I’ve been talking a lot lately about affiliate marketing and affiliate programs because its something I’ve recently become interested in. It started out as just wanting to help out some friends by promoting their products.

After doing this a few times, usually by retweeting for them on Twitter, one of them said to me “You should sign up for my affiliate program!” I’m sorry…your what? So after she explained it to me, I found out some other friends had affiliate programs as well as some of my favorite websites and blogs.

Now I’ve branched out a little and I’ve started joining other affiliate programs, especially the ones I truly believe in and have no problem supporting and promoting, like SparkplugU and Wonderful Web Women. But I’ve also been doing some research and trying to find good affiliate programs. But how do you know what a “good affiliate program” is?

Finding a good affiliate program can make the difference between making pennies and making a good income from your affiliate recommendations. This is especially true if you are new to affiliate marketing, like me, and need a little hand-holding and support to get you started. Unfortunately, if you are new it can be a little daunting to try and figure out what you need from an affiliate program.

Here are three quick starter tips to help you ensure that your affiliate recommendations are always solid.

A solid product

It’s best if you’ve had a chance to experience the product you are considering promoting first hand. Like I said, my interest in affiliate marketing started out with finding products that I was already familiar with and enjoyed. This is often much easier with inexpensive e-books and other products with a low price point. If you can’t afford a product that you’d really like to promote, don’t be shy about asking the affiliate manager for a review copy. You may not always get a positive response, but it’s worth it to ensure your recommendations are always solid. And if the affiliate manager doesn’t provide review copies, some of them have free products – newsletters, ezines – that you can check out. For example, Moms Talk Network offers a free guide at Hot Mama Makeover that you can download and then promote as an affiliate.

A solid reputation

Do make a practice of being diligent in researching the products and companies you plan to recommend. As I mentioned, the first affiliate programs I signed up for were through people I already knew and that had a good reputation. But when you’re expanding your affiliations, do your homework. A quick search should ensure that the products you are considering have a solid reputation for quality and customer service. You don’t want to erode the trust that others have placed in you by recommending those with questionable histories. If it’s a new product or company, and you’re new to affiliate marketing, it’s likely best to pass unless you have a personal connection to the founders that assures you of their integrity.

Do they provide more than just a link to a sales page to help you promote the product?

A sales page might be a fine start if you’re an experienced affiliate marketer, but most newcomers need more promotion resources. Look for programs that provide you with graphics, sample emails, reprint articles and special reports. In other words, look for programs that provide marketing support and materials. Those are a great way to get you started until you’re comfortable writing about the products on your own. You can also use them to fill in or supplement your own promo writing if you’re having a bit of writer’s block or just don’t have the time to write your own.

To learn more of the basics of affiliate marketing, grab your free registration to Moms Affiliate Expo.

By Kelly McCausey

Once upon at time, and it really wasn’t that long ago – I thought affiliate marketing was something for other people. People with big lists and massive websites. If you’re having similar thoughts, let me tell you now, it’s simply not true.

You don’t need to build a list first. You don’t need to have all the pieces of your business plan in place first. You can get started with affiliate marketing with very little. In affiliate marketing, it’s okay to start small.

Of course, you won’t be making millions in your sleep overnight. That’s not what affiliate marketing is really about. It’s about recommending products and services that you believe will serve others in return for a small commission.

You’ll start small and grow slow, but you’ll be able to build a steady income over time. The beauty of affiliate marketing is the residual effects that are only evident over the passage of time.

I know I had my doubts. For well over a year, I resisted the lure of affiliate marketing. It wasn’t hard to convince myself that it would be a waste of time. Anytime I thought about it, my mind would answer “Who are you kidding? Who is going to buy from me?”

Self-doubt could be keeping you from achieving all you were intended. It gives me shivers to think what my life might be like now if I hadn’t started. Would I have been able to support my son as a single mom over these past years without the income earned through affiliate marketing?

As long as you are willing to commit yourself to working your business and are willing to learn, there is no reason you can’t reap the benefits of affiliate marketing for yourself. It really is a simple matter of deciding that you want to try and then finding the resources that will help you make the journey.

Lack of funds is not a barrier to getting started with affiliate marketing. In many cases, you can get started with no money at all, simply sign up for the programs that appeal to you and start promoting to your existing audience. If you don’t already have a blog and domain name of your own, it might cost $20 to get up and running.

So what’s stopping you from getting started?

Kelly McCausey is the mom behind Work at Home Moms Talk Radio and is hosting Moms Affiliate Expo, a free opportunity for moms to learn more about affiliate marketing.

If you’re an affiliate marketer or manager or you’re interested in finding out more info about how affiliate marketing can work for you, you won’t want to miss the Moms Affiliate Expo on September 11, 12, and 13.

The Expo will feature presentations by exhibitors, speakers and Q&A sessions, and lots of affiliate marketing opportunities. Stop by and sign up for the newsletter to receive updates and news about the Moms Affiliate Expo and browse some of the articles that are already available on the website.