Pros of Wayward

Here are the key advantages of using Wayward for Amazon affiliate marketing.

• Improved Engagement: Wayward’s improved engagement feature helps build trust, increase interaction, and drive more sales through personalized stores.
• Noticeable Higher Commissions: This affiliate platform allows creators to earn higher commissions from sales compared to other programs. With Wayward, creators can make 3-5 times more per sale than Amazon’s native affiliate program, making it a more profitable choice for influencers.
• Longer 14-Day Tracking Period: With a 14-day tracking period, you have a better chance of earning commissions on sales, even if customers buy later—unlike Amazon’s 24-hour limit.
• Custom Storefront & & Improved User Experience: Wayward offers a personalized storefront that reflects your brand, creating a more enjoyable and trustworthy shopping experience for customers. With all recommendations displayed in one easy-to-navigate page, it helps boost conversions and sales.
• One Checkout for All Brands: Wayward lets Shoppers to buy products from different brands in one transaction, a convenience that typical affiliate setups can’t offer. This makes the process smoother and reduces the chances of people leaving their carts.
• Access to Exclusive Deals: One great way to have engaging followers is to offer them special discounts and promo codes. Creators can easily do this, adding value for their audience and encouraging more purchases.
• Audience Data & Emails: Unlike most affiliate programs, Wayward shares customer information (emails) with creators, allowing them to build a mailing list and remarket – a huge long-term benefit for their business. 
• Easy Setup & Simplicity: Both brands and creators report that setting up on Wayward is fast and straightforward, with no complex technical integration needed.
• Free for Creators: The platform is free for creators, which is a big advantage. There is no upfront cost or subscription for affiliate users. Wayward only makes money when creators do, via sales.
• Timely Payouts: With weekly payouts through ACH, creators receive their earnings faster and more regularly. Wayward takes care of payment processing and makes sure creators get paid for every sale they refer.
• Brand Referral Bonus for Sellers: Sales driven through Wayward are eligible for Amazon’s 10% brand referral bonus, helping sellers offset a large portion of the commission paid out.

Cons of Wayward

No affiliate marketing platform is perfect. While Wayward has its benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider before deciding if it’s the right platform for you.

• Limited Network Size: If you’re looking for a vast network of influencers, Wayward may not be the best choice. It doesn’t have as many affiliates or brand partners as larger networks, which can limit opportunity but they are improving and growing.
• Primarily US-Focused: Wayward focuses on ACH payouts and Amazon’s program, which seems to cater mainly to the U.S. market. This definitely makes it less appealing for creators outside the U.S.
• Platform Still New: Wayward is a new startup platform, and some features are still being tested by the overall users. Currently, real-time analytics dashboards and some integrations may be missing which is quite a bold negative point.
• Learning Curve for Customers: The unified store is going to be a new experience for shoppers, which will lead to some confusion or hesitation. Some users may even drop their partnerships because of this downside.
• Not Open to Small Creators: for small creators and affiliates, Wayward offers no services. Wayward has a minimum follower requirement and expects prior experience, making it inaccessible to new or small affiliates.
• High Commission Cut for Large Sellers: The 6% commission Wayward charges on sales can become costly for brands with high sales volume. So brands might not be choosing Wayward while they profit more on other platforms.
• Network Gaps: Wayward’s network doesn’t include every product or category. Creators might find some niche products or smaller brands are missing.
• Restricted to Amazon/Shopify Ecosystem: As you know, Wayward is heavily focused on Amazon Affiliate marketing and Shopify brands. If a brand doesn’t sell via Amazon or Shopify, integration won’t be available.
• No Instant Traffic: Wayward doesn’t generate traffic on its own. Creators need to bring their own audience or visitors to their Wayward store.
• Competition & Overlap with Other Tools: If creators are using other platforms, they might find that Wayward overlaps with them, which could make Wayward a waste of time.