Choosing the Right Affiliate Program

By Keegan Michaels
Posted Thursday, November 18, 2004

Affiliate Programs can be a great source of extra cash. Depending on the program, you either set up an affiliate website, or place an affiliate link on your already existing website, then you just sit back and watch the cash roll in, right? Well, in a perfect world, yes. But we all know this world isn't perfect. If you sign up with the wrong program, you may find yourself disappointed or even frustrated, and certainly no richer.

As affiliate programs are becoming more and more popular it seems that just about every business out there is starting to offer one. With so many options, you want to make sure that you're going with the best program, so how do you know which to join? Here are a few simple checks you can use to make sure you're going with a potentially successful program.

First of all, really think about the product being offered. Is it something that a lot of people want or need? Is it something you would buy? Ask a friend or three if the product in question is something they might go for. If the consensus seems to be that it is a stale or tapped out market, then don't do it.

Second. Do a web search. Go on to several search engines and do a few searches using various keywords describing the product in question. How many sites come up? Does the amount of sites coming up seem proportionate to the demand for the product, or does the market seem to be flooded? If there are hundreds of sites coming up offering the same thing, you'll probably end up lost in the shuffle. You might want to reconsider.

Third. Look closely at the program's webpage. Is it attractive, clear and professional looking? Is the writing clear and direct? Does it answer all your questions? Remember, if you think the webpage is clunky looking or that it's hard to follow, so will a lot of potential customers. Only go with a program that has a flawless homepage.

Fourth. Look at the payment and sales update schedules. Will you be paid once a month? Once a quarter? How will you be notified of your sales? Really go over all the payment information. After all, this is the reason you're joining, right? Before you join you must make sure that everything about the payment process is clear and to your liking. If anything about the system seems unusual or unclear, walk away.

Now, there's no way of guaranteeing that a program will work, but if you follow these simple steps, you'll have a much better chance of success. There's a lot of money zinging around on the net, and if you just do a little homework, you can do quite well in the booming affiliate world.

About the Author
Keegan Michaels knows affiliate programs. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him show you the roadmap to affiliate profits. Contact him today at keeegan@affiliateteacher.com or 801-328-9006. Get his Extra Money Newsletter FREE at (http://www.AffiliateTeacher.com)