The Target Creator Program (also called Target Partners) lets bloggers, influencers, and website owners promote Target’s products and earn commissions on sales. Think of it as a partnership: you showcase items from Target’s massive product lineup, and in return, you receive a percentage of the revenue from purchases made through your affiliate links.
If you’ve heard of the Amazon Associates program, the Target Creator Program is essentially Target’s version. The concept is similar: you share personalized links or banners, and any sales from those links earn you a commission. Interested? Then read on to discover everything you need to know about this program in 2025.
Table of Contents
How does the program work?
1. Affiliates promote target products
2. Tracking via cookies
3. Flexible earnings
Who can join Target’s creator program?
1. Bloggers
2. Website owners
3. Influencers/content creators
What products can creators promote?
A look at Target’s commission structure and cookie length
Key advantages of joining Target
1. Stability
2. Name recognition & trust
3. 7-Day cookie policy
4. Opportunity to scale up
5. Decent conversion rates
The potential drawbacks
1. 0% commission categories
2. U.S. focus
3. Limited promotional tools
How to join the Target Creator Program
Wrapping up
How does the program work?
1. Affiliates promote target products
Once approved, affiliates create links, banners, or widgets through the Target affiliate portal. Then, they can embed them in blog posts, YouTube video descriptions, social media captions, or anywhere they interact with their audience. You’ll receive a commission whenever someone clicks the link and makes a purchase.
2. Tracking via cookies
Target records affiliate traffic using browser cookies. When a user clicks on your affiliate link, it’ll place a 7-day cookie in their browser. So, you still earn the commission if they buy anything from Target within those 7 days (not just the product you initially showcased).
For this reason, even if they leave Target’s website after clicking, they can return any time in those 7 days to purchase—and you’ll still get credit. This is longer than Amazon’s standard 24-hour cookie, making it more favorable for affiliates whose audience might not buy immediately.
3. Flexible earnings
The Target Creator Program pays you a percentage on sales based on Target’s set commission rates. Some categories have higher rates, while others are lower (or zero). So, when a shopper buys multiple products, you earn a commission on all eligible items included in that transaction.
Who can join Target’s creator program?
1. Bloggers
- Examples: Mom bloggers, travel bloggers, and tech writers.
- Why it fits: If you’re already writing about parenting, you might naturally recommend baby gear or toys from Target. Similarly, a fitness blogger could link to workout apparel or nutritional products.
2. Website owners
- Examples: Tech review sites, niche product comparison sites, and lifestyle magazines.
- Why it fits: You can integrate affiliate links into articles or dedicated product recommendation pages. If your visitors trust your insights, they will likely click and buy.
3. Influencers/content creators
- Examples: Instagrammers, TikTokers, YouTubers, and Twitch streamers.
- Why it fits: If your loyal audience values your recommendations, you can include Target product links in your channel descriptions or link-in-bio tools.
Anyone with an online presence and a relevant audience can leverage Target’s affiliate program. However, Target is predominantly U.S.-focused, so you’ll want a mostly U.S.-based audience for the best results. Also, ensure your platform is “family-friendly,” as adult-oriented or inappropriate content could lead to disqualification.
What products can creators promote?
Target covers a wide array of categories. These include:
- Health & wellness
- Grocery (though note that grocery items typically fall under 0% commission—more on that below)
- Women’s, men’s, & kids’ apparel
- Beauty & personal care
- Baby gear
- Home & kitchen
- Electronics & gaming
- Outdoor & patio
- School & office supplies, and many more
Tip: Make sure you promote items that offer commission. Unfortunately, some categories yield zero commission, such as certain groceries, baby care items, consumer electronics, or toys. We’ll discuss this in more detail in the commission structure section.
A look at Target’s commission structure and cookie length
- Range: Commissions typically range from 1% to 8%, depending on the product category and the number of sales you’ve already made.
- Zero-commission items: Grocery, certain baby products, electronics, video games, and some other product classes offer no commissions at all. That’s a drawback, especially if your niche revolves around these items.
Here’s a table showing how Target’s commission structure works:
| Monthly net orders | Apparel & accessories | Home & outdoor living | Baby gear & furniture | Health & beauty |
| 0 to 10 | 5.00% | 5.00% | 3.00% | 1.00% |
| 11 to 50 | 6.00% | 6.00% | 3.50% | 1.00% |
| 51 to 300 | 6.50% | 6.50% | 3.75% | 1.00% |
| 301 to 1,000 | 7.00% | 7.00% | 4.00% | 1.00% |
| 1,001 to 2,000 | 7.25% | 7.25% | 4.25% | 1.00% |
| 2,001 to 4,000 | 7.50% | 7.50% | 4.50% | 1.00% |
| 4,001 to 10,000 | 7.75% | 7.75% | 4.75% | 1.00% |
| 10,000+ | 8,00% | 8.00% | 5.00% | 1.00% |
Note: This structure shows that some categories allow you to earn higher percentages once you reach certain sales milestones, while others remain the same.
Here are some categories to avoid promoting, as they offer a 0% commission:
- Groceries
- Baby care items
- Electronics
- Sporting goods
- Pharmacy and OTC
- SweetJoJo
- Household essentials
- Pets
- Toys
- Movies, video games, and consoles
- Books
- Contract mobile
Key advantages of joining Target
1. Stability
Unlike some programs that suddenly change policies, Target has been relatively consistent in treating affiliates. It has also not faced region-based shutdowns like Amazon Associates in certain states.
2. Name recognition & trust
Target is a household name with millions of loyal customers. Recommending well-known brands from a reputable retailer often results in higher conversion rates than less familiar stores.
3. 7-day cookie policy
That extended tracking window translates into more potential commissions. If a shopper takes a few days to think about their purchase, you can still earn from that sale as long as it happens within the cookie window.
4. Opportunity to scale up
As your sales volume grows, so can your commission rate in certain categories. Those incremental increases seem small, but they add up over time.
5. Decent conversion rates
Target currently reports an average earning of roughly US$ 12–US$ 13 per 100 clicks. This suggests they convert affiliate-driven traffic relatively well, making your promotional efforts more likely to pay off.
The potential drawbacks
1. 0% commission categories
Items like groceries, baby products (some), electronics, toys, and video games don’t pay commissions. If that’s your main niche, you’ll need to decide whether it’s worth it or look for alternative affiliate programs.
2. U.S. focus
Target heavily caters to U.S. markets, which could be limiting if your audience is mostly international.
3. Limited promotional tools
While Target offers banners and widgets, the variety might feel more restricted than bigger affiliate platforms (e.g., Amazon, CJ Affiliate). Most affiliates rely on text links anyway, so this may not be a deal-breaker.
How to join the Target Creator Program
Applying is fairly simple. Head over to Target’s affiliate portal and click “Apply Now.” They’ll ask for your details, your site or social media links, and the type of content you create. After a short review, you’ll either be approved or asked for more information. Once you’re in, you can log into the dashboard, access your links, and embed them in your content.
From there, it’s all about rolling out content to convert your audience into paying customers. The more targeted (no pun intended) your promotions, the better your odds. Some folks start small, choosing a single category (like dorm essentials for back-to-school season) and expanding as they gain confidence in the program.
Wrapping up
Whether the Target Creator Program is worthwhile depends on what you’re discussing and selling. If your site or social media presence is about décor, stylish apparel, or general lifestyle products, Target can be an excellent fit. You get a recognized brand to highlight, plus that comforting seven-day cookie window.
However, if you’re deeply rooted in categories that yield zero commission or your audience is mostly outside the U.S., you might find better luck with Amazon Associates or a specialized network with a broader global reach. Also, this might not be your ideal partner if your focus is high-tech or groceries.
But, if you fall into the right niches—and have the marketing savvy to guide your audience toward relevant products—you could make steady commissions without the unpredictability that sometimes comes with other affiliate programs.
