Where do I find affiliate products to promote?
A working knowledge of your topic and a basic google search will usually yield variety of affiliate options. Most websites that offer affiliate programs have a link in the footer of the site.
If your site is about something literal, like sewing or pet care, the knowing what to offer is pretty straight forward. For more abstract topics, like studying for a specific test or learning a skill (like how to tie you laces), then it you might have to get creative. Look at other sites on your topic and see what they are promoting. Amazon.com also has an extensive affiliate program, the commission is very low (4%) for beginners, but there is definitely something for everyone there.
How do I know if a product is any good?
The best advice is simple: don’t promote a product or service you have never used. If you find a product that you think would be useful to your users, but have never used it’s a good idea to try it out before you promote me. Order a sample or try out the service before you sell it. Remember, your word it gold. If your users try something that you recommended but turns out to be a fluke your credibility could be hurt.
Are there many affiliate scams that I need to worry about?
Once again, google is your friend in this respect. If the affiliate program you are wanting to join isn’t representing a very well known company( like amazon.com or ebay.com) then be sure to check out what other marketers are saying about it. As a whole it is to the benefit of the site you are promoting to be forthcoming with their affiliates, after all you are essentially giving them free backlinks and promotion.
Read the fine-print & all documentation pertaining to the program and make sure you are familiar with all the policies. This includes but is not limited to the payment plan and terms of payment, how long after the sale will your commission be accredited to your account, how long after that are you able to access it. Is there a minimum you have to earn before the company will deposit your earnings? Some affiliate markets, like Clickbank for example, charge you a monthly fee for any balance in your account if it is under $100.00, this can make it difficult to ever actually see your money at the beginning as your earnings are being cut into by clickbank, who also won’t allow you to retrieve your money unless you have over a hundred dollars. So, it’s a bit of a catch for start up marketers. Note, I’m not saying that Clickbank is a scam, there are many people that make a load of money using their services, but if you aren’t aware of the details you might end up with a nasty shock when you aren’t able to access your money.
What if I can’t find any products to promote?
If you are marketing in a micro-niche and are having a hard time finding products to promote this is where creating digital products that you can sell directly to your users is a great alternative. The whole process can be easily automated using paypal, but of course the book writing or digital media creation will come down to you. Adsense is also a great option to supplement this method of monetizing your site.