Finding Affiliate Programs

There are lots of ways to find affiliate programs that you can promote.

One of the simplest ways you can find them is to simply do a search within your favorite search engine like this:

your topic name+affiliate program

For example if you were looking for acne products you would type into the search engine the following:

acne+affiliate program

Secondly, along that same mode of search is to use the affiliate programs search engine. I like this search engine because it can help you find all the affiliate programs available based on your niche. You can also find programs by  'pay per action', 'pay per lead', 'pay per click' as well as 2-tier programs.

The third way to find affiliate programs is to use affiliate marketing networks like Commission Junction. CJ is an affiliate marketing network that promotes affiliate programs to affiliate marketers helping them find and understand what affiliate programs will be best suited for them.

Here are some of the most popular and trusted affiliate Networks:

Commission Junction
  Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS
  Minimum Payout - $25 - $75
  Payments - Payments are made twice a month
  Real-time Tracking - Yes
  Multi-Tier - Yes, with restrictions. They allow only U.S. and UK. publishers to earn commissions from introducing new publishers to their service. Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

LinkConnector Network

Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS
Minimum Payout - $25 - $75
Payments - Payments made once a month via Paypal or by check, direct deposit coming soon
Real-time Tracking - Yes
Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

Clickbank

  Programs: CPS (Cost Per Sale)
  Payments: Checks are mailed within 15 days after the end of each pay period.
  Real-time Tracking: Yes
  Multi-Tier: Yes
  Email Marketing Permitted: Yes

LinkShare

Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS
Minimum Payout - Variable
Payments - Variable
Real-time Tracking - Yes
Multi-Tier - Yes
Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

Fineclicks 

Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS, Hybrid
Minimum Payout - $50
Payments - FineClicks pays on the 20th of each month for the previous month
Real-time Tracking - Yes
Multi-Tier - Receive $5 for each new affiliate referral plus 5% of their earnings for life.
Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

Shareasale

Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS
Minimum Payout - $50
Payments -  One consolidated monthly check. ShareaSale issues payments via check and PayPal on the 20th of each Month for affiliates who reach the $50 minimum before then end of the prior month.
Real-time Tracking - Yes
Multi-Tier - $1 per signup as an affiliate, and 5% of their future earnings.
Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

Clixgalore

Programs - CPA, CPC, CPS
Minimum Payout - $50 or $100 (you can choose which one)
Payments - Monthly
Real-time Tracking - Yes
Email Marketing Permitted - Yes

When trying to decide on the best affiliate program to join, do the personal test rule.  Examine the affiliate website and make sure that the products you will be promoting are products or services that you would buy. 

Also review the website carefully.  Does the site make it easy to find what a visitor is looking for. Is there tons of flashing, crazy advertising? Because if there is, that's a clear indication you won't make many sales promoting a site like that.

Look for residual income affiliate programs.  These are the programs wher you'll generate income month after month as opposed to the one time sale. 

Next, get to know the affiliate manager.  Ask them to refer you to other affiliates so you can find out how happy they are with the program and if they make many sales.  Good references for anything is always a plus.

And finally, don't just choose an affiliate program because of what they pay you.  Keep your visitor in mind by offering them only quality products and services.  It's how you will build trust with your visitors and how you stand to make more money in the long run.