True, there are thousands of affiliate programs out there. But choosing the best is not an easy thing to do. You can waste a lot of time and money if you promote the wrong affiliate program, that is.

Here are the things to consider in choosing the suitable affiliate program for you:

Demand. Is there a demand for your product? Do you have a clear initiative on how to reach people and drive them to your website?

Conversion. Do you think the sales page of the product will convert many visitors into shoppers? Is your product enticing enough to lure shoppers into buying it? If you feel the product won't sell, you are probably right.

Commission. Is the commission rate high enough? Digital products such as e-books more often than not offer huge commissions (about 50% and up). Physical products (those that need shipping) usually pay 10% or less. Compare the affiliate program to identical ones in the same industry to see if the commission rate is fair.

Quality. Do you believe in the product? Would you be proud to promote it? If you have reservations, forget about it.

Tracking. When promoting affiliate programs, keep track of everything. When you gather enough data to do the comparison, drop those programs that are unprofitable and concentrate on the ones that make you money.