Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners

Affiliate marketing is an increasingly popular way to make money online, and for beginners, finding the right affiliate programs is essential to kickstart your journey. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the best affiliate marketing programs that are beginner-friendly. Whether you’re looking to promote products in the tech, health, or education sectors, or you’re unsure where to start, this guide will provide you with all the insights you need.

What is an Affiliate Program?

An affiliate program is a partnership between a merchant (seller) and an affiliate marketer (you). When you join an affiliate program, you're provided with a unique affiliate link to promote the merchant's products or services. Each time someone clicks your link and completes a desired action—like making a purchase—you earn a commission.

For most affiliate programs, the merchant only pays when a sale is generated. This win-win model is attractive for both parties: the merchant gains sales, and the affiliate earns commissions without handling inventory, customer service, or payment processing.

For more details, you can check out our comprehensive guide on how affiliate marketing works.

How Does an Affiliate Program Work?

Affiliate programs are straightforward, making them ideal for beginners. Let’s explore how it works through Amazon Associates, one of the oldest and most well-known affiliate programs.

Once you sign up, you’re given a unique Amazon Associate ID. You then select products to promote and generate affiliate links containing your ID. For example, a typical Amazon affiliate link might look like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B07B199LGK/mywebsite20

Here, mywebsite20 is your Amazon Associates ID. When someone clicks your link, they are directed to Amazon, and if they make a purchase within 24 hours, you earn a commission. Amazon tracks sales using cookies, ensuring you get credit for all qualifying purchases made through your link.

How to Find the Right Affiliate Programs

With thousands of affiliate programs available, choosing the right one can be daunting. Here’s what to consider:

• Conversion Rate: Is the product selling well? High commission rates are meaningless if the product doesn’t convert.
• Commission Structure: Look for programs offering fair and sustainable commissions. High rates are tempting, but consider the volume of sales required to make it worthwhile.
• Merchant’s Landing Page Quality: A poorly designed landing page can waste your traffic. Ensure the merchant's product pages are engaging and optimized for conversions.
• Market Competition: High competition can signal high demand but may also make it harder for you to stand out. Weigh the pros and cons based on your niche.
• Search Volume: Products with high search volume offer better traffic potential, which translates to more clicks and sales.
• Merchant Reputation: Promote only products from reputable merchants to maintain your credibility.
• Personal Affinity: Promote products you believe in. If you wouldn’t buy it, think twice before recommending it.

What Makes a Great Affiliate Program?

A great affiliate program is one that aligns with your goals, niche, and audience. Here's what to look for:

• High Conversion Rates: Programs with proven track records of converting traffic into sales.
• Generous Commissions: Competitive commission rates that reward your efforts.
• Long Cookie Duration: Longer cookie durations give you a better chance of earning commissions.
• Reliable Payments: Ensure the program has a solid history of paying affiliates on time and offers payment options that suit you.
• Strong Merchant Support: Access to resources, training, and a responsive affiliate manager can significantly impact your success.

Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners in 2024

1. Amazon Associates

• Commission: 1-10%
• Cookie Duration: 24 hours

Amazon Associates remains one of the most accessible affiliate programs for beginners. With over 12 million products to choose from, you can easily find items that resonate with your audience. Despite the short cookie duration, the sheer variety of products and the trust consumers have in Amazon make this a solid choice for new affiliates.

2. eBay Partner Network

• Commission: 50-70% of auction fees
• Cookie Duration: 24 hours for “Buy It Now” items, 10 days for auction items

eBay’s vast marketplace offers another excellent opportunity for beginners. The program is unique in that it pays a commission based on eBay’s auction fees, rather than the sale price. This can be particularly lucrative for high-ticket items.

3. ShareASale

• Commission: Varies by merchant
• Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant

ShareASale is a robust affiliate network with thousands of merchants across diverse niches. Beginners will appreciate its user-friendly dashboard and the extensive training resources available. The network is also known for its reliable payments and strong customer support.

4. ClickBank

• Commission: Up to 75%
• Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant

ClickBank is particularly popular among digital product marketers. The platform offers some of the highest commissions in the industry, especially for digital products, which often have lower overhead costs. This makes it a great platform for beginners looking to maximize their earnings.

5. CJ Affiliate

• Commission: Varies by merchant
• Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant

CJ Affiliate, formerly known as Commission Junction, offers a wide range of products and is favored for its advanced tools and analytics. The platform supports a wide variety of niches, making it a versatile choice for beginners.

6. Bluehost

• Commission: $65-$100 per sale
• Cookie Duration: 90 days

For those interested in promoting web hosting services, Bluehost is a standout option. It’s particularly popular among bloggers and digital marketers, thanks to its high payouts and extended cookie duration.

7. Teachable

• Commission: 30% lifetime commission
• Cookie Duration: 90 days

If your audience is interested in online learning, Teachable’s affiliate program offers an attractive 30% lifetime commission. This means you earn every time your referred customer renews their subscription, creating a steady stream of passive income.

8. HostGator

• Commission: $65-$125 per sale
• Cookie Duration: 60 days

Another excellent choice in the web hosting niche, HostGator offers high commissions and extensive support for affiliates. The program is beginner-friendly, offering personalized support and a variety of marketing materials to help you succeed.

9. MaxBounty

• Commission: Varies by merchant
• Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant

MaxBounty specializes in CPA (Cost Per Action) offers, meaning you earn commissions not just from sales, but from other actions like sign-ups or app downloads. This can be a great option for beginners who want to diversify their income streams.

10. Market Health

• Commission: Up to 50%
• Cookie Duration: 30 days

Focused on the health and beauty niche, Market Health offers some of the highest commissions in the industry. With recurring commissions on repeat sales, this program is ideal for affiliates looking to build long-term income in a lucrative market.

11. TripAdvisor

• Commission: 50% of commission earned
• Cookie Duration: Session

TripAdvisor’s affiliate program is unique in that it pays for clicks rather than completed sales, making it easier to earn commissions. While the per-click payouts are lower, the volume can quickly add up, especially if you’re in the travel niche.

12. GiddyUp

• Commission: Varies by merchant
• Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant

GiddyUp is an exclusive network that partners with innovative brands. Their campaigns are highly optimized, and they offer comprehensive support to help beginners succeed. This is a great program for those looking to promote niche products.

13. Murad

• Commission: 11%
• Cookie Duration: 7 days

Specializing in skincare, Murad offers a straightforward affiliate program with a flat commission rate. The high average order value makes it possible to earn significant commissions even with a modest audience.

14. Boatbookings

• Commission: 20% + 10% for returning customers
• Cookie Duration: 30 days

For affiliates in the travel and luxury niches, Boatbookings offers generous commissions for yacht charters. The program is particularly attractive because it offers a bonus for repeat customers, allowing you to earn additional income over time.

15. Capitalist Exploits

• Commission: 50%
• Cookie Duration: 365 days

Operating in the finance niche, Capitalist Exploits offers high-ticket products with substantial commissions. The year-long cookie duration is a significant advantage, giving you ample time to convert leads into sales.

16. Pabbly

• Commission: 30% recurring
• Cookie Duration: 30 days

Pabbly offers a suite of business management tools and pays a recurring commission on sales, making it a great option for those in the B2B niche. The recurring nature of the commissions ensures ongoing income from each referral.

Comparison of the Affiliate Programs

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Program for You

With so many options available, selecting the right affiliate program can be overwhelming. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the best choice:

1. Evaluate Product Demand: Use tools like Google Trends and product review counts to gauge the demand and relevance of the products you’re considering.
2. Compare Commission Structures: Look beyond the commission rates. Consider cookie durations, payment thresholds, and how frequently commissions are paid.
3. Research Merchant Reputation: Ensure the merchant has a solid reputation among affiliates, offers good support, and provides clear communication.
4. Understand the Terms & Conditions: Familiarize yourself with the program’s advertising guidelines, cookie policies, and return policies to avoid surprises later on.
5. Consider Onboarding & Support: Opt for programs that offer strong onboarding processes, comprehensive tutorials, and readily available affiliate managers.

For more detailed advice, visit our guide on how to choose the right affiliate program.

Starting with the right affiliate programs is crucial to your success as a beginner affiliate marketer. By focusing on programs that offer high conversion rates, generous commissions, and solid support, you can build a sustainable and profitable affiliate business. Remember to choose programs that align with your niche and audience, and continuously optimize your strategies as you grow in your affiliate marketing journey.

For more tips on growing your affiliate marketing business, check out our beginner's guide to affiliate marketing.

Now that you have a list of the best affiliate programs for beginners, it’s time to start promoting and earning. Good luck!

10 Comments

Carlos Alfonso Garcia • 9 years ago

Hi, my name is Carlos, and I would appreciate if you might give me a comment about this doubt: There are already thousands of good content websites, on every niche you might think, getting traffic day by day, and products suitable for the kind of people going to those sites. Why would I need a brand new website to compite, if I can make a CPC banner campaign aiming to those sites, with the right product for the right demographic and the right niche? Thank you !!!!

Melissa Johnson • 9 years ago

Hi, Carlos!

You make a great point. However, one problem you'll likely encounter is that many consumers have developed "Banner Blindness" -- their eyes essentially glaze over advertisements, especially banner ads. That's not to say a paid advertising campaign wouldn't be effective, but you'll certainly be limiting yourself.

Organic traffic pointed at a website is incredibly powerful. Google puts a LOT of faith in the organic results, and so do consumers. Plus, having your own site gives you the ability to do things like build an email list, which you can use to recommend all sorts of products once your subscribers learn to trust you. That opens you up to more opportunities. The same goes with building a social media following.

Yes, there's competition, but by building your own site, you can create your own brand and build a reputation for being knowledgeable and trustworthy, instead of just hiding behind a CPC campaign, where you'll be invisible.

I hope this gives you some food for thought!

Rui Santos • 9 years ago

Hi Carlos

I agree with Melissa's advice that in building your own website enables you to create your own brand and an online platform for all your marketing. It is also crucial in helping you to build your own list with all your marketing activities, so that you in the long term you will not only be able to sell an item once to a customer, but a well designed website with valuable content will enable you to sell many items, to many customers over and over if you do it well.

Cheers
Rui Santos

Thabiso • 8 years ago

Hi. Clickbank sends cheques as a form of payment and me being in Botswana is extremely difficult coz I have to wait close to two months too. And the direct deposit won't work too. Anyone know of an affiliate program similar to clickbank? One that targets worldwide audience like clickbank?

Melissa Johnson • 8 years ago

Hi there!

For SaleHoo, we use ClickBank. However, we have done some research on ClickBank alternatives: https://www.affilorama.com/blog/alternatives-to-clickbank

Hope this helps!

Jordan Mortimer • 8 years ago

Is it possible to be a member of multiple affiliate networks?

Justin Golschneider • 8 years ago

Hi Jordan! It's entirely possible, and it's fairly common for affiliates to join both ClickBank and Commission Junction, for example. I haven't heard of any affiliate networks requiring exclusive contracts.

Marcus • 7 years ago

Hello!

Can you please answer at next 2 questions:

If the affiliate link redirect the visitor from my site to the merchant site on the first page and not to a specific product than how can I promote more specific products from the same merchant (or from different merchants) in one article/on the same page?

2. If I would like to take care only of research, building and entertaining the design of the website, design banners etc for promoting the products via social media, ... and managing the business, ... but not doing anything regarding content, newsletters, articles (just hire people to do it for me) do you think is worth trying to become an affiliate marketer? And if yes than what budget do you think I need monthly?

Thank you in advance,
Marcus

Justin Golschneider • 7 years ago

Hi again, Marcus!

1. Vendors typically provide you with a specific link for each specific product, though some may also provide a different link just for their homepage if they have a lot of products to sell. You can use as many different links as you want on one page.

2. Absolutely! Hiring other people to do the grunt work for you is often the best way to get the highest return on your investment, as your time is valuable when you're the boss. You may also get better results by hiring people who specialize in a certain field, like writing, than you would by trying to do it yourself.

Your monthly budget will depend on a lot of variables, but I wouldn't expect to pay less than $20 per article/newsletter (people who charge less generally aren't very good writers). If you want to create a successful authority site, I would budget at least $240 a month (minimum of two articles and one newsletter per week).

Omri Ulanovski • 7 years ago

Hey'
I've been reading allot about affiliate and still I don't understand something. Can I do it even if I don't have a website? Do I have to own a website or is there a different kind of affiliate that I can do?

Justin Golschneider • 7 years ago

Hi Omri! It is possible to do affiliate marketing without having a website. Here's an article and video about it: https://www.affilorama.com/introduction/affiliate-marketing-without-a-website

However, having a website is highly recommended. A lot of affiliate programs require you to have a website before they'll accept you, and websites allow you to use more elaborate sales techniques.

Viv de Veyra • 7 years ago

Hi, I just tried to sign up for Clickbank but got the message that they cannot offer me an account at this time. Has anybody else reported the same issue? Any idea why this happened?

Richelle Monfort • 7 years ago

Hello Viv, This seems to be a common issue and the best way for you to resolve this is to contact ClickBank support directly so they can assist you accordingly - http://www.clickbank.com/corp/support/ All the best!

• 7 years ago

Since most people know of the big affiliate sites like ClickBank, JVZoo and the Warrior Form, here is how you find products that most affiliates don't know exist. What you do is, go to Google and type in: “affiliate programs +” (type of products you are looking for. Example,
“affiliate programs + camping equipment” Doing this is where you find products that most affiliates don't know about!

Lexie Clark • 6 years ago

I am struggling to find an affiliate source for my website, which lists remote and work from home opportunities that are not scams and have been tested by myself. How can I get a kickback when an applicant clicks on my link that sends the to apply for Blue Cross?

Alicia Taylor • 4 years ago

Great article, thank you! I'm not a beginner in affiliate marketing and, personally, I prefer in-house programs. Not networks. Now I'm using AliDropship and Cloudways affiliate programs, those are quite good too.