The #1 mistake new affiliate marketers make: they sign up for programs with the highest commission rates and wonder why they make nothing.

High commissions mean nothing if the product doesn't convert.

Here's what actually matters when choosing an affiliate program:

1. Conversion rate > commission rate. A program paying 15% that converts at 8% will outperform a 50% commission with a 0.5% conversion rate every single time.

2. Cookie duration. If the cookie expires in 24 hours, you're leaving money on the table. Look for 30-90 day windows minimum.

3. Recurring commissions. One-time payouts are cool. Monthly recurring revenue from a single referral is better. SaaS and subscription products are where it's at.

4. Real demand. Don't promote something just because the payout is nice. Promote what people are already searching for and buying.

I vet programs across all these criteria and share the best ones daily inside AffiliateEdge. If you're tired of guessing which programs to join, this is for you.