So you’ve picked your niche, started making content, and are starting to see some traffic on your site. Next step is to research what affiliate programs to join! With so many options out there it can be overwhelming. Most lists of the “best” networks I’ve found are actually lists of programs to promote.
When you’re just starting out, unless you know exactly what product you want to promote, joining a network with a wide range of options gives you the option of trying a bunch of different products to find the ones that work best for you. I’ve put together a short list (in no particular order) of the best networks for beginners with that thought in mind, so let’s get into it!
Amazon Associates
We all know the behemoth that is Amazon, and you’ve likely already heard of their affiliate program. You can buy pretty much anything on Amazon, which makes their program a great start for beginners.
Sign-up is easy, and once you’re approved you can easily copy an affiliate link for products you view on the site from the Amazon Associate overlay that you now have access to.
You make a commission on any sales made on Amazon within 24 hours of someone clicking your link. That means they don’t need to have bought the product you’re promoting to get paid. Even better, you get paid a commission on every item they purchase in that period!
Pros: Easy signup, large product selection, easy-to-use dashboard
Cons: Constantly changing commission structure, 24-hour tracking cookie
ClickBank
ClickBank is one of the original affiliate networks, they’ve been around since 1998. It’s an affiliate marketplace, where you can find products to promote directly from the company that makes them.
The network is free to join, with no screening process. The low barrier to entry makes it a great place for beginners to find products to promote directly, unlike Amazon.
It’s also an eCommerce platform for digital products, so if you decide to add your own product to your offerings you can sell it there!
Pros: Typically don’t need to be approved to promote a product, good selection of high-paying products, excellent payout track record, easy signup
Cons: Money-back guarantee means more refund risk (so you don’t get paid), you may incur some fees reducing your payout,
ShareASale
ShareASale is a somewhat lesser-know affiliate network, but its by no means one you should overlook. They represent over 5000 affiliate programs. Their focus is on small, profitable companies over large brands, so you can promote products from a diverse array of merchants spanning various industries.
Its interface is user-friendly and offers a comprehensive suite of tools connect with a diverse array of merchants spanning various industries. ShareASale provides also advanced tracking and reporting, which helps ensure you get accurate and timely payouts
ShareASale’s extensive merchant base covers everything from e-commerce giants to niche businesses, providing affiliates with a broad spectrum of products and services to promote.
Pros: Lots of products to choose from, great data on affiliate program performance, easy search for merchants, high program acceptance rate
Cons: Links aren’t WordPress friendly due to special characters, outdated website design, no way to verify links you use
Rakuten Affiliate Network
Rakuten is a global leader in e-commerce and online retail and also offers a substantial affiliate marketing network. And no, it’s not a new thing either, they’ve been running it since 2005.
Signup is easy but you do need an active website to finish. You’ll need to share your monthly traffic, but it’s not a deal breaker if it’s still on the low side for you.
With over 1000 brands to choose from, including some very big names, you’re sure to find something that fits your niche.
The UI is easy to understand, but it is…pretty dated. Like “hasn’t been changed in a decade” dated. That said you won’t have any issues finding programs, as it’s easy to navigate and search for them.
Creating affiliate links is also super easy, with a dedicated area of your dashboard for them with options including text/email, product links, and banners/images.
Pros: Lots of big-name brands to choose from, easy to navigate, easy signup process
Cons: Doesn’t show earnings per click estimate for programs, outdated interface, some users indicate low conversion rates
CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
CJ Affiliate actually started out in 1998, originally going by Commission Junction. They were acquired by ValueClick in 2003 and rebranded to “CJ Affiliate by Conversant” in 2014
Signup, like the rest of the networks I’ve talked about, is easy for new users. They do ask about monthly traffic in the signup, you can also select the “not launched yet” option if you’re still building. Side note: it’s best to build up even a small presence first before signing up for affiliate networks.
CJ stands out by offering tons of big-name brands, with a selection better than pretty much any other network. All told, there are almost 3000 companies to choose from, so you won’t be at a loss for options.
Ease of use is high, with a pretty uncluttered dashboard. Finding affiliate programs isn’t the best experience though. It takes some work to filter down to programs that fit your criteria.
Pros: Lots of big brands to promote, simple and easy-to-use interface, monthly payout
Cons: messy program filtering, can be hard to find programs in specific niches
FAQ
What is an Affiliate Network?
Simply put, an affiliate network is a website where you can find affiliate programs. These programs offer products you can promote to earn a commission (percentage of the sale).
What Kind of Affiliate Networks are there?
The list I made here is just a few of the options for affiliate networks. There are networks for specific niches, but you can also look for programs directly from the products or companies you want to promote. A quick Google search for “product name affiliate program” should turn up good results if that’s how you want to approach it. A network makes things easier by putting all those programs in one place to search.
How to Pick an Affiliate Network?
As a beginner, you should look for a network that has a wide range of programs to choose from, has a low barrier to entry (not looking for high site traffic), and has a history of regular, consistent payouts. You’d be safe to choose from any of the ones on the list above.
What’s the Difference Between an Affiliate Network and an Affiliate Program?
An affiliate network is an aggregator of different affiliate programs. Networks are sites where you can find products to promote from a variety of different companies, and conveniently filter them based on your chosen criteria.
An affiliate program is set up by the company that sells the product you promote, to create a framework for paying people to advertise their product. Think of it like this: as an affiliate, you join a company’s program to help sell their product, acting like an external salesperson.
