Best affiliate programs for beginners, by type

Lesson 2 of 6 · all lessons

Kinds of affiliate programs for beginners

Programs come in a few kinds. The names below are examples of each kind, not a ranking.

Big retailer programs

One store with a huge range, such as Amazon Associates. Good when your picks come from many brands.

Brand programs

Run by one brand on its own website. Search its footer for "affiliates" or "partners".

Affiliate networks

One account, many brands. You still apply to each brand, and each brand sets its own rules.

Creator storefronts

A page of your picks on a retailer's site, such as Amazon's influencer storefront.

In-app programs

Shopping tools inside an app, such as TikTok Shop's affiliate program. The app decides who can join.

Pick the kind that matches where your products come from. A skincare creator who loves one brand starts with that brand. A home cook who buys from many stores starts with a retailer.

Checks before you join a program

Your account	A first program to try	Why it fits
Baker	The brand of mixer or flour you use	People ask about your tools under every bake
Fitness coach	The brand of bands or shoes you train in	One product appears in every workout
Skincare creator	The skincare brand on your shelf	Routine posts show the same bottles each week
Podcaster	A retailer that sells your microphone and headphones	Listeners ask what you record with
Home cook	A big retailer program	Your pans and gadgets come from many brands

Read these in the program's terms

What you earn per sale, and on which products
How long the cookie window lasts
The payout minimum and how you get paid
Where links may go, such as messages or print
Rules on prices, photos and brand names
The disclosure wording the program asks for
Which country's store pays you
What gets an account closed

Becoming an Amazon influencer

Many beginners search for this program first. It is a creator storefront, and its rules show what to read in any program.

Amazon's program policies let you show a price only when Amazon supplies it. So add Amazon picks to your bio page as link blocks with no typed price.

Amazon also asks for its own disclosure line. Lesson 5 gives you the exact words.

1
Join Amazon Associates
People in the Amazon Influencer Program are Amazon Associates first. Associates is Amazon's main affiliate program.
2
Apply with your social account
Amazon reviews your followers and how people engage with your posts. Check the current rules on Amazon's influencer page.
3
Fill your page on Amazon
Approved creators get their own page on Amazon, at an address like amazon.com/shop/yourname. You fill it with products you recommend.
4
Share it like any other link
Put the storefront or single products on your bio page. You earn on purchases in a similar way to Associates.

Application lines to copy

Application forms ask the same few questions. Short, true answers work best. Change the details to fit your account.

Copy, then change the details

Website or profile address
more.you/yourname, my bio page with the products from my videos
How you promote products
Short videos on Instagram and TikTok. Each video shows one product I use. The link sits on my bio page with a paid link label.
Your audience
Home bakers who want bakery bread from a small kitchen.
Message to a brand with no public program
Hi, I have used your flour in my bread videos for a year. Do you run an affiliate program for creators?
Follow-up after one week
Hi again. I would still like to share your flour with my followers. Who can I talk to about an affiliate link?

Beginner program mistakes

MistakeJoining ten programs in one week

FixJoin one or two. Learn their rules and their reports before you add others.

MistakeChoosing by commission alone

FixA high rate on a product you never use earns nothing. Choose products you would buy again.

MistakeSkipping the rules on where links may go

FixSome programs limit links in messages or in print. Read the section on how you may promote.

MistakeA typed price on an Amazon pick

FixAdd Amazon picks as link blocks. Amazon's rules allow a price only when Amazon supplies it.

MistakeIgnoring the payout minimum

FixCheck how much you need before you get paid and how the money arrives. Send your tax details when the program asks.

Your task this week

1
Write down where your three favourite products are sold.
2
Find one retailer program, one brand program and one storefront for them.
3
Read each one's rules on commission, cookie window, payout minimum and links.
4
Apply to the best fit with your bio page address.

You are done when you have applied to one program and saved its rules in your notes.

Next lessonAffiliate marketing on Instagram with posts, Stories and your bio

Questions

Which affiliate programs pay the best?

No single program pays the best for everyone. A lower rate on a product your followers buy often can earn more than a high rate on one they ignore. Compare the commission, the cookie window and what your followers already ask you about.

How do I become an Amazon influencer?

Join Amazon Associates, then apply to the Amazon Influencer Program with your social account. Amazon reviews your followers and engagement. Approved creators get a page on Amazon to fill with picks. Check the current rules on Amazon's influencer page.

Do I need an LLC to be an affiliate marketer?

Many programs accept people who apply as individuals. They ask for tax and payment details before they pay you. Whether you need a company is a question for an accountant in your country.

Can I join affiliate programs with a small account?

Often, yes. Each program sets its own rule. Some ask for a follower minimum, and some review your posts instead. Read the application page before you apply.

What is the best way to start affiliate marketing?

Start with three products you use and one program that pays for them. Put the links on your bio page and post about one product at a time. Lesson 1 has the four steps.

Sources

Sources checked on 11 November 2026.

Best affiliate programs for beginners, by kind of program