Affiliate marketing is attracting more and more specialists involved in promoting goods and services, as well as people who want to learn something new and change their field of activity.

There are several reasons for this: it is a promising and rapidly developing industry that can bring in good earnings or serve as a source of additional income. In addition, affiliate marketing can be done from anywhere in the world, and the number of verticals in it is so vast that everyone can find offers of interest to them.

Thanks to affiliate programs and advertising networks, the advertiser has the opportunity to promote their products and services by attracting partners, or affiliates. However, if you are just starting out in this field, among the multitude of affiliate programs for affiliates, it can be very difficult to choose the right option. Nevertheless, this is one of the most important decisions for building a career in affiliate marketing, requiring special attention to details.

 What to choose: affiliate networks or affiliate programs

There is a fundamental difference between in-house affiliate programs and affiliate networks. Therefore, in order to choose the appropriate option, a beginner needs to familiarize themselves with the main differences between these collaboration formats.

An in-house affiliate program involves direct interaction between the advertiser and the affiliate. For example, a large online store may create such an affiliate program to promote its products through affiliates. In contrast, CPA networks can gather offers from multiple advertisers, with the network acting as an intermediary between the affiliate and the client.

Here are a few more important differences between affiliate programs and networks:

  • Simplicity of collaboration. When working with internal affiliate programs, a novice will have to register, sign a contract, and negotiate collaboration terms with each advertiser separately, which often complicates the workflow.
  • Cost. Creating their own affiliate program is often not cost-effective for advertisers, as such platforms require significant financial investments. Therefore, most companies seek help from CPA networks for promotion.
  • Number of offers. It is obvious that CPA networks offer more products and services due to the number of advertisers with whom the network simultaneously works. These can be offers from one niche or even several niches if the network positions itself as universal.
  • Payouts. In most cases, the payout amount depends on many factors, but in affiliate programs, the advertiser does not spend money on intermediary commissions, so payouts to affiliates can be higher than in CPA networks.
  • Fraud protection. When working directly with advertisers, there are many risks associated with fraud. CPA networks, as a rule, guarantee fair and transparent cooperation, protecting both their clients and affiliates from risks.

Considering these differences, it is best for a novice to start working with an affiliate network. This collaboration format is characterized by simplicity and a wide variety of offers that you can promote. Moreover, in affiliate networks, affiliates can receive assistance from experienced managers and minimize risks associated with dishonest advertisers.

What to look for when choosing an affiliate marketing program

With each passing year, the number of affiliate programs and CPA networks increases. Choosing an affiliate from among them whom you can truly rely on can be quite challenging. However, there are criteria that should be given special attention, as they will help you make the right decision and start cooperation with a reliable affiliate.

Novices should take into account the following parameters:

Vertical. It is best to work with products or services that initially interest you. In affiliate marketing, you can promote offers from niches such as nutra, dating, finance, gambling, and other verticals.

Ease of use. It is worth paying attention to the platform’s user-friendliness, having a convenient and intuitive interface, and providing transparent sales statistics.

Support. When choosing an affiliate program or network, it’s important to look for those that provide qualified support to affiliates. Find out if the company has dedicated affiliate program managers who can answer all your questions and help resolve any issues.

Payment model. The majority of affiliate networks use the COD (Cash on Delivery) affiliate model. Under this model, the buyer pays for the goods only upon receipt, which means that the affiliate needs to wait for the goods to be purchased in order to receive their reward.

Payment size and frequency. It is important to find out in advance about the payment conditions provided by a particular COD affiliate network. Pay attention to the commission, payment model, and payment regularity in order to forecast your potential income.

Reputation. Look for as much information as possible about the affiliate networks you are interested in. It is important to consider how well-known and popular the network is, how many years it has been on the market, and what offers are presented there. It would also be helpful to review feedback from other affiliates who have experience working with these networks.

The nature of the products being promoted is of great importance for success in affiliate marketing. Depending on the advertised goods and services, different types of affiliate programs for affiliates are distinguished:

  1. Coupon affiliate programs. To increase sales, specially created websites with coupons, discounts, and promotional offers are used.
  2. Hosting affiliate program. One of the most lucrative formats of partnership with an affiliate program. Sales are made through affiliate links, and affiliates’ profits can sometimes amount to more than half of the hosting product’s cost.
  3. SEO software and WordPress themes. Among affiliates, this category of products is gaining popularity as it can bring in good profits. You can engage in the promotion of autoresponders, templates, plugins, and specialized marketing software.
  4. Health products. This category never loses its relevance, so many affiliate programs focus on promoting vitamin supplements, ointments, weight loss products, and other health and beauty products.
  5. eBay and other programs. Similar affiliate programs are suitable for beginners, as they offer a huge variety of products from different categories. By fulfilling all the program’s conditions, affiliates can expect a good income for promoting the advertiser’s products.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is a great way for beginners to make money online, gradually improving their skills and increasing their income. It is very important to choose the right affiliate program or CPA network for productive and mutually beneficial cooperation. To do this, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of key parameters that will help make the right decision.

With the right approach, proper strategies, and tools, anyone can become a professional in affiliate marketing. The main thing is not to be afraid to try something new and seek support from experienced affiliates with a good reputation who will answer your questions and help you overcome any difficulties on the way to success.