Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners

Ready to Start Affiliate Marketing? Here’s How to Find the Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners.

Starting affiliate marketing can feel overwhelming—there are hundreds of programs to choose from. But which affiliate programs are actually beginner-friendly and worth your time? Let’s break it down.

Some affiliate programs are hard to get into if you don’t have a big audience, while others let you start earning right away (even with zero experience).

I’ve done the research to save you time.

In this post, I’ll share:
✅ The best affiliate programs for beginners
✅ How to get approved quickly (even without a blog)
✅ Tips to start earning commissions faster

What to Look for in an Affiliate Program as a beginner

Not all affiliate programs are beginner-friendly—some require high traffic, a business website, or prior sales experience.

Here’s what makes an affiliate program great for beginners:

✅ Easy approval – No large audience required
✅ High commissions – Earn $20+ per sale instead of pennies
✅ Trusted brands – Products people actually want to buy
✅ Recurring earnings – Programs that pay monthly commissions

Tip: Some programs even offer referral bonuses, meaning you can earn just by recommending the program itself.

 Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners

These affiliate programs are beginner-friendly, profitable, and easy to join.

Blogging & Online Business 

 Tech & Software

 Finance & Side Hustles

Tip: Recurring commission programs (like Syllaby) are great because they pay you monthly as long as your referrals stay subscribed.

How to Get Approved for Affiliate Programs (as a Beginner)

Worried about getting rejected from affiliate programs? Here’s how to increase your chances of approval:

1. Have a Website or Blog (Even a Simple One!)

Most programs prefer affiliates with a website or blog. If you don’t have one yet, start with a simple blog on Hostinger.

Tip: If you’re applying without a website, mention your social media, email list, or marketing strategy in the application.

2. Be Honest About Your Traffic

Some programs ask for traffic numbers—if you’re new, it’s okay to say you’re just starting.

Example Response: “I’m building a blog and Pinterest strategy to drive targeted traffic to my content.”

3. Choose Programs That Accept Beginners

Some affiliate networks (like Rakuten, Chime, and Fiverr) don’t require a website, making them perfect for first-time affiliates.

4. Personalize Your Application

If a program asks why you want to promote them, write a genuine response instead of leaving it blank. Use ChatGPT if you need further assistance. 

Example: “I use Canva daily for Pinterest marketing, and I’d love to recommend it to my audience of beginner bloggers.”

How to Get Your First Affiliate Sale (as a total beginner)

Once you’re approved, it’s time to start earning commissions! Here are the best beginner-friendly ways to get referrals:

✅ Write a Blog Post – Review or recommend products in a helpful, non-salesy way
✅ Use Pinterest for Traffic – Create SEO-optimized pins linking to your blog (Learn how here)
✅ Share on Social Media – Instagram, Facebook groups, TikTok, and Twitter work great
✅ Offer a Free Guide – Share valuable info and include your affiliate link naturally

Tip: “Soft sell” your affiliate links—focus on helping, not just selling. (Example: Instead of “Sign up for Syllaby!” say “Here’s why I switched to Syllaby for content creation.”)

Final Thoughts: Start Earning with Beginner Friendly Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to start making passive income, but the key is choosing the right programs and promoting them the right way.

✅ Pick beginner-friendly programs (like Hostinger, Canva, & Rakuten Ads)
✅ Follow the approval tips to get accepted faster
✅ Use Pinterest & blog posts to get referrals