Here at New England Coastal Creative (NECC), one of the most common questions we hear from our community is: “Which platform should I use—Shop My or LTK?” Creators and brands alike are looking for the best way to monetize their content, reach their target audience, and make an impact in the affiliate marketing world.
To help you decide, let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons, share in-depth tips, and highlight a case study to bring it all together.
LTK: The Original Affiliate Marketing Giant
LTK (formerly RewardStyle) has long been the go-to platform for affiliate marketing, especially for influencers in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle niches. With its built-in discovery tools and partnerships with major brands, LTK simplifies the process of connecting influencers with products their audiences love. For brands, it offers a streamlined way to tap into established influencer networks and access comprehensive analytics to measure campaign success. However, LTK’s exclusivity and costs may not make it the perfect fit for everyone. Let’s explore the pros and cons for both brands and influencers to see if LTK is right for you.
For Brands: Why Choose LTK?
If you’re a brand looking to tap into a vast network of experienced influencers, LTK offers a streamlined solution for affiliate marketing. It’s ideal for businesses that want to scale their influencer partnerships quickly, access valuable performance data, and reach engaged audiences. However, the platform’s crowded ecosystem and higher costs may not suit every business model.
Pros:
- Access to Established Influencers: LTK connects you with a pool of vetted influencers who have proven track records of driving sales, ensuring your brand gets exposure from creators who know how to convert followers into customers.
- Streamlined Collaboration: The platform simplifies influencer partnerships by managing affiliate links, commissions, and reporting, saving you time and resources.
- Detailed Analytics: Robust tracking tools provide insights into clicks, sales, and ROI, enabling brands to measure campaign success and optimize strategies.
- Built-In Discovery: Your products are featured in the LTK app, where shoppers actively browse influencer recommendations, giving your brand additional visibility.
Cons:
- High Competition: With so many brands using LTK, standing out can be a challenge, especially without significant investment in influencer collaborations.
- Higher Costs: Working with LTK influencers often involves higher commission payouts or upfront fees, which can be a barrier for smaller businesses.
- Limited Brand Input: While influencers create engaging content, brands have less control over how their products are presented, which can sometimes lead to inconsistent messaging.
For Influencers/Content Creators: Is LTK Right for You?
For influencers looking to monetize their content, LTK is a powerhouse platform offering access to big-name brands and a streamlined way to create shoppable links. While the platform provides great tools and opportunities, its exclusivity and crowded space can pose challenges for smaller or niche creators.
Pros:
- Exclusive Brand Partnerships: Work with household names like Nordstrom, Target, and Sephora, boosting your credibility and income potential.
- Built-In Discovery: The LTK app attracts shoppers actively looking for influencer-curated recommendations, helping you grow your audience beyond your social following.
- Ease of Use: LTK’s tools make it easy to create affiliate links, track commissions, and manage campaigns, even for creators new to affiliate marketing.
- Passive Income Potential: Once your links are live, they can generate commissions for weeks or months, providing a steady stream of income.
Cons:
- Exclusive Application Process: LTK’s selective approval process can make it difficult for smaller creators to join, especially if they’re outside mainstream niches.
- Low Commission Rates: Many popular retailers offer small commission percentages (as low as 2%-5%), requiring high sales volumes to generate significant income.
- Overcrowded Platform: With so many influencers promoting similar products, standing out can be challenging, particularly for micro-creators.
Shop My: The Newcomer with Flexibility
Shop My is the newcomer shaking up the affiliate marketing world with its flexibility and inclusivity. Unlike traditional platforms, Shop My allows creators to curate personalized storefronts featuring products from any retailer, including small businesses and independent brands. For influencers, it’s a fantastic way to maintain creative control and build authentic relationships with their audiences. For brands, Shop My offers a cost-effective way to collaborate directly with creators and tap into niche audiences. While it lacks built-in discovery features, Shop My’s DIY approach empowers both brands and influencers to craft partnerships on their own terms. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons for each.
For Brands: Why Choose Shop My?
For brands that value creative freedom and personalized partnerships, Shop My offers a flexible alternative to traditional affiliate platforms. It’s especially appealing for small businesses and niche brands looking to collaborate with micro and nano influencers. While the lack of built-in discovery requires more effort, the cost savings and authenticity it fosters make it a compelling choice.
Pros:
- Direct Relationships with Influencers: Shop My allows you to work closely with influencers, fostering authentic partnerships that resonate with their audiences.
- Lower Costs: Without additional platform fees or high commission thresholds, Shop My is a more affordable option for brands with smaller budgets.
- Access to Niche Audiences: By collaborating with micro and nano influencers, brands can reach highly engaged and targeted demographics.
- Creative Freedom: Influencers can showcase your products in unique ways, creating authentic, personalized content that aligns with your brand’s values.
Cons:
- No Centralized Discovery: Unlike LTK’s app, Shop My doesn’t offer a centralized platform for browsing influencer-curated content, so your success depends heavily on the influencer’s audience.
- DIY Approach: Brands must identify and manage influencer relationships themselves, which can be time-consuming.
- Limited Analytics: While Shop My provides some tracking, its performance tools are not as comprehensive as those offered by LTK.
For Influencers/Content Creators: Is Shop My Right for You?
If you’re a creator looking for flexibility and freedom, Shop My is a fantastic option. Open to all creators regardless of follower size, it’s perfect for those starting out or working in niche markets. However, without built-in discovery tools, you’ll need to rely on your existing audience to drive traffic and sales.
Pros:
- Open to All Creators: Unlike LTK, Shop My doesn’t have restrictive application requirements, making it accessible to creators of all sizes and niches.
- Creative Control: Shop My allows you to curate personalized storefronts with products from any retailer, offering complete freedom to align with your audience’s interests.
- Support for Smaller Retailers: You can link to products from independent businesses or local boutiques, standing out from influencers tied to mainstream brands.
- Higher Commissions Potential: Direct relationships with brands enable you to negotiate commissions, often leading to higher payouts than traditional affiliate programs.
Cons:
- No Built-In Audience: Without a centralized discovery platform like LTK’s app, you’ll need to drive traffic to your Shop My storefront through your existing social media and blog channels.
- More Work for Creators: Shop My requires you to source products, create links, and promote them, which can be time-intensive without the right tools or strategy.
- Limited Brand Network: While flexible, Shop My lacks the pre-established relationships with major retailers that LTK offers, requiring more effort to find opportunities.
The Comparison at a Glance
How to Choose the Right Platform
Deciding between LTK and Shop My depends on your goals, audience, and the type of partnerships you’re seeking. It should be noted that you don’t have to choose! You can absolutely do BOTH. As they are both free for influencers and content creators, you can easily manage two accounts. For brands, costs will be a factor, but if your budget allows, it’s always great to have variety for your community. Here’s a more detailed breakdown to help you choose the right fit:
For Brands:
Choose LTK if:
- You want to collaborate with established influencers who have proven sales records.
- You’re looking for a streamlined solution to manage affiliate campaigns with minimal effort.
- Your products are mainstream or appeal to broad audiences shopping with major retailers.
- You have the budget to invest in high-visibility influencer partnerships and premium analytics tools.
Choose Shop My if:
- You value direct relationships with influencers and prefer a more hands-on approach to partnerships.
- You’re a small or niche brand looking to collaborate with micro or nano influencers for highly engaged audiences.
- You want to work with influencers who can authentically showcase your products with personalized, creative content.
- You need a cost-effective solution without high platform fees or commission thresholds.
For Influencers/Content Creators:
Choose LTK if:
- You have a medium-to-large following and want access to partnerships with big-name brands like Nordstrom, Sephora, or Target.
- You’re seeking a platform that helps with audience discovery through its shopping app.
- You want a simplified, plug-and-play system to create and manage affiliate links.
- You’re comfortable competing in a crowded space and are confident your content will stand out.
Choose Shop My if:
- You’re just starting out, have a smaller audience, or focus on a niche market.
- You want creative control to curate a unique storefront that reflects your brand and audience interests.
- You’re looking to promote products from small businesses, boutiques, or independent brands not available on LTK.
- You’re prepared to rely on your own social channels to drive traffic and are comfortable taking a more proactive approach to affiliate marketing.
Case Study: A Creator's Success with Shop My vs. LTK
Meet Emily, a Coastal Lifestyle Influencer
Emily, a micro-influencer in the NECC community with 8,000 Instagram followers, wanted to monetize her content. She initially joined LTK, attracted by its big-name retailers. However, she struggled to stand out in the crowded ecosystem and found that her niche audience was more interested in boutique products than mainstream brands.
Her Transition to Shop My:
When Emily switched to Shop My, she saw immediate results. By curating a storefront featuring coastal-inspired products from local New England brands, her engagement skyrocketed. Her audience appreciated the personalized recommendations, and Emily loved the freedom to support small businesses she genuinely believed in.
The Outcome:
In her first 90 days on Shop My:
- Emily earned 30% more in commissions than she had on LTK.
- Her collaborations with local brands led to partnerships that went beyond affiliate links, including sponsored posts and content creation gigs.
NECC’s Pro Tips for Success
Whether you’re a brand or a creator, affiliate marketing is about more than just sharing links—it’s about building trust, authenticity, and value with your audience. At NECC, we’ve seen firsthand how the right strategy can elevate your earnings and engagement. For creators, focus on storytelling and weaving affiliate links naturally into your content—your audience responds to products they see you genuinely love and use. For brands, prioritize partnerships with influencers whose values align with your own, even if their following is small; authenticity converts better than numbers alone. And for both, always leverage seasonal opportunities—gift guides, themed campaigns, and exclusive offers create urgency and drive conversions. Ready to turn clicks into lasting connections? Start with these actionable tips:
For Creators:
Choose High-Converting Products:
Focus on products your audience already loves or needs. For example, coastal lifestyle influencers might recommend beach bags, nautical decor, or chic coastal fashion.Promote Naturally:
Authenticity sells. Share your honest opinions, demonstrate how you use the product, and weave recommendations seamlessly into your content.Leverage Seasonal Content:
Create timely campaigns around holidays, back-to-school, summer travel, or winter skincare. Seasonal content tends to convert better because it meets an immediate need.Build a Multi-Platform Strategy:
Don’t just rely on Instagram—use blogs, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube to spread affiliate links across multiple channels for greater reach.Track Performance:
Use analytics to see which products or platforms drive the most clicks and conversions. Double down on what works.
For Brands:
Prioritize the Right Influencers:
Focus on creators with an engaged audience, even if their following is smaller. Micro and nano influencers often deliver higher ROI due to their authentic connections with followers.Offer Incentives:
Provide influencers with exclusive discounts, early access, or free products to encourage authentic promotion and enthusiasm for your brand.Stay Engaged:
Reshare influencer content, comment on their posts, and maintain open communication to build long-term relationships.Optimize Timing:
Plan campaigns around high-conversion periods like holidays, product launches, or peak shopping seasons to maximize visibility and sales.Experiment with Platforms:
Test both LTK and Shop My to see which aligns best with your brand’s audience and marketing goals. Each platform offers unique advantages depending on your needs.
With these tips, you’ll be ready to maximize your affiliate marketing efforts and see real results—whether you’re linking products or partnering with creators.
The Verdict…
At NECC, we believe there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to affiliate platforms. LTK is perfect for creators and brands seeking scale and convenience, while Shop My excels in offering personalization and inclusivity. The key is understanding your goals, audience, and resources.
So, NECC community—what’s your affiliate platform of choice? Share your experiences in the comments, and let’s conNECCt on what’s working best for you!
