An affiliate network acts as an intermediary between publishers (affiliates) and merchant affiliate programs. It allows website publishers to more easily find and participate in affiliate programs which are suitable for their website (and thus generate income from those programs), and allows websites offering affiliate programs (typically online merchants) to reach a larger audience by promoting their affiliate programs to all of the publishers participating in the affiliate network. (Source – Wikipedia)
In the case of an affiliate network, you do not need to sign up with the individual merchants in the network; you just need to sign up with the network. If the affiliate network approves your application, you can begin choosing affiliate programs from different merchants that interest you. Once you have chosen the affiliate programs, the merchants running these programs will review your website or blog. If they approve you, the affiliate network will walk you through the process of posting the appropriate links, which come directly from the network's site. They will also establish payment arrangements with you.
The widely acknowledged top 5 affiliate networks are:
- Commission Junkie – Deals with brands with physical products as well as services. Click Bank – Deals with information products and software Amazon – Deals with all products sold on Amazon Linkshare – Deals with products sold on Japanese marketplace, Rakuten E-Junkie – Deals with information products
If you are really serious about earning passive income as an affiliate marketer, check out the Super Affiliate Handbook by Rosalind Gardner. This is a comprehensive course on how to monetize your website and blog as an affiliate marketer and is highly recommended.
