The Best Affiliate Programs For Beginners
Affiliate marketing remains to be a viable business model for online entrepreneurs. Most people have even made it their primary source of income.
However, changes in Google’s algorithms have impacted organic traffic for bloggers, subsequently affecting their affiliate marketing efforts and revenue.
But do you stand a chance to make money in affiliate business as your favorite affiliate does every month?
The simple answer is yes.
With proper knowledge and preparation, the possibilities for you as an affiliate marketer are limitless. And one of the best or rather easiest ways for you to win in affiliate marketing as a beginner is by joining the best affiliate marketing programs.
How do you find the best affiliate program for you with the overwhelming number of programs out there?
Before we delve right into the list of the best affiliate programs to join as a beginner, it is essential to understand the difference between affiliate networks like ShareAsale and affiliate programs offered in-house.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a form of online marketing where you earn commissions by promoting other people’s products or services. When you join an affiliate program you get a unique affiliate link that tracks the sales or referrals you make. Share that link with your audience and you get paid every time someone buys through it. It’s popular because you can promote products you believe in without having to create or manage them yourself.
Benefits of Affiliate Marketing for Beginners
Low cost
Pay per result: You only pay for what you get.
Low risk: You don’t pay unless you sell.
Performance based
Set your own commission: You set the commission to your affiliates and only pay when a sale is made.
Pay for results not promises.
Flexibility
Design your own schedule: You can work to your own hours.
New audiences: Reach new audiences through influencers and third-party publishers.
Other
Brand awareness: More people will know and remember your brand.
New revenue stream: Create a new way to earn and grow.
Easy to start and run: Easy to get started and manage.
How Affiliate Marketing Works
Affiliate marketing is a type of advertising where a third-party publisher, or affiliate, promotes a company’s products or services in exchange for a commission.
How it works
An affiliate joins an affiliate program and creates a unique link.
The affiliate promotes the link on their website, blog, or social media.
A user clicks the link and makes a purchase.
The affiliate network records the sale.
The affiliate receives a commission for the sale.
Positives
Affiliate marketing can be a way to earn passive income.
The commission fee incentivizes affiliates to promote the company’s products.
Challenges
It can take time and work to get started.
Not everyone will succeed in affiliate marketing.
It can take time and affiliate marketing effort to create and optimize content to get enough traffic and clicks.
Types of Affiliate programs
Before we jump into the list of affiliate programs, I wanted to briefly look at the different types there are.
Understanding commission structures and utilizing tools for tracking performance can optimize affiliate sales outcomes.
As you may already know there are two places where you’ll find affiliate programs:
Affiliate networks
In-house affiliate programs
In all of these you will then find different affiliate programs usually cost-per-action (CPA), recurring or one-time commission.
Cost-per-action: Here you will be paid for when the traffic you’re sending performers an action, such as entering their email address.
One-time commission: This is the most common type of affiliate program, as it pays a one-time commission on every sale.
Recurring: Finally, affiliates love the recurring commission affiliate programs, as they pay you every month from a single sale.
Affiliate networks
In simple terms, affiliate networks act as middlemen between affiliates and merchants, offering affiliate opportunities for their products.
Individuals can earn commissions by promoting products on their own affiliate site, which can be a personal website or platform dedicated to marketing these products.
The good thing about networks is that they make it easy for you to get products that you can promote on your platform, even as beginners with no budget.
Some of the best affiliate networks today include Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and eBay Affiliate Network.
In-house/self-hosted affiliate programs
Not all companies are interested in going all big with their affiliate programs. As such, every aspect of their affiliate program is managed in-house. To work with many of these companies, you first have to be a customer or contact them directly.
Many companies have their own affiliate programs that marketers can join, providing numerous monetization opportunities and strategies for promoting different products and services.
In most cases, if not all, in-house affiliate programs tend to offer the best commission rates.
Quick tips to help you find the best affiliate programs for beginners
Even with our list of the best affiliate programs for you, it is still vital that you understand what to look for in a program. It will help you to figure out the best program that aligns with your needs.
To start affiliate marketing, it is crucial to select the right platform that aligns with your personal interests and audience.
When looking for a good affiliate program, here are some of the things that you should look out for:
Product reliability
Success in SEO affiliate marketing greatly relies on building trust and promoting products that are a good fit for consumers. When choosing an affiliate program, ensure that they offer partnerships with quality products that your audience can rely on.
Customer Support
Customer support is crucial for the success of any online business. If you want to succeed as an affiliate, ensure that you get into programs that provide reliable support to their publishers.
Transparency
Is the affiliate program transparent on how it determines its commissions? Are their terms and conditions on what’s expected of you clear? What policy do they have on their cookie duration?
As an affiliate, the transparency of an affiliate program impacts your potential income and reputation with buyers. Any miscommunication can significantly affect your affiliate business.
Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing
Getting started with affiliate marketing is simple. First you need to create a website or social media presence where you can promote products to your audience. This could be a blog, YouTube channel, Instagram account or any other platform where you can share content. Next choose an affiliate program that fits your niche and interests. Once you’re approved into the program you can start promoting and earning.
Website or Social Media
To start your affiliate marketing journey you’ll need a platform to promote affiliate products. This could be a website, blog, YouTube channel or social media account. Choose a niche or topic you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in so you can attract and engage with your audience. Once you have your platform set up you can apply to affiliate programs and start promoting. Always disclose your affiliate relationships and follow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines to be transparent and build trust with your audience.
12 Best affiliate programs for beginners
You don’t have to join 30 or forty networks. That is our list only focuses on the best there is in the market.
Platforms like Coursera and Teachable offer a range of online courses and learning opportunities. These platforms enable users to enroll in various online courses or create and sell their own, emphasizing the ease of access and potential financial benefits associated with affiliate marketing beginners programs related to online courses.
Some of the best affiliate marketing programs for beginners include:
Amazon Associates Program
Commission junction
ShareAsale
ClickBank Affiliate
eBay Affiliate Network
Rakuten Affiliate
Impact
FlexOffers
Bluehost
Legiit
Elementor
Grammarly
Affiliate Marketing Networks
Here are the best affiliate marketing networks:
Amazon Associates
CJ Affiliate
ShareASale
ClickBank
Ebay Affiliate Network
Rakuten
Impact Radius
FlexOffers
Amazon Associates
Started in 1996, Amazon Associates is one of the oldest and most successful affiliate marketing programs out there.
As an Amazon affiliate, Amazon’s affiliate program offers you millions of products to promote from its parent company, a leading eCommerce platform.
This program is a good fit for you if you are only interested in promoting physical and digital products as Amazon does not sell services.
CJ Affiliate (Commission junction)
CJ affiliate has also been around for quite some time, having started in 1998. It brings together more than 3000 merchants offering affiliate opportunities.
As a leading affiliate network, CJ affiliate provides an opportunity for you to connect with many merchants, big and small. It is also considered to be a more stable affiliate network backed by a fortune 500 company.
Pros:
Extensive network with diverse advertisers
Access to lucrative affiliate programs across various industries
Reliable platform with established credibility
Robust tools and analytics for affiliates
Reliable payment processing
Cons:
Approval process can be stringent for beginners.
High competition for popular offers.
Complex user interface and reporting system
ShareAsale
Often compared to Commission Junction, ShareASale is also one of the largest affiliate networks in the industry. The network currently partners with over 4000 merchants. Among the 4000, over one thousand are exclusive to ShareAsale, which means that if you want to advertise their products, you can only do it through ShareAsale.
Another factor that makes ShareAsale an excellent affiliate platform is that it publishes a large amount of data on each offer present on the network. This way, it is easier for affiliates to access campaigns before launching them.
Pros:
Access to a wide variety of merchants and brands
User-friendly interface for affiliate marketers
Tools for analyzing and optimizing affiliate links
Opportunities for high commission rates depending on the affiliate program
Cons:
Some affiliates find the platform’s reporting capabilities lacking
Payments are made monthly, which may be less frequent than desired for some users
ClickBank
If your niche leans on digital products, then ClickBank is the perfect network for you. ClickBank provides partnerships with thousands of merchants selling digital products like eBooks, courses, and membership sites.
One of the significant downsides that ClickBank has faced for a long time is the high rate of low-quality products offered by its merchants. However, the company has put in place better review processes to ensure the quality of products provided by merchants.
Pros:
Reliable payouts
Highest paying affiliate programs
Low barriers to entry for affiliate marketers
Access to marketing education and resources
Cons:
Intense competition in popular niches
Challenging product approval process
Risk of promoting low-quality or scam products
eBay Affiliate Network
Unlike other networks discussed so far, the eBay partner network is a relatively new entrant, having launched in 2008. Nonetheless, it is equally a solid program with the backing of its successful parent company eBay.
One of the unique benefits of the eBay Partner Network (EPN) is the ability to work directly with eBay’s own affiliate program, which facilitates valuable relationships and opportunities for new affiliates.
With this network, you will never run out of products to promote, as the site offers around 1.1 billion listings of physical products.
Note that the eBay Partner Network is a good fit for you if you are looking to deal with physical products.
Pros:
Wide range of products available for promotion
Opportunities to earn from niche products with dedicated customer bases
Simple and straightforward affiliate process
Offers commissions for both auction and buy-it-now sales
Cons:
Variable commission rates can impact earnings
Short cookie duration (24-hour) limits earning potential
Rakuten
Formerly LinkShare, Rakuten Affiliate is one of the oldest networks in the affiliate marketing industry. It was founded in 1996, and for over two decades, it has connected millions of publishers with merchants.
Having been in the business for over two decades, Rakuten Affiliate offers an unmatched experience for its partners.
The network has an excellent user interface and a solid reputation that only comes with experience.
Pros:
Longstanding reputation as one of the oldest networks
Offers cashback on purchases from a wide range of retailers
User-friendly interface for both shoppers and advertisers
No cost to join and use, making it accessible
Cons:
Potential delays in receiving cashback due to processing times
Privacy concerns related to data collection practices
Limited number of merchants compared to competitors.
Impact Radius
Impact Radius is also a new entrant into the affiliate marketing industry. Nonetheless, it has quickly established itself as a reliable and solid network for merchants and publishers.
Currently, it boasts working with over 1000 brands.
The application process on Impact is free and takes a few minutes to complete.
Pros:
Accurate affiliate analytics
Advanced tracking capabilities
Comprehensive affiliate marketing channel
Timely payments and good customer support
Strong partnership opportunities
Cons:
Occasional issues with payments
Some users report scalability challenges
FlexOffers
FlexOffers was also founded in 2008. As such, it may not have the best track record in the market. But before you dismiss it, it is essential to note that FlexOffers has one of the best support teams and a robust payment processing system that most networks lack.
Currently, FlexOffers has more than 12,000 merchants working with it. The large pool of merchants makes it easy for affiliate marketers like you to find products to promote.
Pros:
Diverse affiliate programs across many categories
Real-time tracking and detailed traffic reports
Automated affiliate link creation for streamlined campaign setup
Competitive commissions and support for advertisers and publishers
Cons:
Some users find the interface can be complex initially
Compliance monitoring may require adjustments for certain niche markets
In-House Profitable affiliate programs
Now let’s look at the best in-house profitable affiliate programs.
Here’s a full list of them:
BlueHost
Legiit
Elementor
Grammarly
ClickFunnels
GetResponse
TripAdvisor
Wix
Shopify
Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the official WordPress recommended web hosting companies. Its affiliate program is also considered one of the best, with a high commission rate per sale. It is essential to, however, note that the program does not offer recurring commissions. You earn a one-off affiliate income every time a visitor clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase.
Pros:
Good for beginners with easy setup and user-friendly interface
Reliable performance, suitable for smaller websites
Affordable pricing, especially for initial plans
Offers free domain name for the first year
Strong uptime record and fast server speeds
Integrated with WordPress
24/7 customer support available via phone, chat, and ticket system
Cons:
Renewal prices are higher than initial rates
Additional fees for migrations and backups
Performance may fluctuate with higher traffic volumes
Upselling of add-on services during checkout
Legiit
Having been around for close to three years now, Legiit has quickly become one of the best online marketplaces for entrepreneurs and companies looking to outsource their work.
Legiit offers a robust program for its sellers and buyers to make money passively while enjoying quality services.
Pros:
Higher quality services compared to mainstream platforms like Fiverr
Better communication channels between freelancers and clients
Lower fees for transactions
More niche-specific services available
Supportive community and educational resources
Cons:
Smaller pool of freelancers compared to larger platforms
Challenges in standing out or differentiating among competitors
Sign Up For a Free Legiit Account Here
Elementor
If your affiliate niche focuses on websites, then you cannot ignore this new kid on the block. Elementor has quickly become a number one website builder and also offers a high commission for its affiliates.
Pros:
Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
Extensive widget library
High customization capabilities
Built-in template library
WooCommerce integration (Pro version)
Cons:
Site speed issues
Occasional glitches after updates
Customer support can be inconsistent
Grammarly
Although Grammarly does offer its affiliate program through networks such as CJ Affiliate, it still allows you to register as a partner through their website.
The best thing about the Grammarly affiliate program is that you get to earn even when your referrals open a free account. For referrals that lead to a paid purchase, you are guaranteed a $20 payout which is a good amount considering the potential customer base that this product has.
Pros:
Real-time grammar correction
Highly accurate in identifying errors
Easy-to-understand explanations for suggested corrections
Customization options for writing style preferences
Beginner-friendly interface with no learning curve
Cons:
Might not catch all nuanced writing errors or style preferences
Over-reliance on the tool can hinder personal writing growth
Premium features require a subscription
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels probably has one of the most known great affiliate programs out there. Once you reach a certain tier, they offer a whopping 40% recurring commission. Even on their lowest plan that ends up to be $40 per month… So, if you sign 100 people up, you could be making an average full-time income. Not bad.
The reason it’s so far down the list is that the affiliate program has made some changes in the past 2 years. Since then, you have to earn around $1,000 on their other programs to even earn the right to promote the main offer i.e ClickFunnels.
Still, it’s definitely worth it and has a good selection of affiliate programs you can promote.
Pros:
Simplifies sales funnel creation with no advanced skills required
Includes diverse templates for landing and sales pages
Easily integrates with various marketing tools
Offers strong analytics and split-testing features
Cons:
Higher cost than many competitors
Limited customization for complex projects
GetResponse
GetResponse is an email marketing service that has a very flexible affiliate program. You choose between getting paid a high affiliate commission for every paying sign up ($100) or get a recurring one (33%).
Besides, I was also impressed by how much material they give affiliates. There are E-books, banners, and a range of other materials that you can use to promote GetResponse. This is excellent, as it makes your life a lot easier and ultimately helps you generate more commissions.’
Additionally, you can create deep links to any page on their own website which will lift your conversions. Studies have shown that deep links can lift your conversions by as much as 50%.
Pros:
Excellent for email automation
Flexible data segmentation options
Includes webinar hosting capabilities
Good list management functionality
Cons:
Limited flexibility in website and landing page building
Can become expensive with advanced features
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is another very popular affiliate program. I’m sure you’ve heard of the brand, as it’s one of the biggest in the travel & tourism space. Interestingly, their affiliate program is actually pretty decent too, as it pays out 50% of the gross revenue generated. Now keep in mind the sale price is not affiliate revenue generated by TripAdvisor, so it’s 50% of the fees.
But a widely profitable company like TripAdvisor offering 50% on their fees… Yep, you guessed it its pretty decent. Besides, according to their website, affiliates earn as much as $0.75 per click-through, depending on the traffic.
Pros:
Extensive user-generated reviews for informed decisions
Wide range of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions
Community forums offer valuable travel tips
Booking options for tours and activities
Cons:
Quality and authenticity of reviews can vary
Some listings may be outdated or inaccurate
Wix
Wix also offers competitive payouts at $100 per conversion. Considering their low pricing payouts this is actually very impressive – plus, it’s also a brand that is globally recognized, so you will benefit from the trust factor as an affiliate.
You can find their affiliate program on their website; it’s free and also very easy to sign up for.
Pros:
User-friendly platform
Attractive templates
Extensive customization options
Strong SEO support
Secure websites with Wix SSL
Cons:
Some limitations for long-term scalability
May experience slower loading times
Customer support response times can be slow
Shopify
Finally, we have Shopify. If you have an audience that’s into selling things online/starting an e-commerce store this might be the perfect option for you. As you probably know, Shopify is the leading platform on the market, so it also makes sense to refer people to them – as they are trusted.
Shopify pays out the first two months of your referrals subscription, as a commission. Or, on the enterprise plan you can earn a 100% bounty, which is a whopping $2,000!
Pros:
Ease of use
Extensive app ecosystem
Scalability for growing businesses
Supports multiple sales channels
24/7 customer support
Built-in SEO and marketing tools
Mobile responsiveness
Cons:
Limited customization without coding
Transaction fees on third-party payment gateways
Additional costs for apps and add-ons
Wrapping things up
The best thing about affiliate marketing is you can join multiple affiliate programs. But, do so with caution.
Joining many programs may make it difficult to track your affiliate links and manage other aspects of your business, especially if you don’t have premium affiliate marketing tools to help you.
Also, joining multiple programs spreads your traffic too thin, and it can become difficult to hit the minimum payouts set by the networks.
If you want to acquire more knowledge on becoming a successful affiliate marketer, check out our comprehensive list of affiliate marketing courses for beginners.
Read More on Affiliate Marketing & SEO
On the SuperstarSEO blog, there’s a lot more for you to read on affiliate marketing & SEO. You can check out some of them below.
5 Best Affiliate Marketing Businesses To Start (With No Money)
