How to create a product table for affiliate marketing

Product tables are an essential tool in affiliate marketing. They make it easier for visitors to compare products or services side by side. Therefore, they help them make informed decisions and tend to drive higher click-through rates (CTR) when designed effectively with affiliate links or buttons.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create product tables that work for affiliate marketing, including important factors to consider. We’ll start with the classic product comparison table, and I’ll provide examples of how to customize it to suit your needs. I’ll also walk you through building product boxes for individual items using a table builder plugin, similar to what you might see with plugins like AAWP or Lasso. Plus, I’ll show you how to create product grids that target specific user segments based on content.

To take things a step further, I’ll explain how you can integrate Advanced Ads with dedicated table builder plugins to track and optimize the performance of your product tables. This integration allows you to automate the placement of product boxes and tailor them to your content for better results.

Let’s dive in!

Product tables and comparison tables in affiliate marketing

Product tables display various aspects of a product, including details like product name, image, price, and a link to the affiliate product page. They might include a short description, ratings, and a buy button. 

Comparison tables are similar to product tables but focus more on comparing multiple products side by side. Each product displays various attributes, such as specifications, prices, and ratings. This helps users compare different options and make the best purchasing decision.

ProductPriceRatingFeaturesPurchase
Product A$1004.5/5Feature 1, Feature 2, Feature 3Buy Now
Product B$1204.3/5Feature 1, Feature 4, Feature 5Buy Now
Product C$904.7/5Feature 2, Feature 5, Feature 6Buy Now

They hold significant value in affiliate marketing due to their direct and clear presentation of data and help users make informed decisions by summarizing and comparing different products in an easy-to-consume format. Their compact format helps draw attention to the call-to-action element, effectively setting affiliate links apart from extensive text to amplify their visibility.

Furthermore, product tables are not only accessible and provide a concise overview of product features for informed decisions, but they are also highly adaptable using tools like TablePress. A well-structured affiliate table can also improve a page’s SEO by offering structured data favored by search engines, thereby augmenting the overall effectiveness of your affiliate marketing efforts.

Call-to-action elements and affiliate ads in a product table

When incorporating call-to-action elements into product tables, consider the three following distinct strategies:

  • Utilize CTAs, e.g., buttons like “Buy Now,” “Book Now,” or “Learn More”
  • Subtly include affiliate links in titles, visuals, or descriptions
  • Enhance engagement by integrating image ads

You can combine these approaches to drive your visitors to explore and purchase affiliate products.

Suitable products and services to promote in product tables

Product tables can effectively showcase a diverse array of products and services within various niches. Their utility spans almost any thematic niche, offering monetizable products or services. The key is to ensure that the displayed items resonate with your content and align with visitors’ search intent.

For instance, consider using tables to feature location-specific tour offers on a travel blog or highlight a curated selection of hotels on a destination-focused page. On a DIY blog, integrate affiliate links to materials used in projects, or highlight specific products within this format.

Product tables shine when presenting items rich in comparative features, aiding potential customers in making informed decisions. These structured affiliate tables are particularly advantageous for categories such as:

  • Fitness: Exercise equipment like treadmills, weights, and yoga mats with specifications
  • Camera: Cameras, lenses, and accessories with detailed specifications, such as resolution, zoom range, and image stabilization features
  • Outdoor: Camping gear, hiking essentials, and outdoor apparel with durability ratings, weight, or weather resistance information for outdoor enthusiasts
  • Kitchen: Kitchen appliances like blenders, coffee makers, and air fryers with features such as capacity, power, and functions
  • Garden Tools: Gardening equipment such as seeds, shovels, pruners, and shears, detailing materials, blade types, and ergonomic designs
  • Electronic: Electronic gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches with technical specifications and performance features for tech-savvy consumers
  • Drones: Drones with specifications like flight time, camera quality, and control range

You can see that these categories from my example offer relevant products for a wide range of thematic niches, providing ample opportunities for effective affiliate marketing through structured product tables.

Creating a product table for affiliate marketing using a table builder plugin

In this tutorial, I use TablePress to demonstrate how to create a product table for affiliate marketing. However, other plugins like WP Table Builder, Ninja Tables, or WP DataTables are equally viable options. 

These plugins boast key features such as responsiveness, import/export functionalities, sorting options, and integration with Google Docs. However, the distribution of functionalities may differ between their free and Pro versions. Selecting a plugin that supports shortcodes for streamlined affiliate link management is essential, especially when utilizing tools like Advanced Ads.

Avoid relying on the block editor for optimal table management in affiliate marketing, as its ‘Table’ block has limited options.

Note: If you have an active All Access license for Advanced Ads, you can find a 20 % discount code for TablePress Pro in your account.

Creating a new product table

Here’s how you can create product tables for affiliate marketing using TablePress:

  1. Install and activate TablePress
  2. Go to TablePress > Add New Table
  3. Enter your desired table name and a brief description
  4. Set the rows and columns based on the number of products and respective details
  5. Click on Add Table

As you proceed to the next page, focus on inputting data that enables users to effectively distinguish between products, aiding them in making informed choices. To enrich your table, consider incorporating images, a feature readily supported by table builder plugins like TablePress through the Advanced Editor function.

Settings of an Amazon comparison table created with TablePress
Screenshot of the affiliate comparison table in the TablePress backend

On the same page, go through the extended table options such as header rows, pagination, sorting mechanisms, and alternating row colors to enhance readability and user interaction.

Sample product list

Let’s envision crafting an Amazon affiliate table showcasing an array of laptop models. Each row represents a distinct model, displaying key specs like product name, RAM, storage capacity, processor details, pricing, and a potential affiliate link or call-to-action element. Leave the affiliate link cell temporarily vacant, as we’ll tackle integrating affiliate links using Advanced Ads later in this guide.

It’s essential to strike a balance in your comparison table and avoid overwhelming users with excessive rows and products. Maintaining a concise selection ensures users can navigate smoothly, empowering them in their decision-making process and guiding them toward purchasing.

Example of a product comparison table
Example of a product comparison table for notebooks

Sortable product lists

As mentioned, avoid overwhelming users with too many products within comparison tables. However, a broader product selection can be beneficial in specific contexts if presented differently. Such a practical alternative to WordPress comparison tables is utilizing product lists in a tabular format.

What sets apart a table builder plugin like TablePress in this scenario is its front-end sorting functionality. By incorporating this feature, users exploring your product table can easily arrange products according to their specific criteria. For instance, they can sort dozens of laptops by price to find budget-friendly options or by RAM to pinpoint the most powerful models available.

You can integrate a vast array of different products into such a product list. However, this approach will eventually pose challenges to user experience on the website and increase ad management complexity.

Consider implementing row pagination within the table to address the UX issue effectively. This approach showcases only a select number of items at a time, which enables users to scan the table easily. Ideally, your plugin should also offer a search function within the table to allow users to find specific products quickly.

Example of a product table with sort and search function
Example of a sortable affiliate product list created with a free table builder plugin including a search option and pagination

These lists demand more effort when managing products than small product comparison tables. Setting up an affiliate link for each product is a preliminary task. The Duplicate Ads feature in Advanced Ads Pro can significantly streamline this process. Additionally, it is essential to periodically review and verify your affiliate links to ensure that linked products remain available or may need replacement with alternatives.

Product box

Craft a product box if you want to showcase a single item in a captivating and detailed manner beyond a simple text link or a one-row product table. One way to achieve this is to utilize a table builder plugin to create a two-column table.

Product box for affiliate marketing example
Example of a product box for affiliate marketing crafted with a table builder plugin

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to create a product box using a table builder plugin:

  1. Create a new table with one row and two columns.
  2. Insert the product image in the first column. 
  3. Add the product details in the second column. This could include the product name, description, and price. It’s also an excellent spot to incorporate your affiliate link as a text or CTA button.

The method I’ve shown you for constructing a product box using a table is just one way to reach this goal. Since tables and their responsiveness can be challenging on smaller screens, I recommend only integrating such table-based product boxes on tablets or desktops. I’ll show you how to achieve this conditional embedding in the section below on automatically inserting your affiliate product tables.

Product grids 

Product grids offer a unique tabular format designed to showcase individual products. Distinguished from comparison tables and sortable product lists, product grids consolidate all product details, including images and call-to-action buttons, into a single table cell. Unlike other formats, information remains contained within one cell rather than spread across multiple rows and columns.

Given this one-dimensional approach, product grids do not support sorting like tabular product lists. However, this format excels in mobile display since it eliminates the need to reorganize rows and columns on smaller screens. Moreover, product grids unlock innovative possibilities that may not be as easily achievable with other formats, enhancing the presentation of your products in distinct ways.

Example of a product grid for affiliate marketing
Example of using a table builder plugin to create a product grid for affiliate marketing
Example of setting up a targeted product grid with Advanced Ads

Let’s delve into a concrete example showcasing the capabilities of a highly targeted product grid. I’ve developed a table where each cell features the same shortcode of an ad group. This ad group encompasses diverse ads for various products, maintaining a consistent layout to integrate products across different ad groups.

So, why opt for Advanced Ads over simply embedding product data and purchase buttons into a TablePress table? The decision isn’t solely influenced by the tracking features of Advanced Ads, which enable comprehensive analysis of affiliate ad performance.

A key rationale for using Advanced Ads lies in the ability to target a potentially infinite array of ads by leveraging Display and Visitor conditions. These conditions ensure that ads are exclusively displayed in specific content or to distinct user groups.

In the hypothetical notebook example, the concept might not be immediately apparent. However, envision targeting gaming notebooks, MacBooks, or complementary accessories based on relevant content. 

Example of display condition settings for keyword targeting
Example of Display condition settings to target a product table to posts about notebooks

The concept becomes clearer when considering a gardening blog with extensive plant-related content. Within each post, a tailored table could present seeds specifically suited to the plants discussed in the text. An ad group of this nature could effortlessly accommodate numerous ads and showcase them accurately based on the content.

I activated each ad’s “Display only once” function to prevent duplicates within the product grid. In the subsequent section, I will explore methods to manually or automatically embed a table or product grid within your website content.

Creating affiliate ads with Advanced Ads for optimal affiliate marketing

In the following steps, I’ll walk you through creating and integrating various affiliate ads, from text links and CTA buttons to image ads, using the Advanced Ads plugin. While it’s possible to achieve this solely with a table builder plugin, incorporating Advanced Ads introduces a host of new possibilities, particularly in tracking, optimizing, and conducting split tests on your affiliate product tables.

Furthermore, streamlined ad management enables you to modify affiliate links in a single setting, sparing you from editing each table that includes these links individually. This approach can result in notable time savings in the long haul, especially for websites featuring numerous product tables and extensive content.

Ad types

First, install and activate Advanced Ads. To create affiliate ads, start by going to Advanced Ads > Ads, select “New Ad,” and provide an ad title for internal reference. Opt for the “Plain text and code” ad type if you intend to produce a text link or a CTA element. Conversely, if you aim to generate an image ad, such as a product image or a brand logo, choose the Image ad type.

Creating a text link involves inputting the provided HTML code into the “Ad Parameters” box. Personalize the target URL and anchor text, then proceed to publish the ad.

For future enhancements, feel free to try various anchor texts, refining them based on user engagement.

Here is a sample HTML code to assist you in developing your text links. For further guidance and optimization tips regarding this ad format, check out our detailed affiliate links tutorial.

<a href="https://example.com" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank">Purchase now!</a>Code language: HTML, XML (xml)

CTA buttons

By incorporating a distinct Call-to-Action (CTA) button such as “Buy Now,” “Book Now,” or “Learn More,” you can effectively direct users toward a decision and increase your chances of driving conversions. Crafting a CTA button involves inserting HTML code into the Ad Parameters box, allowing you to tailor the button design using custom CSS as needed.

<a href="YOUR-AFFILIATE-LINK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<button style="background-color: #4CAF50; color: white; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer;">BUY NOW</button>

</a>Code language: HTML, XML (xml)

Replace the anchor target “YOUR-AFFILIATE-LINK” with your specific affiliate link and customize the CTA text “BUY NOW” between the button tags according to your preference.

Image ads

Image ads can be product images turned into clickable links, brand logos, or image-based CTAs. To create an image ad, select the Image Ad ad type. Afterward, you can upload your image and add your affiliate link to the URL field.

Example of creating an image ad in Advanced Ads
Creating an image ad with a brand logo in Advanced Ads

Monitoring affiliate ad performance in product tables

Tracking your affiliate ads’ performance is paramount to the success of your strategy. The Advanced Ads Tracking add-on enables you to gauge essential metrics like impressions and clicks, either locally or by integrating with Google Analytics.

Advanced Ads automatically calculates the click-through rate (CTR) when utilizing local tracking methods. Opting for Google Analytics offers a more comprehensive analysis of your ad performance.

Tracking your ads sets a performance baseline for your affiliate ads within product tables. However, tracking alone is just the beginning. The true value lies in leveraging this data to enhance your ad effectiveness.

Advanced Ads equips you with tools for conducting A/B tests, aiding in identifying the most successful ad formats (links, CTAs, banners) within your product tables. Experiment with various anchor texts, button layouts, or banner designs, refining them based on performance insights.

Furthermore, Advanced Ads facilitates the generation of email reports for your affiliate ads, ensuring you stay informed about their progress. By utilizing these features and strategies, you can effectively optimize conversions from your product tables.

Integrating the ad into your product table

Once you have created and published the ad, Advanced Ads will provide a shortcode for that specific ad. Copy this shortcode and insert it into the relevant cell within your table. Most table builder plugins support the execution of shortcodes.

Here’s a simple guide to embedding the ad:

  1. After creating the ad, Advanced Ads will generate a shortcode
  2. Copy this shortcode
  3. Go to your product table in TablePress
  4. Paste the copied shortcode into the cell where you want the ad to appear

Inserting the product table into your website

After preparing your product table, the next crucial step is to strategically position it within your website’s content. Publishers often integrate product tables into targeted pages for optimal click-through and conversion rates. There are two primary methods for integrating your table into your website.

Embedding product tables manually

If you’re working with the block editor, effortlessly insert your product table by selecting the specific table builder block and integrating it into your content. Major table builder plugins like TablePress provide dedicated blocks for easy table insertion.

Alternatively, you can add tables using the supplied shortcodes, a functionality all table plugins offer. Select your preferred product table, make any required modifications, and save your changes.

Auto-inject product tables

An alternative method involves leveraging Advanced Ads to embed and target your product tables automatically. To implement this, create a new “Plain text and code” ad unit and insert your product table’s shortcode. Make sure to enable the execution of shortcodes in the ad settings.

After configuring the setup, designate this ad unit to a specific placement, ideally integrated within your content. Advanced Ads will automatically embed the product table into all posts and pages at the designated location.

Establishing relevance between your product table and your audience is essential to enhancing conversions. To precisely target your ads, employ conditions to align your product tables with contextually appropriate content. For example, a product table featuring laptops and computer accessories would be more impactful within tech-related articles containing relevant keywords than in garden-related posts.

Best practices for affiliate marketing with product tables

A universal rule dictating the appearance and usage of product tables or boxes to guarantee their effectiveness as affiliate marketing tools is notably absent. However, established best practices and innovative concepts are readily available for experimentation to inspire the implementation of product tables on your website.

Relevance and customers’ needs

Regardless of the form of affiliate marketing, it’s paramount that the products and services presented align with the reader’s search intent and interests. A product that doesn’t meet this expectation won’t perform well and will waste valuable space on the table. Evaluate your selection and monitor the click performance of your existing ads to identify and rectify potential errors in product selection.

Product quantity considerations

Determining the ideal number of products to showcase in a table can vary based on your niche and specific offerings. Finding the right balance entails a touch of sales psychology, ensuring a diverse range without drowning users with choices.

For instance, enhancing conversions for one or two products might involve incorporating a third comparable yet pricier item to accentuate the cost advantage of your key product and guide decision-making. 

Unless you embed sortable and paginated product lists, you should limit the number of comparable products to five. Including more items increases the table complexity, potentially overwhelming users and leading to them exiting the page without completing a purchase.

Optimizing product sort order

Typically, arrange your products in a sequence that resonates with consumer preferences. Alternatively, consider organizing them by price, ratings, or another significant feature. Implementing sales psychology techniques can enhance the conversion rates of specific products.

For instance, in a table featuring three products, experiment with positioning them differently to identify the most effective order that yields optimal results.

Enhancing visual appeal and user experience

Product tables are typically more user-friendly and optimally readable when presented vertically, with each item in a separate column. This layout allows readers to scroll vertically for comparisons rather than navigating horizontally. However, as the size of the table increases with additional columns and rows, navigation can become more challenging.

Table builder plugins offer various display modes, particularly catering to smaller screen widths where tables are usually stacked. TablePress stands out with its diverse modes, including stacking, horizontal scrolling, flipping, and modal windows that open upon clicking an icon.

Enabling sortable columns or rows can be advantageous when working with extensive product lists and detailed data such as performance metrics, weight, or storage capacity.

Responsiveness settings of TablePress
TablePress offers multiple layout options, including different modes of appearance on smaller screens

Another effective technique involves highlighting specific products within the table using background colors or visual elements, like flags or badges, denoting discounts or recommendations, such as a “most popular product” label. This approach instantly captures the user’s attention towards your target product, ultimately enhancing conversion rates.

Centralize ad units for streamlined ad management

Utilizing reusable ad units within your product tables is crucial to enhancing workflow efficiency. You can centralize your ad management process by employing the same ad units across various instances featuring identical products effectively. With this approach, modifications to affiliate links are managed through Advanced Ads, allowing you to update them in one place. This means that changes are automatically reflected across all tables utilizing the Advanced Ads display, eliminating the need for manual adjustments in each individual table. 

Reusing the same product links where applicable saves you time and ensures a clearer and more organized approach. Instead of creating new affiliate links with identical content, focusing on reusability prevents the hassle of individually editing multiple Advanced Ads displays in case of link alterations, preserving the advantage of centralized ad management.

Add custom CSS for styling

To give your product box a unique look and feel, you can enhance its appearance by adding custom CSS. Typically, table builder plugins assign unique IDs to each table, allowing you to target them individually with CSS. Plugins like TablePress provide a designated section in the settings where you can input your custom CSS rules and styles. You can incorporate the code into Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS if your plugin does not provide a similar feature.

Here are some suggestions and code examples to help you improve the layout of your tables..

Enhancing borders

Consider adding a sleek border to your product box for a more polished look. To achieve this effect, implement the following CSS snippet. Remember to substitute #tablepress-1 with your tables’ specific ID.

#tablepress-1 {
    border: 2px solid #000;
    padding: 10px;
}Code language: CSS (css)

Cell borders

Incorporating borders around your cells can elevate the organization and professionalism of your table’s appearance.

.tablepress-id-1 td,
.tablepress-id-1 th {
    border: 1px solid #dddddd;
}Code language: CSS (css)

Enhancing visibility with a background color

To draw attention to a specific column within a table, like highlighting the second column with a gentle yellow background, employ the following CSS code snippet:

.tablepress-id-1 .column-2 {
    background-color: #ffffcc;
}Code language: CSS (css)

Ensure to replace “tablepress-id-1” with your table’s unique ID and “column-2” with the desired column number. This customization will distinguish the highlighted column, potentially increasing user engagement and clicks.

Conclusion on affiliate marketing within product tables

Mindfully integrated into your affiliate marketing strategy, product tables are dynamic assets that upgrade your promotional efforts. While a myriad of free table builder plugins are available, extending functionalities through pro versions will further your customization capabilities.

Integrating these product tables with Advanced Ads opens a pathway to even higher performance. From tracking and optimizing to precise targeting, this collaboration will release the full potential of your marketing endeavors.

This level of control allows deploying versatile ad setups that amplify your campaign’s reach and influence. By leveraging these tools in unison, you can captivate your audience, boost visibility, and drive results in your affiliate marketing initiatives.

Author image Joachim

Joachim started marketing his first local news website in 2009. Shortly after, he successfully monetized his travel blogs about Morocco. He is an expert in affiliate marketing in the tourism and travel industry. When he's not writing tutorials for Advanced Ads or supporting other users, he prefers staying in Marrakech or at the Baltic Sea.

With over a decade of industry expertise, Advanced Ads is your surefooted ally in the ad tech realm. Their array of WordPress ad manager plugins enhances your advertising strategy, ensuring effective ad placements. Rely on their ad tech proficiency to stay ahead in the dynamic world of digital advertising. Contact info

Advanced Ads icon

Make it better

Increase your ad management skills without spending more time.
Join over 150,000 publishers and AdOpts increasing their ad revenue.