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Before you join an affiliate program, there are a few questions that you should ask.

Is there a cost to join? Nearly all affiliate programs in today’s market are absolutely free. Especially when first starting out and funds are limited, there is no reason that you would need to pay in order to join an affiliate program.

When and how often are commission checks issued? Each company will have its own rules. The two most common options are once a month or on the 1st and 15th of the month. Check to make sure you understand any payout restrictions based on a minimum amount of earned commissions.

How many hits does it take to get a sale – the hit/sale ratio?  This factor is highly significant because this will tell you how many hits you must get you can earn a commission from the transaction.

How will they track the referrals from your site and for how long will they stay in the system? You want to have confidence that the affiliate company has a solid mechanism for tracking the people that you refer to their program or product. After all, these statistics determine whether you get credit for the sale. The length of time that those people stay in the system as your referral is also important because some visitors don’t buy on the first visit but could come back later and make a purchase. You want to get credit for the subsequent sale if possible.

What type of statistics will the program provide? You want online real-time detailed stats.  You will be most interested in knowing the number of impressions, hits and sales generated from your affiliate site.

Does the affiliate program provide other incentives? Do they pay for impressions or hits or only for sales? Getting paid for hits or impressions will increase your earnings.

How much can you find out about the merchant? Is it a solid company? Are they offering quality products? Do they provide good customer service? Do they have an affiliate manager who is easy to reach?

Does the company pay on one or two levels or tiers? A single tier plan only for the sales that you personally generate. A two tier program pays you commission for your transactions as well as a smaller commission on transactions generated by affiliates that you refer to the program.

Lastly, what is the commission rate? You can usually get up to 75% for digital products. Companies that sell physical products are more likely to pay commissions in 5% – 20% range. Hits may bring .01% – .05%.

Take the time to complete your due diligence before choosing an affiliate program. Make sure that the company and the terms that they offer are suitable for your situation.

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