If you’re going to do all the work necessary to get affiliate sales, you’ll want to be sure that you’re going to get paid for your efforts. How can you find an affiliate network you can trust?

1. Look for longevity. Affiliate programs that don’t pay out on a regular basis don’t last long. Upset and wronged affiliates will talk and they will spread the word online, bringing down bad networks relatively quickly. If a program has been around for awhile, there’s a good chance that it’s going to pay up the way it should.

2, Do your homework. Hit the message boards and forums to find out what others are saying. Do a few searches for reviews and comments. Don’t put much stock in those that are actively encouraging participation. Seek out genuine reviews and find out what others have to say.

3, Look at the products within the network. Are they new or unknown? Do they seem scammy? If so, stay clear or approach at your own risk. The best affiliate networks attract the best affiliates. The bad ones? Not so much.

With a good bit of due diligence you will find a network you can trust.