The Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners: Where to Start

Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible ways for beginners to start earning money online. Whether you’re running a blog, creating YouTube videos, or sharing recommendations on social media, affiliate programs offer a fantastic opportunity to monetize your content. However, with so many programs available, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best affiliate programs for beginners, explain how they work, and give you tips on how to succeed as an affiliate marketer.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where you earn commissions by promoting other people’s products or services. When someone makes a purchase using your unique affiliate link, you earn a percentage of the sale. It’s a win-win situation: the company gets more customers, and you earn passive income from the sales you generate.

The key to affiliate marketing success is choosing the right products and services to promote—ones that align with your audience’s interests and offer generous commissions.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs

Before diving into the best programs, it’s important to understand what makes an affiliate program ideal for beginners. Here are a few key factors to consider:

Ease of Approval: Some affiliate programs require a large audience or significant traffic before approving you. For beginners, it’s important to find programs with low barriers to entry.
Commission Rates: The percentage of commission you earn per sale varies from program to program. Look for affiliate programs that offer competitive commissions so that your efforts are well rewarded.
Cookie Duration: This refers to the length of time after someone clicks your affiliate link that you can still earn a commission. The longer the cookie duration, the more time you have to benefit from the sale.
Payout Threshold: Some programs only pay you once you’ve earned a specific amount, while others offer more flexible payout structures. It’s helpful to choose programs with a lower threshold to get paid sooner.
Product Alignment: Make sure the products or services you promote are relevant to your content or audience. Promoting items that genuinely interest your followers will lead to higher conversions.

The Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners

1. Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is one of the most popular affiliate programs for beginners, and for good reason. It’s easy to sign up, and you can promote a huge range of products from one of the world’s largest online marketplaces.

Commission Rate: 1-10% depending on the product category
Cookie Duration: 24 hours (extended to 90 days if a product is added to the cart)
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Amazon’s product range is vast, meaning there’s something for every niche. Plus, people trust Amazon, so conversions tend to be high.

2. ShareASale

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that offers access to thousands of affiliate programs across various industries. It’s beginner-friendly and offers products from both big brands and smaller businesses.

Commission Rate: Varies by merchant (typically between 5% and 30%)
Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant (can be up to 30-60 days)
Why It’s Great for Beginners: ShareASale is easy to navigate, and with so many merchants to choose from, it’s simple to find products that align with your niche.

3. CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction)

CJ Affiliate is another affiliate network that provides access to numerous brands and merchants. While it’s a bit more selective than some other networks, it’s still accessible to beginners with a decent website or online presence.

Commission Rate: Varies by merchant
Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant (typically 30 days)
Why It’s Great for Beginners: CJ Affiliate works with reputable brands, offering beginners the chance to promote well-known products. Their dashboard is also user-friendly, making it easy to track performance.

4. Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten Advertising (formerly Rakuten Marketing) is a global affiliate network with access to well-established brands. Like CJ Affiliate, it’s slightly more exclusive, but beginners with a growing online presence can still get approved.

Commission Rate: Varies by merchant
Cookie Duration: Varies by merchant
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Rakuten works with high-quality merchants, and their tracking tools make it easy to monitor your progress.

5. ClickBank

ClickBank specializes in digital products such as e-books, online courses, and software. It’s an excellent option for beginners because it’s easy to get approved, and the commission rates are often higher than physical product affiliate programs.

Commission Rate: 10-75%, depending on the product
Cookie Duration: 60 days
Why It’s Great for Beginners: High commissions and easy approval make ClickBank a fantastic starting point for those who want to promote digital products.

6. Etsy Affiliate Program

If you’re into promoting unique, handmade items, the Etsy affiliate program could be a perfect fit. Etsy allows you to promote their vast marketplace of crafts, art, and vintage products.

Commission Rate: 4-8%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Etsy products are highly attractive and cater to niche markets, making it easy to align with various audience interests.

7. eBay Partner Network

The eBay Partner Network allows you to promote products from one of the largest online auction sites. This program is beginner-friendly and offers a wide variety of items to promote.

Commission Rate: 1-4%
Cookie Duration: 24 hours
Why It’s Great for Beginners: eBay is a trusted platform, and the auction model can drive conversions as users look for deals.

8. Fiverr Affiliate Program

Fiverr is a marketplace for freelance services, offering everything from graphic design to writing and marketing services. Fiverr’s affiliate program allows you to earn by promoting their gigs.

Commission Rate: $15-$150 per referral, depending on the service
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Fiverr has a low entry barrier and offers a wide range of services that appeal to different audiences, making it a great choice for promoting to freelancers, entrepreneurs, and business owners.

9. Awin

Awin is another global affiliate network that works with a broad range of merchants, from fashion retailers to tech companies. It’s accessible to beginners and offers a wealth of product options to promote.

Commission Rate: Varies by merchant
Cookie Duration: 30 days (varies by merchant)
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Awin’s extensive network of merchants ensures you’ll find products that match your audience’s needs. The platform is also easy to navigate, which is great for beginners.

10. Teachable Affiliate Program

If your audience is interested in online education, the Teachable affiliate program could be a perfect fit. Teachable allows individuals to create and sell their own courses, and you can earn commissions by promoting their platform.

Commission Rate: 30% recurring commissions
Cookie Duration: 90 days
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Teachable is an excellent platform for beginners looking to break into the online course market, and the recurring commission structure makes it appealing for long-term earnings.

How to Succeed as an Affiliate Marketer

Choose a Niche: Focus on a specific niche that you are passionate about and that aligns with your audience. Whether it’s fitness, fashion, tech, or personal finance, specializing in one area will make it easier to build authority and trust.
Create Quality Content: Your affiliate links should naturally fit into high-quality content. Whether you’re writing blog posts, creating YouTube videos, or posting on social media, focus on providing value to your audience. Product reviews, tutorials, and how-to guides are great for incorporating affiliate links in a way that feels natural.
Promote Products You Believe In: Authenticity is key in affiliate marketing. Promote products and services you genuinely believe in and that fit your audience’s needs. This will lead to higher engagement and better conversions.
Use Multiple Platforms: Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. Use your blog, social media, email marketing, and YouTube channel to promote your affiliate links and reach a broader audience.
Track Your Performance: Most affiliate programs provide analytics tools that allow you to track your clicks, sales, and commissions. Monitor your performance to understand what works best for your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Affiliate marketing is a fantastic way for beginners to start earning money online, and choosing the right affiliate programs can make all the difference. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your affiliate marketing efforts, the programs listed above offer great opportunities to generate passive income.