms so affiliates can judge fit at a glance.
- Set your commission as a starting point to test. Pick a rate you can sustain after app-store fees, publish it, and treat it as a number you'll tune once you see who converts.
- Decide how you'll vet applicants. Turn on manual approval if you want to control who joins, or leave it open if reach matters more than filtering right now.
- Add marketing materials. Drop in links and a few promotable assets so an approved affiliate can start the same day.
- Review applications regularly and adjust. As applicants come in, note which kinds of affiliates fit best and refine your description and rate to attract more of them.
Key Takeaways
The marketplace makes it easy to find affiliates for app promotion without manual outreach. Affiliate discovery and affiliate recruitment happen organically as affiliates browse available programmes. Building an affiliate network of mobile app affiliates has never been simpler — the marketplace connects the right promoters with the right apps automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to list my app in the Marketplace? No separate fee — your programme appears in the Marketplace as part of using Insert Affiliate once you enable affiliate self-signup. You only pay commissions on the sales affiliates actually drive.
How do affiliates find my programme? Affiliates browse the Marketplace and filter by category, commission type, and app category, then open the listings that match their audience. A complete, well-targeted listing is what surfaces you to the right people.
Can I still control who promotes my app? Yes. Pair the Marketplace with manual approval so you review each applicant before they join, while still getting inbound applications instead of doing outreach.
Can I list more than one app? Yes. Each programme gets its own listing, so apps with several products can recruit affiliates for each one independently.
How long until I get my first affiliate? It depends on your niche and how compelling your listing is, so treat the early weeks as a test: publish a complete listing, approve promptly, and refine your description and commission based on who applies.