This information may be helpful for everyone, regardless of how long you have been in the affiliate business, or even if you are just getting started.

First, a good affiliate program can be hard to come by. It needs to offer decent commissions, accurately track sales, and most importantly, pay their affiliates in a timely manner.

Many webmasters and internet gurus are doing very well with only a handful of affiliate programs. Once you find a good one, you kind of seem to get stuck on it until you are positive you are making every penny possible.

Before spending a lot of time and money marketing an affiliate program, always check it out first. There are a number of ways to do this.

1. Search through the hundreds of affiliate directories online and look for comments about it.

2. Ask them how many affiliate they have, and what the top earners are making, as well as the average affiliate.

3. Give the program a trial run - just enough to make a few sales that will allow you to recieve a payment from them. This will ensure they pay as offered.

4. Keep records.

To see my affiliate program directory, please visit the Affiliate Program Directory .

About the Author
J. Ratliff is an affiliate marketer and author of the websites Affiliate Directory and Make Money Online.