My Review Of The Target Partner Program (Pros and Cons From An Influencer’s Perspective!)
*These opinions are my own and not Target’s or in relation to Target.
If you’re interested in the Walmart Creator Program, you can find my blog on that one linked here!
Is the Target Partner Program legit? Is it worth it? The Target Partner Program launched recently, and I was quick to jump on board (note, this is separate from the Target affiliate program, though both are through the Impact Platform). Because it’s new, there are some things I’m sure will change with time. However, if you’re already in the regular affiliate program, I would DEFINITELY upgrade to the partner program!
Here are some first impressions and things I’m learning:
Pro: It’s free to join, and anyone can apply.
Not everyone will be accepted. No one knows the exact requirements, but I’m sure the team reviews the applications and considers web traffic, follower count, engagement rates, type of content, inclusivity, and more. However, it’s free to apply, so give it a shot.
Rather than being fully denied, you may be waitlisted. Don’t lose hope— this program is clearly still in the process of being fully developed. I have had friends (with large followings)apply for other affiliate programs that were accepted a year after me! No one knows the reason, but patience is key. You could try shooting them an email, too!
Pro: The commissions are impressive— up to 8%.
We aren’t allowed to disclose the commission rates in this program, but perhaps they’ll eventually be made public. For now, rest assured they are higher than the regular Target affiliate rates for their affiliate program, LikeToKnowIt, etc. The highest categories are 8%.
Think about it— if you sell something in that category for $500 (a nice piece of furniture or electronic), you’ll pocket $40! And if you link that high end item, and someone else ends up purchasing $400 worth of other items 3 days later, you get the commission!!
Con: You will not receive any commission or credit if the customer checks out using rewards programs such as Honey.
Unfortunately, Target partners with many rewards programs that automatically apply at checkout. I used my own affiliate link to make a $1,000 purchase, but I received zero commission because my Honey plug-in applied automatically. Honey paid me a whopping $1 bonus, got my entire commission, and the sale didn’t even show up on the backend. This is the biggest deal-breaker for me.
Pro: The referral window is 7 days.
This means if the person who clicked on your link makes any purchases on Target.com from that device within 1 week, you’ll get the commission… even if it’s not the item you promoted! This is beneficial considering how many people order groceries and random items from the site consistently. This window is 7x longer than Amazon’s, but half of Walmart’s.
Con: You won’t get paid immediately.
Similar to any other affiliate program, Target has to ensure the items aren’t returned. 30 days after you make the sale, the commission gets locked. You’ll be able to cash that amount out after another 30 days passes. You’re looking at a 2-month delay in getting paid. (Not uncommon at all, but can still be a con if you’re not expecting it.)
Pro: They are starting to offer more promotions to start ramping up sales.
Target, just like most retailers, offers sales for holidays and during competitors’ sales days. During these times, and perhaps just to get you on board, they may offer flat fee bonuses, rewards, gift cards, and more. Again, I can’t disclose what those amounts may look like, but it can be a great motivation for promoting Target. It’ll also help you purchase items to create content.
Con: Statistics are a little slow.
The website claims it can take up to 72 hours to appear in the report. Fortunately, I’ve noticed it to take right at 24 hours to see a sale show up. However, this can be frustrating if you want real-time updates. At the end of the day, this is up to the Impact platform.
Pro: My audience actually loves Target.
I mean, who doesn’t?! When I polled my IG audience on whether they choose Target or Walmart when shopping online, Target was the winner. If they’re already going to be spending their money there, at least I’m getting a cut!
Con: You (obviously) won’t get commission for purchases made in-store.
With Amazon, that’s not a concern. However, I haven’t focused on selling products that are available in-store, so this hasn’t been an issue for me.
Pro: They have great customer service.
I was accepted quickly, and anytime I email their partner email address with questions or concerns, they reply VERY quickly— far faster than any competitor. They’ve helped me with technical issues, listened to my recommendations for new programs, and reminded me of rewards I could receive.
Con: It can be slightly complicated to navigate the back end.
For now, the best thing you can do is work from a laptop and go through the Impact website. That’s how you can track your sales, link clicks, commissions, and grab links. I think a storefront-type site is in the works, but I was having technical issues when signing up.
Pro: They offer fast shipping.
Walmart can take awhile, and Amazon is so fast that many only shop on that site. However, Target is competitive in terms of shipping… AND they offer fast pickup if you’re local. The sooner the buyer may get the item, the more likely they’ll buy— giving you the commission.
As of now, this program is in a testing period… so I wouldn’t sign up and give it a try. It can’t hurt!
The system is new and pretty basic. I make far less overall than another major platform, BUT it’s a new program. If they’re offering rewards, better commission, and my audience loves it?! Sign me up.
I hope to rely more heavily on this affiliate program if and when they stop giving credit for my sales to plugins such as Honey. This is probably one of my biggest issues I have with the program.
It’s only going to get better.
I definitely recommend submitting an application to get in as soon as possible, but understand that there are still kinks in the system they are working out and it might not be a seamless experience.
Interested in joining the Walmart Creator Program? Learn about those commissions, pros and cons, and more by clicking here.
