Affiliate marketing is one of the most sought advertising models in recent times. The reason for its growing popularity is its flexibility – you don’t need a strong team or an office; just you, your creativity, and your laptop are all enough to achieve affiliate success.
Isn’t it cool – you being your own boss where you are the only employee, and you can earn thousands just like that? Well, let’s get back to reality – affiliate marketing is highly rewarding, but only if you choose the right affiliate programs.
With the right program, you can truly build a brand for yourself. So, if you’re just getting started with affiliate marketing, this is the article for you. We’ve compiled a list of the best affiliate programs for beginners to kickstart your journey and help you earn your first shillings.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
If you’re already aware of what it is, then skip this part; this one is for the newbies.
Affiliate marketing is a robust advertising model where you’ll be promoting another business’s product on your website and earn a commission for every sale you bring them. For a detailed explanation, read our blog ‘How to Launch and Succeed in Your Affiliate Marketing Business‘.
How to Select the Right Affiliate Program?
As mentioned earlier, to succeed in affiliate marketing, you need to choose the right affiliate program. Here are some of the factors you should consider:
- Commission rate
- The reputation of the product
- Demand in the market for that particular product
- Competition surrounding the product
- Mode of payment
- Ease of use
- Point of contact
Select an affiliate program that fulfills all of these factors; only then can you make it successful.
Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners
1. Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is probably the most popular and best affiliate program for beginners on this list. The reason? It is easy to use, simple to set up and get started, has the best commissions, and you can literally sell anything.
- Link: Amazon Associates Program
- Cost to join: Free
- Commission: 10%
- Best suitable for: Beginners getting started with affiliate marketing
2. Leading eCommerce Stores
Just like Amazon, multiple eCommerce stores around the world have affiliate programs. Though the commission is lower, it is the best place to start as a beginner.
Here are some of them:
3. Commission Junction (CJ) Affiliate
CJ Affiliate is one of the oldest affiliate programs, regarded as one of the pioneers in affiliate marketing.
It is a far better version of Amazon – it works with big brands and many more online retailer 500 companies than any other affiliate program. CJ also claims that its site is favored by sellers twice as much as other affiliate marketing programs.
- Link: Commission Junction
- Cost to join: Free
- Commissions: Payments are received 30 days after purchase
- Payment Threshold – $50
- Best suitable for: Intermediate affiliate marketers
4. Impact
Impact is not as old as CJ, but it is one of the few affiliate programs that connect people with top brands such as HSBC, Airbnb, Uber, and Adidas.
The best aspect of Impact is its automation capabilities. It can help streamline your affiliate campaign and sales without any manual assistance. The founders of Commission Junction create Impact, which adds tons of credibility to this platform.
- Link: Impact
- Cost to join: Free
- Commissions: Varies according to the brand
- Best suitable for: Affiliate marketers looking for instant approvals
5. AWIN
Awin is a relative newcomer to the game. In August 2017, two different affiliate networks, Zanox and Affilinet, merged to form AWIN.
AWIN generated a remarkable $182 million in sales in 2020, and its affiliates earned $1 billion in commission. They manage big brand names like Etsy, Emirates, and Under Armour.
- Link: AWIN
- Cost to join: Free
- Payment Threshold – $20
- Best suitable for: Affiliates who want to get paid right away
Conclusion
There you go – a simple guide on affiliate marketing and some of the best affiliate programs for beginners.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best advertising tactics that can help you earn independently. Finding the right affiliate programs is easy if you follow the factors listed in this article.
Get started with affiliate marketing and skyrocket your returns. Good luck!