Most Popular Affiliate Programs and Upcoming Programs
There are an amazing number of affiliate programs available. It is
almost impossible for me to hit up every single one of them. The
important thing is to always keep an eye on the horizon to jump onto the
new options. One great place to monitor is the “Affiliate Programs”
subsection of DigitalPoint Forums. Major developments break pretty quick
here. Let's actually look at your biggest options available now though.
Clickbank
Clickbank is probably one of the best starting places for someone
interested in affiliate marketing. They have a huge number of products
you can choose. The only downside is that most of them are e-books. It
may not necessarily be a big downside. They really do offer one for
every niche. I've seen books for building a tiki bar and books for
buliding custom model airplanes. I'm sure you'll find something. The
real reason that they're a good starting point is that they're fairly
simple in the interface. You just have to sign up to start. You don't
need a website and there's no waiting period to pick up a product. All
you have to do is find the one you want in the directory and create a
unique “hoplink.” Then use it however you please.
Commission Junction
This is the more serious older brother to Clickbank. Commission
Junction (also known as CJ) is a professional directory with some big
name offers. Ebay used to work exclusively with CJ before they developed
their own program. That's basically the caliber you can expect. I've
seen of the biggest sites out there in the directory. If you are really
serious about being an affiliate, you'll find something in their immense
directory. The majority are pay-per-sale offers though.
The downside is that they are a lot more professional. Several
affiliates demand that you receive approval before you receive a
referral link. This means you'll need some type of related website
before they'll let you start. It isn't a big deal, but it is a little
limiting for new affiliate marketers.
Azoogle
Azoogle is the alternative to CJ. It is a similar website, but it
ultimately offers ads that are primarily pay-per-action. This works well
for people who don't want to sell actual products. Instead, the focus
can shift toward offers and programs that need signups. This is another
professional program that requires some level of initial commitment. You
do not have to sign up for individual offers though. You're already
approved. Just grab the link. Once you get rolling, it's mostly standard
marketing. They are very professional on the whole though. This means
that even small newcomers will have their own affiliate manager (unlike
CJ). They can give suggestions and give early notification on new offers
that you might be able to use. If you are really interested in being an
affiliate, this is a good place to start.
Individual Retailers
Don't forget about the programs that don't exist in directories.
Several private companies offer affiliate programs of their own. The
best example I can point out is GameStop. If you didn't know, they are
one of the biggest specialty video game retailers in the United States.
They offer their own commission based affiliate program through their
website and I haven't spotted it elsewhere. Amazon also offers their own
affiliate program. The point is that you shouldn't forget that some
programs exist outside the directories. Look around the big retailers
websites to see if they have a spot for affiliates. |
