Joining an Affiliate Program - A Newbie's Guide

With hundreds of affiliate programs available it can be a case of information overload when trying to decide which to join. Many offer extravagant claims while others are up-front. The question is which to join?

Available here is a list of criteria I personally look at when I'm researching an affiliate program to join. Feel free to follow these guidelines as you see fit. Nothing here is required; only recommended.

What does it cost to join?:

How much will this new and wonderful affiliate program cost you to join? Is it free or will you be digging into the piggy bank? Most programs are good about disclosing their costs to join. Others will hide the amount behind a link to get you more interested. If you look close enough you can find plenty of programs that are free to join, but will require you to purchase something from that program. It will be up to you to decide if the benefits you receive outweigh the cost.

How long is the landing or main page?:

I will admit this tip might not go well with some, but I have ADD and this does affect my decision about a program. So, when I come across an affiliate program I tend to look at how long the landing / information page is. If it is long enough that you have to page down more than a dozen times it might be too long and you could lose interest like I do. Yes, those testimonials are pretty and add some credibility, but just like with most everything else in life too much is sometimes not a good thing.

What are they offering?:

Any good affiliate program will offer some great benefits; especially if it is free to join. One program in particular gives you 30 leads each month as part of being a paid member. Another program gives you discounts on products for being a member. Look closely at what they're offering and decide for yourself.

What do reviewers say?:

When I first run across an affiliate program one of the very first things I do is to search for any possible reviews. Most Internet Marketers caught on to this long ago and post positive reviews for your viewing pleasure and to entice you to join. But, if you look close enough you should find some negative reviews. Be diligent in your search to find these so that you can get both sides of the story.

Lastly, where is the fine print?:

The fine print is important. Don't miss it under any circumstances. I once joined a program to make money and put up $2,089. After waiting a week to start my "training" I realized what a big mistake I made when that training was very sub-standard. As I was rereading my contract I noticed I had only 3 days from the signing to cancel. Lesson to be learned here: Read and reread every bit of information, contracts, and agreements as soon as possible. Know what you're getting into and how to get out if you need or want to.

Conclusion:

Joining an affiliate program can be either the best thing to happen to your income or the worst nightmare that keeps your wallet awake at night at the thought of losing more money than is coming in. Do you homework before you join any program and put all of your efforts into making it work. It won't happen on it's own; you have to make it work.