Affiliate marketing could be the right choice for you if you want to (eventually) make money while you sleep. In this article, we’ll look at the top ten best affiliate marketing programmes for beginners and give you some tips on how to get started. Let’s look more closely!
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners
- Skimlinks
- eBay Affiliate Program
- ShareASale
- Fiverr
- Amazon Associates
- Etsy Affiliate Program
- Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program
- ClickBank
- Impact
- FlexOffers
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Before we talk about the best affiliate marketing programmes for beginners, let’s quickly go over what affiliate marketing is. In a nutshell, affiliate marketing is a way to make money by promoting other people’s products or services in exchange for a commission.
Affiliate marketing has been around since 1989, when the world’s first internet marketer, William J. Tobin, made the first eCommerce site.
Affiliate programmes are available for almost everything these days, from fashion and beauty to tech and gaming.
Affiliate programmes come in many forms, but most of them fall into one of two categories:
- Cost-per-action (CPA)
- Cost-per-click (CPC)
With CPA programs, website owners are paid when a customer completes an action, such as filling out a form or registering for a service.
With CPC programs, website owners are paid when a customer clicks on an advertisement.
Affiliate Networks Vs. Affiliate Programs
When it comes to affiliate marketing, there are two main ways to go: affiliate networks and affiliate programs.
Affiliate Networks
Affiliate networks are partnerships between merchants that make it easy for affiliates to find products to promote.
They offer many benefits, such as access to a large number of merchants, easier payments, and help from a team of experts who work for the network.
Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programmes, on the other hand, are run by individual merchants who make their own rules and conditions for their affiliates.
They can be a great way to find unique products and have more control over the commissions you make. In the end, you have to decide which choice is best for you.
How to Find a Good Affiliate Program
Now that you know the difference between affiliate networks and affiliate programs, it’s time to learn how to find a good affiliate program.
Here are a few things to look for:
1. A high conversion rate is a sign of a good affiliate programme. This means that people are more likely to buy something from the merchant if they click on your affiliate link.
2. The affiliate programme should offer a big commission. This is how you’ll make money, so you want to make sure that your investment pays off well.
3. There should be a good name for the affiliate programme. You can look at online forums and reviews to see what other people are saying about the programme.
4. It should be easy to use the affiliate programme. You don’t want to sign up for something that is hard to understand and use.
5. There should be good customer service with the affiliate programme. You’ll want to be able to talk to someone who can help if you have any problems.
6. The affiliate programme you choose should have different ways to pay you. You should choose how and when you get paid.
We’ll talk in detail about each of these things so you can decide which affiliate programme is best for you.
High Conversion Rate
You want to look for an affiliate marketing program that has a high conversion rate. This means that people who click on your affiliate link are more likely to buy something from the merchant. This process is known as conversion marketing.
A high conversion rate is essential if you’re going to make money from your affiliate marketing efforts. After all, you want to be sure that your efforts are resulting in sales, not just clicks.
When looking for a high conversation rate affiliate marketing program, it’s important to consider the products and services being offered. Make sure that the products are relevant to your audience and that you feel confident in promoting them.
Great Payouts
It is important to find an affiliate marketing program that has high payouts.
This means that you will earn a higher commission for each sale that you generate. A high payout is especially important if you’re just starting out, as it will give you a chance to make more money and to reinvest in your business as quickly as possible.
A good affiliate marketing program will also have a variety of payment options, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Of course, you want to be sure that the affiliate marketing program is legitimate and that the company can afford to pay out such high commissions.
Good Reputation
When looking for an affiliate marketing program, it’s important to consider the reputation of the program.
You can check out online forums and reviews to get an idea of what other people are saying about the program. It’s important to choose a program that has a good reputation so you can be sure that you’re getting quality products and services.
It’s also important to consider the reputation of the merchant. You want to be sure that you’re promoting a company that is reputable and that you feel confident in recommending their products and services.
There are a few things to look for when considering the reputation of an affiliate marketing program:
- Look for online reviews and testimonials
- Check out the merchant’s website
- Make sure the products and services are relevant to your audience
- Choose a program that has been around for awhile
Easy-to-Use Platform
When it comes to affiliate marketing, a platform that is easy to use is a must. With so many different programmes and options, you’ll need a system that makes it easy to find the right products and keep track of your sales.
This will make it easier for you to get started and see results from your work. A good platform will also have a lot of information about affiliate marketing and how to make your campaigns better.
A platform that is easy to use will also make it easier to make effective marketing campaigns, keep track of their results, and make sure that your efforts have the most impact possible.
The easier it is to use a platform, the better it will be for people who are just getting started with affiliate marketing.
Customer Service
One of the most important aspects of a successful affiliate marketing program is providing excellent customer service.
This means:
- Responding to inquiries in a timely manner
- Addressing any concerns or issues that customers may have
- Providing support whenever necessary
By providing great customer service, you can build trust with your customers and encourage them to return again in the future.
Additionally, satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your program to others, which can help boost your traffic and sales.
Flexible Payment Options
So, you can choose the one that best fits your needs. Some affiliate marketing programmes pay you every month, while others let you choose when you get paid.
If you’re willing to get paid less often, you might even be able to negotiate a higher percentage of commission.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s look at the best affiliate marketing programmes for beginners.
Here are 10 of the Best Affiliate Marketing Programs
Let’s examine these affiliate marketing programs in depth so you can decide which one is best for you.
Skimlinks
Skimlinks is a platform that lets bloggers and website owners make money by linking to affiliate networks’ products and services.
Skimlinks looks at a website’s content and automatically makes links to affiliate products and services based on what it finds. When a reader clicks on one of these links, the platform will keep track of the sale and give a commission to the affiliate network.
Because it is so easy to use, it is one of the best affiliate marketing programmes for people who are just starting out. Signing up and adding a few lines of code to your website or blog is all you need to do. They will take care of the rest.
They work with more than 24,000 merchants, so you can find affiliate links for almost anything you can think of. The average rate of commission is a solid 10%.
The site has even been written about in places like The Guardian, which wrote an article about affiliate links.
Where to Find It: Skimlinks
Type: Affiliate network
Payouts: Flat fee, commission, or Cost Per Action (CPA) payouts
Best For: Merchants who want to easily connect with publishers
Pros:
- Easy-to-use platform, no special software or plugins required
- Wide range of publisher partners
- Great commission rates
- You can make money from any type of content, including blog posts, product reviews, articles, and more
Cons:
- Sometimes slow to payout commissions
- Takes a commission on sales that you generate
- Not super transparent about which merchants are paying them commissions so it can be hard to tell if you are getting the best deal through their program
- You can’t always control which products and services are promoted on your site.
eBay Affiliate Program
- The eBay affiliate programme is one of the oldest and biggest affiliate programmes out there. It has more than 2 million affiliates, and every year it gives out more than $1 billion in commissions.
Also, it’s one of the easiest to use. Sign up, and then you can promote eBay products on your website or blog. There are no special requirements or qualifications.
You can find a lot of different things on eBay, so your audience is sure to be interested in something. Here are some of them:
Fashion
- Electronics
- Home goods
- Toys
- Outdoor gear
They also offer a wide range of promotional tools and resources such as:
- Banners
- Text Links
- Product Images
There is also a training center that provides all the information you need to get started.
Where to Find It: eBay Affiliate Program
Type: Affiliate program
Payouts: Commission rate of roughly 1%-5%
Best For: Beginners looking to make a profit
Pros:
- Wide range of products to promote
- Simple and easy to use
- Trusted brand
- Lots of established resources and tools to help get started
Cons:
- Only available to residents of the United States
- Customer support can be slow to respond
- Relatively low commission rates making it difficult to make a profit sometimes
- Difficult to rank your affiliate links higher than the competition
ShareASale
ShareASale is a network for affiliate marketing that links merchants and affiliates together. Merchants can look for affiliates by category or keyword, and affiliates can research merchant programmes to find the best fit for their blog or website.
In its programme directory, ShareASale lists more than 4,000 merchants who offer a wide range of products, from tech gadgets to health and beauty products.
ShareaSale is a great programme for people who are new to affiliate marketing because it has high payouts and a wide range of merchant partners.
Where to Find It: ShareASale
Type: Affiliate network
Payouts: Commission based payments sent out on the 20th of every month. No minimum requirement for payout.
Best For: Experienced affiliates who are looking for a high-quality network with plenty of options.
Pros:
- Reliable customer service
- High payouts
- Wide range of merchant partners
Cons:
- Lack of product options
- Some merchants have been known to be slow in approving affiliate applications.
Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace that brings together people who want to buy and sell services. Sellers offer services starting at $5, and buyers can choose from a variety of options, such as graphics and design, digital marketing, writing and translation, business consulting, and more.
Fiverr is great because it can be used in so many different ways. There are a lot of services to choose from, and new ones are always being added. This makes it a good choice for people who are looking for a specific service or who want to find one that isn’t easy to find elsewhere.
Fiverr is a great affiliate marketing programme for people who are just starting out because there is no minimum budget required.
Once you are accepted as an affiliate, you will get a unique referral URL. If someone clicks on your link and then buys something, you will get a commission.
You can start out by selling simple services for $5 each. As you gain experience and a following, you can slowly raise your prices.
Also, you can make as much money as you want on Fiverr. Some people have even made six figures by offering their services on the platform.
Where to Find it: Fiverr
Type: Affiliate program
Payouts: Weekly payouts through PayPal or Payoneer
Best For: Beginners looking to get started in affiliate marketing, because Fiverr has a wide range of services and a low cost barrier to entry.
Pros:
- Low cost to get started – Just $5 to get started with a project
- Great way to connect with other bloggers and entrepreneurs
- Wide range of services available
- Fiverr is a great way to get exposure for your business.
Cons:
- Services are low-cost, so commissions can be low as well
- Some services have a lot of competition.
Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is often at the top of lists of the best affiliate marketing programmes for people who are just starting out. Amazon is one of the most popular online stores, and for good reason. It has a huge range of products and a loyal customer base.
You can be sure that when you promote Amazon products, you’re promoting something that people want and will sell.
Amazon also sells a wide variety of goods, such as:
- Electronics
- Clothing and accessories
- Home and kitchen products
- Toys and games
- Sports and outdoors gear
You can find products that fit your niche no matter what it is.
It’s free to join Amazon Associates, and as soon as you start promoting products, you can start making money from sales.
Amazon pays high commissions—up to 10% on some products—so if you promote their products, you can make a good living.
Where to Find It: Amazon Associates
Type: Affiliate network
Payouts: Commission, with up to 10% on sales through affiliate links
Best For: Amazon fans who want to make money by promoting the products they love
Pros:
- Huge range of products to promote
- Trusted brand with a large, loyal customer base
- High commission rates
Cons:
- Not as many resources available for affiliates
- Customer support can be slow to respond at times
Etsy Affiliate Program
Etsy is a popular e-commerce site that focuses on selling things that were made by hand or are old. The Etsy affiliate programme is a good way for people new to affiliate marketing to get started because it is easy to join and the commission rates are high.
The Etsy affiliate programme also offers a wide range of marketing tools, such as:
Where to Find It: Etsy Affiliate Program
Type: Affiliate program
Payouts: Commission basis – up to 10% on sales through affiliate links
Best For: Beginner affiliate marketers
Pros:
- No minimum payout requirement
- Variety of payout options
- Relatively high commission based payments
Cons:
- Not as many resources available for affiliates
- Customer support can be slow to respond.
Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program
Rakuten Advertising is a part of Rakuten, Inc., which is one of the world’s largest online shopping companies.
The Rakuten Advertising affiliate programme is one of the oldest and most well-known in the business. It gives affiliates a number of tools and services to help them succeed, such as:
An easy-to-use interface
- High commissions
- Dedicated support
Affiliates can also get a lot of different products and services from Rakuten Advertising. These include search engine marketing, display advertising, lead generation, and more.
Affiliates can also get special deals and discounts on other services from Rakuten, such as cash back and online shopping.
The Rakuten Advertising affiliate programme is great for people who are just starting out because it is easy to use and pays out a lot of money. It’s also a great choice for affiliates with a lot of experience who want to sell Rakuten’s wide range of products and services.
Where to Find It: Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program
Type: Affiliate network
Payouts: High commission payouts
Best For: Rakuten could be great for beginners or experienced affiliates alike
Pros:
- High payouts
- Wide range of merchant partners
- Reliable customer service
- Longstanding, respectable network
Cons:
- It can be difficult to make sales
- The commission structure can be complicated to understand
ClickBank
One of the most well-known affiliate marketing programmes in the world is ClickBank. It’s a great programme for people who are just starting out because it’s easy to use and has a lot of products to choose from, such as:
- eBooks
- Software
- Membership sites
With ClickBank, you can promote products from different categories, including:
- Health and fitness
- Business and investing
- Food and drink
Where to Find It: ClickBank
Type: Affiliate program
Payouts: Up to 75% on sales through affiliate links
Best For: Experienced affiliate marketers
Pros:
- High payouts
- Wide range of merchant partners
- Reliable customer service
Cons:
- Some products have a lot of competition.
- It can be difficult to find good products to promote
- You may need to put in quite a bit of time to make money
Impact
Impact is one of the best programmes for people who are new to affiliate marketing. It has a simple, easy-to-use platform that is great for people who are just getting started.
Impact also has a wide range of great features, including:
- A built-in tracking system
- Unlimited affiliates
- 24/7 support
Additionally, Impact offers generous commission rates and a wide variety of products to choose from such as:
- eBooks
- Courses
- Membership sites
Where to Find It: Impact
Type: Affiliate program
Payouts: Low minimum payout threshold of just $50 which makes it easy to receive payments
Best For: Impact is great for beginners, but is also excellent for experienced affiliate marketers as well
Pros:
- Built-in tracking system
- Unlimited affiliates
- Wide range of merchant partners
Cons:
- Minimum payout threshold
- Not as many resources available for affiliates
FlexOffers
FlexOffers is a great affiliate programme for people who are just starting out because it has a large number of merchant partners and a low minimum payout threshold. It is also very simple to start. You can make an account in minutes and start promoting offers right away.
If you need help getting started, FlexOffers has a lot of tools to help you get up and running quickly, such as:
A step-by-step guide to affiliate marketing
- A glossary of terms
- Tutorial videos
FlexOffers also offers a wide range of features, including:
- Timely payouts
- A large selection of merchants
- Dedicated account managers
Where to Find It: FlexOffers
Type: Affiliate network
Payouts: $100 minimum payout threshold
Best For: Beginners looking to get started with affiliate marketing
Pros:
- There are thousands of merchants on FlexOffers so you’re sure to find something that interests you.
- Easy sign-up process
- There are a variety of offers including cash back, discounts, and free products
- Lots of resources including tutorials webinars, and eBooks
- Variety of payout options including PayPal, bank transfer, and check
Cons:
- The $100 minimum payout threshold can be difficult to reach
- It can be difficult to find quality offers relevant to your niche because FlexOffers is so large
Conclusion
There are a lot of great affiliate marketing programs for beginners. Take some time to research each one and find the one that best suits your needs. With the right program, you can start generating sales and earning commissions in no time.
FAQ
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business pays one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts.
Affiliate marketing can mean a lot of different things, but at its core, it is a way for a business to work with people who promote its products or services online.
Why is affiliate marketing a good idea?
Affiliate marketing has many good points, such as:
- Affiliate marketing is a simple way for people to make money online
- You don’t have to come up with your own goods or services.
- Most programmes for affiliate marketing are free to join.
- Affiliates can get a cut of the sales they bring to a business.
Who can be a partner?
Affiliates can be anyone who has a website or blog. Before you can become an affiliate, you have to apply and the merchant has to accept you.
How should you start out with affiliate marketing?
The best way to get started with affiliate marketing is to find a merchant with great products and services and sign up for their programme.
You can contact merchants directly or use online directories or search engines to find them. Once you’re accepted as an affiliate, you can start promoting their products and services on your website or blog.
How can you make affiliate marketing work for you?
Here are some tips to make affiliate marketing work for you:
1. Pick a niche that interests you and that you know something about. This will make it easier to write about the products and services of the merchant.
2. Find a good commission rate from a merchant. This will make sure that your affiliate sales give you a good income.
3. Use creative and informative content on your website or blog to promote the merchant’s goods and services.
4. Make sure you’re getting a good return on your time and money by keeping an eye on your affiliate sales and traffic.
5. Be patient! It takes time to build an affiliate marketing business that does well.
What are some of the most common mistakes made by affiliates?
Affiliates often make the following mistakes:
1. Trying to sell them goods or services that they don’t want or know anything about. This will make it hard to write good content and get people to buy.
2. Not keeping an eye on their affiliate sales and traffic to find out what works and what doesn’t. This can cause people to waste time and energy trying to sell products or services that aren’t selling.
3. Not being able to wait. It takes time to build an affiliate marketing business that does well. Rome wasn’t built overnight.
What are some other ways I can get more information about affiliate marketing?
Here are some more great places to learn about affiliate marketing:
– Geno Prussakov’s The Affiliate Marketing Handbook is a complete guide to making money online without doing any work.
Robyn Greene wrote Affiliate Marketing for Dummies.
– Matthew Woodward’s “The Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing”
– How Affiliate Marketing Can Make You Money
How are payouts different from each other?
Here are the three main ways affiliate marketing programmes pay out money:
Pay-per-click (PPC)
Pay-per-lead (PPL)
– Pay-per-sale
Pay-per-click gives you a commission based on how many people click on your links.
With pay-per-lead, you get a commission based on how many leads you bring a merchant.
Pay-per-sale gives you a commission based on how many sales you bring in.
What is a network of affiliates?
An affiliate network is a place where affiliates and merchants can meet and work together. It’s a great way to find new affiliate programmes to promote and get paid for your sales. Here are a few examples of affiliate networks:
– ClickBank
– ShareASale
– The Commission Junction
What is a manager of affiliates?
A person who runs an affiliate programme for a merchant is called an affiliate manager. They are in charge of finding new affiliates, approving their applications, and helping and guiding them.
Affiliate marketing is something I’m ready to start doing. Where do I begin?
Find a merchant with a great product or service and join their affiliate programme. This is the best way to get started. Once you’re accepted as an affiliate, you can start promoting their products and services on your website or blog.
Make sure to tell us in the comments which one you think might be best for you.
