If you’re an outdoors creator looking to turn your passion into profit, you’ve probably come across various affiliate marketing platforms. But finding one that aligns with your niche and values can be challenging. Enter RockPorch – an affiliate platform that favors the creator over the brand.
Think this might be the right platform for you? Here’s an in-depth look into RockPorch to explore what it offers, how it works, and how to get started.
What is the RockPorch Affiliate Platform?
Rockporch is an affiliate marketing platform tailored for creators in the outdoor and travel niche. Unlike other affiliate networks, RockPorch focuses on partnerships with brands that cater to adventurers, hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
With its outdoor-specific focus, RockPorch aims to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem where creators can earn commissions by promoting gear, apparel, and products they genuinely love—without compromising authenticity.
Key Features of RockPorch
- Free to Use: It’s absolutely free for Creators
- Gain Access to 700+ Brands: Gain instant access to 700+ top brands, ranging from small boutique companies to well-known names in the industry, like REI, Backcountry, Target, Chewy, and more. This means creators can choose which brands to collaborate with that resonate with their audience.
- Affiliate Tools: There are a number of in-app features that make affiliate marketing easy, including:
- Custom Link Generators
- Real-time analytics for tracking clicks and conversions
- Commission tracking dashboards
- Gear Lockers: equivalent to a storefront
- Creator Support: Whether you’re new to affiliate marketing or a seasoned pro, Rockporch offers helpful resources like a one-on-one free strategy call with their Creator Development Manager, seminars to help creator growth, and weekly e-mails with tips and content ideas. RockPorch also works with brands on campaigns that creators can opt-in to.
- Competitive Commissions: RockPorch offers competitive commission rates and longer-than-average cookie windows. These commission rates are often higher than most affiliate networks.
My Experience with RockPorch
Onboarding
It takes 2 minutes to apply to become a RockPorch Creator – simply fill out the Creator application and the RockPorch team will review your application within 48 hours. Acceptance is based on the relevance of your content.
There are no minimum audience requirements or follower count. With under 5k followers on Instagram, I was able to apply and get accepted within a 2 day timeframe.
Ease of Use
The dashboard is intuitive, making it easy to create affiliate links to a brand page, a specific item, or a gear locker (a collection of items). I especially liked having all my affiliate links in one place with the retail price and estimated commission amounts.
Earning Potential
The commission rates are competitive and because the products align with my audience’s interests, I’ve made conversions even as a nano-influencer with less than 10k followers. Earnings can easily be tracked using their real-time analytics dashboards which reports traffic, clicks, performance by product, and commissions. During my first month on the platform I made $165 by sharing my favorite REI products during their annual sale.
Creator Community + Support
RockPorch stands by its mission to support and teach creators to better monetize content authentically. When first joining, creators have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one strategy call to learn how to incorporate RockPorch into content. RockPorch creators also have access to weekly e-mails, online seminars and meet-ups where you can connect with and learn from like-minded creators.
Pros & Cons of RockPorch
Pros:
- Easy to find high-quality brands that fit niche focus on outdoors, travel creators.
- User-friendly tools and dashboard
- Competitive commission rates
- Get support as a creator
- No obligation to brands, meaning you can promote brands and products that align with your values
- Manage all affiliate links in one place
Cons:
- Not as mobile friendly: creating affiliate links is easier on desktop
- Some links may not be in the product catalog. Note, commissions can still be earned but the link and stats do not appear in the dashboard
- Audience may not recognize the link. Affiliate links generated via rockporch look like: ‘https://rei.rockporch.com/prdlink/Cdx4vTlKvb’
How RockPorch Compares to Other Affiliate Platforms
Compared to platforms like Amazon Associates or AvantLink, RockPorch stands out for a number of reasons.
While a general platform like Amazon offers more items, RockPorch’s commission rates are significantly better than Amazon’s 2-4% range. Features like Amazon storefront are also available in RockPorch Gear Lockers, so creators can build curated lists based on topic or activity.
Unlike AvantLink, individual brand approval is not necessary, acceptance to RockPorch gets you immediate access to 700+ brands.
Tips for Maximizing Success on RockPorch
Promote Authentically
Prioritize Brands with Good Commission Rates
Share Products During Sales
Final Verdict: Is RockPorch Right for You?
After several months of using RockPorch, I can confidently say it’s a fantastic platform for outdoor creators regardless of following size. Its niche focus, top-tier brand partners, and competitive commissions make it a standout choice. If you’re a creator with a YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, or Blog looking for ways to monetize content, RockPorch is definitely worth considering!
