10 Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners in 2023
10 Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners To Make Money In 2023
Finding the best affiliate programs for beginners is one of the biggest challenges you'll face when starting an affiliate marketing business.
After all, there are a huge number of lucrative affiliate programs to select from.
The wrong affiliate program could set you back several months, while the right one could have you earning your first affiliate commissions before your site is even "finished.".
We're going to spend our time together in this blog post looking at the best affiliate programs for beginners since this is a question we get asked frequently.
We'll also make an effort to present you with a much more objective view of the circumstances under which joining an affiliate network is preferable to an internal affiliate program and the reverse.
Let's get started.
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners
ClickBank Affiliate Program
Fiverr Affiliate Program
Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
FlexOffers Affiliate Program
CJ (Commission Junction) Affiliate Program
Impact Affiliate Program
eBay Partner Network Affiliate Program
Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program
LinkConnector Affiliate Program
Awin Affiliate Program
1. ClickBank.
Another "grandparent" affiliate network is ClickBank, which was founded in 1998 and has been operating since then.
And it's a true "rags to riches" business story; it was founded by friends in a garage and eventually grew to a company with US$3 billion in annual sales.
The affiliate program creators at ClickBank turned the concept on its head by concentrating on selling digital goods instead of shipping goods, while every other affiliate program was attempting to figure out how to ship goods and still make a profit.
That meant they could collaborate directly with creators and receive content right away with minimal overhead. And even though they never would have predicted the existence of social media, their selection of products can also connect well with those markets.
All of their products are available on the ClickBank Marketplace, but they do now also offer some physical goods.
Despite looking like it hasn't changed since 1998, the Marketplace interface is usable. Despite being a minor complaint, it is in need of a makeover.
Check out our (well, Gael wrote it, so it's a collective we) article on how to make money with ClickBank if you need a little more assistance getting started as a ClickBank affiliate.
URL: ClickBank
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
Best suited to: Marketers who prefer promoting digital products
Payment threshold: $50
You get paid: Net 60
Pros.
Rarely does promoting a program require approval.
The most effective network likely exists for affiliate marketers who don't have websites.
The average sale price for their top-tier programs is around $50.
Promoting programs with recurring commissions will be a frequent opportunity for you.
The merchant's landing page handles the majority of the pre-selling for you.
Email marketing and social media can be used in conjunction with digital products.
It's incredibly simple to make your affiliate link.
Cons.
The Marketplace is still functional but looks outdated after 19 years.
The rate of refunds under some programs may be extremely high.
2. Affiliate Program for Fiverr.
It's likely that if you talk to many other affiliate marketers, they will all agree that selling services is typically much simpler than selling tangible goods.
The audience will handle the rest if you simply provide them with a list of service providers.
Fiverr took this fundamental idea and ran with it, making money off of the gig economy by monetizing the following areas of expertise: graphic design, marketing, writing, video and animation, music, programming, business, lifestyle, and industries.
Although you can sign up for their program on CJ.com, for the sake of simplicity we're going to concentrate on their internal affiliate program instead.
It might be one of the highest paying affiliate programs available. Depending on the service category you are endorsing, the Fiverr affiliate program pays up to $150 for each referral.
In contrast to some other affiliate programs, Fiverr offers a variety of ways for you to make affiliate sales, including their "Learn from Fiverr" courses where you get paid 30% per sale.
You can now find "lifestyle" services like crafts, tarot readings, and even relationship counseling on this gig marketplace even though its reputation was built on selling digital services like WordPress installations and backlink building.
Oh, and signing up for their affiliate program only takes a couple of minutes; all you need to do is enter your name, email address, and password.
URL: Fiverr affiliate program
Cost: Free
Type: Merchant
Best suited to: Any blog with a topic that is directly or tangentially related to a Fiverr gig category, although business-style services do tend to sell very well.
Payment threshold: $100
You get paid: Net 30
Pros.
Really nice affiliate interface—it's a breath of fresh air compared to others.
Since Fiverr is the industry leader, there is no real competition.
You'll always have something to sell as new services become available for purchase.
Potential for delectably high $150-per-referral commissions - there is opportunity to make a lot of money here.
Cons.
Any sales made to current customers are not compensated.
Some of the most well-known gigs will eventually move to their own website, similar to Etsy.
3. Affiliate program for Amazon.
One of the first affiliate programs to exist was the Amazon Affiliate Program, also known as the Amazon Associates Program. And it covers every item they sell online, so it's huge. As a result, if you can find something on Amazon, you can sell it and profit from the sale.
There is something for every audience, from books to bullhorns and everything in between.
Since it's so simple to use, especially when creating your first affiliate link(s), Amazon's affiliate marketing program is typically the first place we send new affiliates.
URL: Amazon Associates Program
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
You get paid: Net 60
The minimum payment is $10.
Ideal for: Newcomers to affiliate marketing who are creating their first website.
Pros.
Almost everyone is familiar with Amazon on a global scale.
385 million items are available for Amazon Associates to advertise.
You gain from their strong emphasis on customer service.
It's very simple to create and manage links.
affiliate dashboard that is simple to use.
Cons.
As frequently as they switch their underwear, Amazon changes their mind about commission rates.
The 24-hour cookie is by no means perfect.
4. FlexOffers.
By not standing out from the crowd, FlexOffers are able to stand out.
While the affiliate marketing sector is saturated with hype, FlexOffers stays away from it.
As an affiliate network, they humbly carry on with their work.
In spite of the fact that they host the affiliate marketing platform for organizations including Macy's, Walgreens, Kohl's, Hulu, McAfee, and AT&T, among others, they continue to do this.
They have 12,000 advertisers in total, but they only classify 500 of them as "premium" merchants.
The most suitable affiliates are those who require or desire access to the largest possible range of advertisers.
FlexOffers is the signup URL.
Offer types include: flat rate, per install, CPS, and CPL.
Payment options include PayPal, wire transfers, bank transfers, and checks.
Payment terms: Net 60
Payment threshold: $25
Pros.
They have an easy and welcoming onboarding process, and they even informed me when they found an error in my application.
Additionally, they accept applications from affiliates who use Wix or Blogger, which is a real novelty today.
A streamlined interface, which includes the ability to sort by 7 and 30-day EPC, makes it reasonably simple to browse through their thousands of advertisers.
Additionally, the Flex-Rev$hare program allows you to generate extra income. Here, a portion of the profits made by your sub-affiliates is paid to you.
Cons.
You only get a knowledgebase and an email address, which is both very obvious and very little in terms of customer support options.
Additionally, their selection of color combinations gives me a headache.
5. CJ Affiliate.
I've been using CJ Affiliate, formerly known as Commission Junction, since around 2002. It's one of the oldest affiliate networks out there.
CJ Affiliate is distinct from Amazon because it focuses on both large brands and independent vendors of goods and services.
As a result, as of the time of writing, they are representing enormous corporations like Zappos, Walgreens, Verizon, Under Armour, Trip Advisor, Staples, Sonos, Disney Shops, Sears, and Samsung.
and roughly 2,473 additional affiliate marketing schemes.
Along with the incredibly wide variety of brands and products, you also receive all the resources necessary to become a successful affiliate marketer, from first-rate support to straightforward affiliate link creation.
But what I really appreciate about the CJ Affiliate network is their metrics, which make it clear to me whether an affiliate program is profitable or not.
That saves so much time.
You can plan precisely which affiliate networks you'll promote and an estimate of the profit per sale since there's no room for guesswork.
URL: Commission Junction
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
Payment threshold: $50
You get paid: Net 30
Best suited for: Affiliate marketers with three to six months of experience.
Pros.
Easy-to-use dashboard and interface are perfect for new affiliate marketers.
under one roof, a ton of really well-known brand names.
(Flat fee and commission) opportunities for direct display advertising.
Without making a guess, you can find profitable affiliate programs.
Assistance and instructions make things very simple.
Cons.
On this network, well-known brands frequently come and go.
Compared to Amazon, there is a much smaller learning curve.
6. Impact.
Impact is, in essence, just another sizable affiliate marketing network (despite its claims to the contrary), even though it is younger than companies like ClickBank and ShareASale.
Age, however, is merely a number, so you shouldn't let Impact's relative youth deter you from enrolling. Commission Junction was founded by its founders, so they obviously know what they're doing!
On Impact, you'll discover a ton of well-known brands like Adidas, Airbnb, and HSBC, just like on the other well-known networks. At the time this article was written, 2,517 brands overall were utilizing the platform to connect with new audiences, and additional advertisers were consistently joining the network.
Impact has a much fancier user interface than most affiliate networks, which is not surprising for a (relative) newcomer to the affiliate marketing industry.
However, it includes some clever, user-friendly features as well, so it's not just about aesthetic appeal.
One of my favorites is the list of advertisers offering instant approvals in the "brands to work with instantly" section. It's an excellent feature that helps new affiliate marketers get up and running quickly.
URL: impact.com
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
Best suited to: Affiliate marketers looking for programs offering instant approvals
Payment threshold: Varies by payment method
You get paid: Monthly
Pros.
Brands that offer instant approvals are simple to find.
There are many affiliate programs to choose from (more than 2,500 as of this writing).
Over older networks, smart interface is more user-friendly.
numerous well-known brands, including Adidas and Airbnb.
There is a wide range of options, from B2B services to shoes and clothing.
There are various methods, such as PayPal and direct transfer, for you to cash out your earnings.
Cons.
For new affiliate marketers, the complexity may be increased by the abundance of features.
Although it's a small one, Commission Junction doesn't quite have as many well-known brands.
7. Network of eBay Partners.
We won't insult you by giving you a quick history of eBay because everyone is familiar with it.
But what began as a way for people to make a little money and clean out their garages has evolved into a global marketing platform for both small businesses and well-known brands.
Did you know that over 80% of the 1.4 billion listings on eBay are for brand-new goods?
It goes beyond serving as a market for secondhand items and/or trash.
Because of this, only a small percentage of newbies pause to give the eBay affiliate program a second glance, while the majority jump right into bed with Amazon (which is not a bad decision).
You deal directly with eBay because they run their own affiliate program and there are no "middlemen" in the process.
To do that, you must be able to establish a rapport with their group of affiliate managers, which could prove to be very beneficial to you in the future.
In conclusion, although the eBay Partner Network (EPN) affiliate program isn't perfect, it can be a great place for new affiliates to start out, typically in conjunction with the Amazon Associates Program.
URL: eBay Partner Network
Cost: Free
Type: Merchant
Best suited to: Anyone – if you’ve ever been on eBay you’ll understand why
Payment threshold: $10
You get paid: Net 30
Pros.
There is a very low entry barrier to the EPN, and newcomers are encouraged to join.
a well-known brand name worldwide.
Millions of items are available for purchase.
Here, you can provide visitors with real value for their money—often better than Amazon.
relatively high commission rates, which can reach 70% for each sale.
PayPal is a payment option for you.
Cons.
A session-based cookie would only be worse than a 24-hour cookie in this situation.
There are a lot of imitation/reproduction products on their platform.
8. Advertiser Rakuten.
Rakuten is a wholly Japanese affiliate marketing service provider, although you may not be familiar with them.
When they bought LinkShare back in 2005, they got their foot in the door of the affiliate marketing industry.
Since then, they have transformed the Rakuten Linkshare platform from a minor player in the market to a consistent winner of awards.
Is it therefore appropriate for affiliates who are just starting out?
The quick response is "Yes," but allow me to elaborate:.
The user interface is fairly typical of other affiliate networks.
They stand for over 1,000 brands and companies.
From flowers and gifts to consumer electronics and office supplies, their retailers offer everything.
The approval process might be lengthy because Rakuten is a major player in the affiliate marketing industry, especially if your site receives little to no traffic. This is the only potential drawback.
Having said that, most inexperienced affiliates tend to ignore the sleeping giant that is Rakuten.
I've never had a problem with them, despite some affiliates making the implication that this network is slow to pay out.
URL: Rakuten affiliate program
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
Best suited to: Affiliates who want to broaden their horizons beyond Amazon and eBay.
Payment threshold: $50
You get paid: Net 30
Pros.
There are many large brand affiliate programs here.
An interface that is functional and reasonably intuitive.
annually manages sales transactions worth over $100 million US.
one of the first affiliate networks.
Cons.
I look old using this interface.
I feel sick to my stomach about the lack of metrics data.
9. LinkConnector.
Despite being around for more than ten years, LinkConnector is rarely mentioned in roundups like this.
Although they may not be well-known, they have managed to sign some pretty notable brands, including Reebok, Levi's, Dockers, Omaha Steaks, Brain Sensei, and Deposit Photos.
This gives you a pretty good selection of both physical and digital products to market.
However, you'll also find a number of more specialized offers in their advertiser directory, which is quite varied.
10. Awin.
Awin, which at the time of writing had more than 16,500 advertisers and 225,000 publishers, can undoubtedly claim to be the largest affiliate network out there, despite the difficulty of quantifying such a claim.
It's a big deal because the platform generated 182 million sales in 2020 alone, and its affiliates shared in a $1 billion profit.
Not only is the network large, but it is also among the oldest. Even though Awin has only been around since 2017, the zanox and Affiliate Window networks, both of which got their start in 2000, can be seen as the network's forerunners.
Awin recently purchased ShareASale, another network on this list, as it was not content with just operating its own network. Successful affiliates are free to sign up for both since they run as entirely independent businesses with their own merchants.
There are many well-known brands on Awin, such as Emirates, Etsy, and Under Armour, as would be expected.
My favorite feature of Awin, as an affiliate marketer, is its dedication to prompt payments. You'll be paid for validated transactions regardless of when Awin receives payment from the advertiser, and many of its affiliate programs offer accelerated payments.
URL: Awin
Cost: Free
Type: Affiliate network
Best suited to: Affiliates who want to get paid promptly!
Payment threshold: From $20
Pros.
You won't have to wait around for commissions thanks to accelerated payments.
various affiliate marketing programs with a huge selection.
Clear, consistent labels and layouts on an intuitive platform.
Through your Awin dashboards, tracking is simple to understand and follow.
superior to most networks in terms of interface.
Many renowned brands to choose from.
Cons.
You'll have a lot of competition given that 260 affiliate marketers join the network daily.
Although it has a global reach, its focus is primarily on advertisers in the UK and the EU.
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A conclusion is reached.
And there you have it—our in-depth blog post on the top affiliate marketing initiatives for beginners.
In order to give you a wide enough selection of affiliate programs to choose from, we tried to cover as much ground as we could.
