How to Start with the Rakuten Rewards Affiliate Program for Beginners (Step-by-Step Guide)

Affiliate marketing is one of the most powerful and beginner-friendly ways to earn passive income online. Among the many affiliate programs out there, Rakuten Rewards (formerly Abates) stands out for its unique model, reliability, and brand recognition.

Whether you're a blogger, content creator, or simply someone looking to earn some extra cash online, the Rakuten Rewards Affiliate Program is an excellent way to start your affiliate journey. In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how Rakuten works, how to join their affiliate program, how to promote it, and how to start earning commissions.

✅ What Is Rakuten Rewards?

A well-known cash back platform, Rakuten Rewards gives users a percentage of their money back when they shop online at partner retailers. It partners with over 3,500 stores including Walmart, Macy’s, Best Buy, Amazon, Sephora, and more.

Users go to Rakuten.com, click a store link, and shop as usual rather than doing so directly with the retailer. Rakuten tracks the sale and gives them a cash back percentage.

So where do affiliates come in?

When you refer people to join Rakuten, and they make their first qualifying purchase, you earn a commission, and they receive a welcome bonus (often $30 or more). It’s a win-win!

Why advertise Rakuten Rewards? There are several great reasons to join and promote Rakuten as an affiliate:

✅ Zero cost for the customer

✅ High conversion rate (who doesn’t want free cash back?)

✅ Trusted brand with global recognition

✅ Lucrative referral bonuses

✅ Perfect for beginners—no product creation or sales experience needed

✅ Works well on social media, blogs, email lists, and YouTube

Let's move on to the actual steps required to begin earning money through the Rakuten affiliate program.

🔢 Step 1: Create a Rakuten Rewards Account

Before you can promote Rakuten, you need to sign up as a regular user. Here's how:

Check out Rakuten.com. Click "Join Now"

Sign up using email, Google, or Apple ID

Verify your email

Optional: Download the Rakuten browser extension for automatic cashback notifications

Once you're signed up, you can begin using Rakuten personally and refer others to earn affiliate commissions.

🎯 Step 2: Understand the Referral Program

Rakuten’s built-in referral program is technically its own affiliate system. Here’s how it works:

You get a unique referral link

When someone signs up through your link and makes a qualifying purchase (usually $30+ within 90 days), you both earn bonuses

You can find your referral link inside your Rakuten dashboard under “Refer & Earn $”

Rakuten often runs promotions, such as “Refer a Friend, Earn $30” (this bonus changes from time to time)

This referral method is perfect for beginners because it’s simple and effective, and doesn’t require a third-party affiliate network.

However, if you want more control and tracking, you can apply for Rakuten’s full affiliate program via their partner network.

🌐 Step 3: Join the Rakuten Affiliate Program via Partnerize

To become a full Rakuten affiliate and access advanced tools, banners, and tracking, you need to apply through Partnerize, Rakuten’s affiliate network.

Here’s how to sign up:

Visit Partnerize.com

Click “Join” or go to the Rakuten affiliate page

Create an account and fill in your publisher details

Apply for the Rakuten US Affiliate Program

Once approved, you’ll get access to:

Affiliate banners

Text links

Real-time tracking

Analytics dashboard

If you already have a website, blog, or established audience, this version of the program is ideal.

✍️ Step 4: Choose the Right Promotion Channels

Now that you have your affiliate/referral links, it’s time to promote. The beauty of Rakuten is that it fits into many content types. Here are the most effective methods to get clicks and conversions:

📘 1. Start a Blog or Website

If you already have a blog or are willing to start one, this is one of the best long-term ways to earn with Rakuten. Content ideas include:

🛍️ “Best Cashback Apps for Online Shopping”

💸 “How I Earn Free Money Every Time I Shop Online”

🎯 “Rakuten Review: Is It Legit or a Scam?”

📦 “Top 10 Rakuten Deals This Month”

Insert your Rakuten affiliate links in the content, and optimize for SEO to get free organic traffic.

🎥 2. Create YouTube Content

YouTube is a goldmine for promoting Rakuten. Here are some video ideas:

“How I Save Money Using Rakuten (Step-by-Step Tutorial)”

“Top 5 Shopping Hacks for 2025”

“Earn $30 Free with Rakuten – How It Works!”

Add your referral link in the description, pin it in the comments, and mention it verbally in the video.

📲 3. Use Social Media Platforms

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are great for short-form promotion.

Share shopping tips

Post cashback screenshots

Use Rakuten sign-up as an entry method for giveaways. Share referral bonuses in groups and communities

Pro tip: Use tools like Link tree or Beacons to share multiple links from your bio.

📧 4. Email Marketing

If you have an email list (or are building one), send out a helpful email showing how Rakuten helps save money.

Example subject lines:

“💰 This App Gave Me $30 Just for Signing Up”

“How to Get Free Cash Back on Your Everyday Shopping”

Include your affiliate link and make it feel personal.

💰 5. Use Paid Ads (Advanced)

You can also use Facebook Ads, Instagram, or Pinterest Ads to drive traffic to a blog post, YouTube video, or landing page promoting Rakuten. Be cautious—always check Rakuten’s terms and conditions for paid ad usage.

📊 Step 5: Track Performance and Optimize

Use your Rakuten or Partnerize dashboard to monitor clicks, referrals, and commissions. Pay attention to:

Which content is driving the most sign-ups?

Which traffic sources are most profitable?

What days/times your audience is most active?

Then, double down on what’s working and test new methods as you grow.

🚀 Step 6: Scale Your Earnings

Once you’re seeing some success with Rakuten, scale your efforts by:

Collaborating with influences or bloggers

Offering incentives (like bonuses or giveaways)

Re-sharing your top-performing content monthly

Adding Rakuten to your “Tools I Recommend” page or newsletter

❓FAQs About the Rakuten Affiliate Program

Q: Is it free to use Rakuten Rewards? Yes. Both the referral program and cashback platform are completely free for users.

Q: How much can I earn from Rakuten referrals?

It varies based on current promos. Most offers pay $25–$30 per referral, and there’s no cap to how many people you can refer.

Q: When do I get paid?

Rakuten pays quarterly by check or PayPal, depending on your account settings.

Q: Can I promote Rakuten without a website?

Absolutely. For beginners without a website, social media, YouTube, and even email are great options. 🔚 Final Thoughts

The Rakuten Rewards Affiliate Program is one of the easiest ways for beginners to make money online. With zero investment, a user-friendly platform, and a high-converting product (cashback!), there’s really no reason not to start today.

You don’t need to be a marketing expert, tech genius, or influence. All you need is a referral link and a bit of hustle.