Major Affiliate Networks

• Comission Junction:

  Commission Junction is the most popular affiliate network, because it is also the most versatile. You can choose among topic-classified affiliate programs (CJ owns a huge inventory) and you can learn a lot about managing your affiliate account at their help center called CJ University. The intranet-style email system is more spam protective than if you were to use your usual email.

  There’s no way you can’t find affiliate programs to suit you on Commission Junction. There are tens of thousands of programs, and most of them are glad to automatically approve you.

• ClickBank:

  ClickBank is a famous affiliate network that only markets downloadable products, especially e-books and software products. Its popularity stands proof for its profitability. ClickBank is cheap and easy to join. For merchants, the possibility to deliver the products online is a binding requirement.

  If you want to join ClickBank as an affiliate, you must pay it 7% plus $1.00 for each sale you make. The commission is identical for merchants. There’s a risk that customers of yours buy through their own link – that would mean some commissions lost. The commissions at ClickBank tend to be very good – 30% to 50% of each sale. Click Bank sends you checks every two weeks.

• LinkShare:

  One of the largest and most trusted affiliate networks today is LinkShare. Over 600 merchants and 10,000,000 affiliates are using it. As an affiliate you’ll get the occasion to promote a wide range of products (various categories like music, books, fashion, computers, flowers) and some big name companies (Dell, Disney, American Express and others).

• Shareasale:

  Shareasale promises a lot – with 400 merchants plugged into it already. The commissions are good. Usually you need to pay 20% of your affiliate revenue to Shareasale. This is not the highest price (there are networks that ask for 30%). No need to buy additional software to use it.

• ClixGalore:

  ClixGalore joins more than 1,300 merchants offering over 2,450 programs. Mostly attracts small to medium business with its easy-entry policy (all applicants are automatically accepted). However, the campaigns don't run if the merchant hasn't prepaid, a good insurance for affiliates. The upsides: offers 2Tier Affiliate referral payment management system and pay-per-click campaigns for approved sites.

• clickXchange:

  clickXchange is a medium-sized affiliate network (around 250 programs from smaller scale companies). Becoming an affiliate to them has its ups and downs. Recommended because it’s easier to join (no minimum payout and accepts anyone that wants to sign-up). Its only drawback is the quality of merchants that is bellow average.

• Performics:

  Performics is yet another one of the big players. Here are some advantages if you use it:

  • One-stop shop for all pay per click programs;
  • Loyal distributor network.
  • Centralized tracking technology.

  Performics has big range clients like America Online, Bose, CompUSA, Eddie Bauer, HP Shopping, L.L.Bean, RedEnvelope, Verizon Wireless and many more. The network is owned by Double Click.

• TradeDoubler:

  TradeDoubler is a European network gathering mostly affiliate programs from that region. It offers a multilingual platform and some other nice-to have services including a content generator to increase the speed at which you generate commissions, and a good level support. The merchants are mostly big brand names.

• AffiliateWindow:

  The Affiliate Window is a UK based company and it may be forgiven for offering a merchants base of only up to 50 merchants. Linking possibilities are flash banners, pop ups or even auto-content.