How To Pick Affiliate Programs That Actually Make Money
Choosing the right affiliate program is probably the most important decision you'll make as an affiliate marketer. Pick the wrong one and you'll waste months promoting stuff nobody wants to buy. Pick the right one and you can actually make some decent money.
Here's how to choose programs that will actually pay you.
Start With Products Your Audience Actually Wants
This sounds obvious, but most people get it backwards. They find a program with high commissions first, then try to convince people to buy stuff they don't need.
Think about it this way: what are your readers already buying? If you run a fitness blog, they're probably buying protein powder, workout equipment, and gym memberships. If you run a tech blog, they're buying software, gadgets, and online courses.
Look for affiliate programs that sell the stuff your audience is already spending money on. That's where the easy sales are.
Check Out The Advertisers First
The advertisers in a program matter more than the program itself. A great affiliate network with terrible advertisers is useless. A mediocre network with awesome advertisers can make you money.
Before you join any program, spend some time looking at their advertiser list. Ask yourself:
- Would I actually buy from these companies?
- Do these companies have good reputations?
- Are they selling products my audience wants?
- Do their websites look professional?
If the advertisers look sketchy or sell junk products, find a different program. It doesn't matter if they offer 75% commissions if nobody wants to buy their stuff.
Commission Rates Matter, But Not How You Think
High commission rates sound great, but they don't always mean more money for you.
A program that pays 50% commissions on a $200 product gives you $100 per sale. But if their conversion rate is 0.5%, you need 200 visitors to make one sale.
A program that pays 5% commissions on a $50 product gives you $2.50 per sale. But if their conversion rate is 5%, you only need 20 visitors to make one sale. You'd make $12.50 from 100 visitors instead of $50, but you'd get there much faster.
Higher commissions often mean:
- The product is harder to sell
- The company is desperate for sales
- The refund rate might be high
Sometimes a lower commission rate with a trusted brand makes you more money in the long run.
Look For Recurring Commissions
The best affiliate programs pay you every month, not just once.
Software companies, membership sites, and subscription services often pay recurring commissions. Every time your referral pays their monthly fee, you get a commission.
Let's say you refer someone to a web hosting company that pays $50 upfront plus $5 per month. If that person stays for two years, you make $170 total instead of just $50.
These programs are gold if you can find good ones. Even small monthly payments add up when you have dozens of active referrals.
Check Payment Terms Before You Join
Some programs pay weekly. Others take three months. Some pay by check, others use PayPal, and some only do bank transfers.
Make sure you understand:
- How often they pay
- What payment methods they use
- What their minimum payout is
- If there are any fees
I've seen programs that require $1,000 minimum payouts or charge $25 fees for checks under $100. Read the fine print before you start promoting anything.
Research Their Reputation
Before you join any program, Google "[program name] complaints" and "[program name] reviews." Check affiliate marketing forums and Facebook groups.
Red flags to watch for:
- Lots of complaints about late payments
- People saying they got banned for no reason
- High refund rates
- Poor customer service stories
- Sudden changes to commission structures
If you see the same complaints over and over, find a different program.
Test Their Customer Support
Send them a question before you join. How fast do they respond? Is their answer helpful? Do they seem professional?
If they take a week to answer a simple pre-signup question, imagine how long it'll take to resolve payment issues later.
Consider Your Traffic Volume
Some programs work better for high-traffic sites, others work better for smaller sites with targeted audiences.
Amazon Associates works well if you have lots of traffic because their conversion rates are decent but commissions are low. You need volume to make good money.
High-ticket affiliate programs work better if you have smaller, more targeted traffic. You don't need as many visitors if each sale pays $500+.
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
Join multiple programs, even if they're in the same niche. Companies change their terms, programs shut down, and markets shift.
I know affiliates who made their entire income from one program, then lost everything when the company changed their commission structure. Diversify your income sources.
Start Small And Scale Up
Don't join 10 programs on day one. Pick 2-3 that look promising and focus on those first.
Once you're making consistent money and understand how affiliate marketing works, then you can branch out to other programs.
Red Flags To Avoid
Stay away from programs that:
- Require you to pay money to join
- Promise guaranteed income
- Have no contact information on their website
- Only pay in cryptocurrency or gift cards
- Have terrible websites or broken links
- Require you to buy the product first
What Good Programs Look Like
Quality affiliate programs usually have:
- Clear terms and conditions
- Regular payment schedules
- Professional marketing materials
- Responsive customer support
- Established companies behind them
- Reasonable minimum payouts
- Multiple payment options
Making Your Final Decision
When you're deciding between programs, ask yourself:
- Do I trust this company with my reputation?
- Would I recommend these products to my friends?
- Can I see myself promoting this for the next year?
- Does the commission structure make sense for my traffic?
- Are there any major red flags?
If you can't answer "yes" to the first four questions and "no" to the last one, keep looking.
Getting Started
Once you've picked a program, don't overthink it. Apply, get approved, and start promoting one product. You can always adjust your strategy based on what actually works.
The best affiliate program is the one that pays you consistently for promoting products your audience actually wants to buy. Everything else is just details.
