Finding the most suitable affiliate programs for beginners is one of the major obstacles one will encounter while establishing an affiliate marketing venture.
With so many high paying affiliate programs available, the options to choose from are countless.
If you make the wrong choice in selecting an affiliate program, you could waste several months, but if you choose the right one, you can start earning affiliate earnings even before your website is fully developed.
Because we frequently receive this question, we will spend this blog post focusing on the top affiliate programs suitable for beginners.
We will attempt to provide a more equitable perspective on the advantages of joining affiliate networks instead of having an internal affiliate program, and vice versa.
Shall we proceed?
Affiliate Networks Vs. Affiliate Programs
The initial mental hurdle one must overcome is understanding the distinction between in-house affiliate marketing programs (merchants) and affiliate networks. Some newcomers mistakenly use these terms interchangeably, when in reality they are quite different. For example, if you create a reputable website centered around outdoor sporting equipment and wish to promote products such as trampolines, water slides, and lawn sports items, you can either register for numerous affiliate marketing programs offered by various manufacturers and suppliers, or you can simply join a network that can connect you with the majority of the desired product suppliers. For someone new to affiliate marketing, it is wise to start by signing up with affiliate networks and progressing from there. However, affiliate networks are not the ultimate solution. In fact, some affiliate programs exist solely outside of these networks, requiring individual registration. A prime example of this occurred when I began my journey as an affiliate marketer, focusing on selling toy lightsabers. Remarkably, I made a significant profit through this venture. The affiliate program was administered by a company called Master Replicas, which monopolized the market for prop and replica lightsabers. Consequently, I had to directly affiliate with them because they controlled the industry at that time. Several years later, they transferred their program to an affiliate network, resulting in reduced payouts and unfavorable terms. Eventually, I allowed the affiliate site to perish, along with its broken heart and broken affiliate links. Thus, it is essential to examine both facets of the enterprise. Firstly, we will explore the finest and most popular affiliate networks. Following that, we will examine a range of diverse and reasonably universal affiliate programs suitable for various target audiences.
How Do I Choose The Best Affiliate Marketing Program?
As a beginner, it can be quite overwhelming to choose the best affiliate program from the numerous options available. Therefore, it is important to assess certain criteria to determine if the affiliate program is suitable for you.
Key questions that you must ask before selecting an affiliate program are:
- Is the program right for my niche?
- Is the program’s platform easy to navigate?
- What is the payout structure?
- What is the program’s size?
Using these questions will assist you in selecting the most suitable affiliate program for your specific requirements.
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners
After acquiring the knowledge of determining the most suitable affiliate program for your brand and niche, let us examine the affiliate programs that are both profitable and user-friendly for newcomers.
1. AMAZON ASSOCIATES
Amazon Associates, an affiliate marketing program, is known as one of the world’s biggest. It is operated and owned by Amazon, an American multinational e-commerce company. Initially established in 1996, the program follows a straightforward structure. By registering as an affiliate for free, individuals can promptly begin endorsing products. The sole condition is that they generate a minimum of one sale within the initial 90 days of account creation.
2. SHAREASALE
ShareASale is often overlooked as an affiliate network.
One reason for this is that the interface has remained unchanged since I created my account a long time ago, giving it a dated appearance reminiscent of the year 2002.
Some new affiliate marketers are discouraged because there is no “Wow” factor.
However, ShareASale offers exceptional affiliate programs, my friends. These programs offer commissions ranging from $300 to $350 per sale. Importantly, these affiliate programs are not related to products such as “enlargement” items or similar topics.
Actually, these affiliate programs amount to approximately 5,000, prioritizing smaller yet lucrative companies instead of solely focusing on renowned brand names.
The affiliate marketing dashboard is simple yet effective, and sometimes the absence of intricacy can be advantageous.
3. CLICKBANK
Established in 1998, ClickBank is an intuitive affiliate program for beginners, serving as a worldwide e-commerce platform. Having initiated its affiliate program a quarter-century ago, the company has now become a significant global ally for merchants and affiliates across the globe.
There are more than 4,000 physical and digital products available on ClickBank. The range of physical products on ClickBank includes items in the categories of health products, supplements, books, CDs, DVDs, food products, cosmetics, OTC drugs, medical equipment, and pet supplements.
4. CJ AFFILIATE
I have been using CJ Affiliate, which was formerly known as Commission Junction, since around 2002. It is considered one of the oldest affiliate networks available.
CJ Affiliate stands out from Amazon due to its focus on prominent brand names, in addition to catering to smaller product and service suppliers.
At the time when this was written, they are affiliated with major companies like Zappos, Walgreens, Verizon, Under Armour, Trip Advisor, Staples, Sonos, Disney Stores, Sears, and Samsung.
In addition to that, there are approximately 2,473 more affiliate marketing programs.
Along with an extensive variety of brands and products, you also have access to all the necessary resources for thriving as an affiliate marketer, including exceptional support and effortless creation of affiliate links.
5. AWIN
Awin, an affiliate network with a global presence, is renowned as an excellent affiliate program for individuals new to the field. The company, which falls under the Axel Springer and United Internet Groups, is just 21 years old but has garnered a strong reputation.
Among others, they provide products and services in various industries such as fashion, telecommunication, travel, retail, energy, automobile, health, and electronics.
Awin affiliates can make money based on pay-per-click or pay-per-lead, depending on the merchant they are promoting. The payment system in Awin is transparent and every affiliate can easily track it through an interface.
6. IMPACT RADIUS
Impact Radius offers a robust affiliate marketing program tailored for those new to the field, along with a comprehensive suite of cloud solutions aimed at facilitating business growth. With their extensive offerings in products, services, and software, they provide assistance in various areas including influencer marketing and email automation.
Among the prestigious companies affiliated with Impact are Canva, Tailwind, Hubspot, Envato, and Constant Contact. Additionally, they collaborate with renowned manufacturers including Adidas, Old Navy, Burt’s Bees, and Banana Republic.
Your commission is determined by the affiliate program you choose to be a part of. The process to apply is fairly easy. If you encounter any difficulties during registration or face rejection, Impact Radius will assist you in connecting with their affiliate managers. They will guide you in enhancing your application to increase your chances in the future.
7. ETSY
Etsy, an American e-commerce company, operates as a marketplace specifically catering to handmade and vintage goods, as well as art, craft supplies, and distinctive factory-made items.
Since 2005, the website has been functioning and prides itself on accommodating 1.7 million active sellers. These individuals, originating from various parts of the globe, offer a wide range of products for sale, including fine art, handcrafted jewelry, and vintage clothing.
Etsy’s affiliate program in North America, Europe, and other countries worldwide is overseen by Awin. In the event of rejection, US publishers have the option to submit their applications via the FlexOffers affiliate marketing network.
8. FIVERR
Founded in Aviv-Yafo, Israel in 2010, Fiverr has grown to become one of the largest freelancing platforms globally. With a starting price of $5, it offers a wide range of task outsourcing options across various categories. Daily, Fiverr facilitates transactions worth over $20,000. Blogs that focus on small businesses, freelancing, marketing, personal finance, and professional development can greatly benefit from the Fiverr affiliate program. By joining, bloggers can promote services like graphic design, content writing, and bookkeeping.
Wrapping Things Up
So there you have it – our comprehensive blog post discussing the top affiliate marketing programs suitable for beginners.
With the content here, we aimed to provide you with a wide range of affiliate program options so that you have enough choices to consider.
It is fascinating that if you already have some traffic, you have the opportunity to generate passive income from your visitors as early as tomorrow… with certain payments being received within the next 30 days.
