When trying to uncover the best affiliate programs, pay attention to to the ever changing market, and develop a networking plan that keeps you in the loop with other affiliate marketing gurus who often point out only the best affiliate programs. This helps you todiscover what your associates are doing profitably. This method can save you a lot of time and headaches, not to mention will put extra cash in your pocket.

Out of all the approaches to affiliate marketing that can keep you in the driver's seat, name capture and building a customer file is the most important. A lost visitor to your site is a lost sale. If you fail to gain the email address, you'll be throwing away all the great traffic that comes flooding in. Think of it as capturing the "opportunity" for profit in both the short and long term.

The Best Affiliates Programs Pay Residual Profits

One of the most important criteria for finding the "best affiliate programs" is to see if the merchant or vendor offers a subscription-based program. Perhaps a bi-weekly newsletter subcription or a monthly membership fee. And do you, the affiliate marketer get paid a residual income for each monthly renewal?

Consider this: it costs the same to promote and produce a one-time commission sale or a sale that will continue to pay you again and again based on a membership income model. So the best affiliate programs - those with the highest profit potential - are those that some type of reaccurring billing in place.

Second Best Affiliate Programs

The next best affiliate programs are those called multi-tiered programs. This commissioned program pay you a hefty commission for all personal sales and a commission for all sales made by those customers who have also decided to join the affiliate program in hopes of earning some wonderful extra income. It's a win-win structure for everyone.

You can also use a link such as cj.com to check a merchant prior to you jump into a program. Also, joining an affiliate program through an existing established means there are more eyes watching the merchant, which serves to raise the standards of the merchant's business practices. Smart affiliate marketing means more profit dollars paid to you in the end so make it a point to always attempt to locate and join only the best affiliate programs. Your pocket book will thank you in the end!