Affiliate programs offer you a unique and very rewarding opportunity to make money. Whether you are in business online and are just looking for a way to multiply your revenue streams, or whether you are just starting a site and you plan to use affiliating as your sole means of income, there's a lot of money to be made. However, don't go jumping into the first affiliate program you find. There are some very important things you will want to know about these programs before you decide which one to join.

The first thing to look at in an affiliate program is who it caters to. Some of the affiliate programs are very specific in their clientele, such as gambling, sports, retail, wholesale, business-to-business, and etc. Be sure to choose those who are likely to have affiliates such as yourself.

Another thing to consider is the plan the affiliate uses. Is it PPC, PPL, or PPS? Depending on your goals, you may wish to select an affiliate program with a particular pay plan. Also look for whether the program offers tiers. It will be to your advantage to gain referrals to the program if they offer tiers, because you will make money off of your referrals' results as well as your own performance.

Take note of the commission that is paid. Look around and see if the other programs are similar. If you notice that one program pays 10% and another pays 30%, it would be silly to go with the one that pays less.

On the subject of commissions, make sure you know what the minimum payout is. Find out how they pay. Will they mail you a check, wire the money to you, use PayPal, or what? Also, be sure to check around and see if you find any indication that the program you are considering has a history of problems with commission payouts. This would be a red flag to steer clear of that company.

Beyond these suggestions, the best advice I can give you is to use good judgment. When you are looking at these sites, think about other things that may be important to you, and don't be afraid to submit questions to a representative of the affiliate program. They want your business, and they'll be happy to respond when they can. As with all things in business, be careful not to move too quickly. It may be that you passed over some detail of importance, and if you jump in too soon, you've made a mistake. But if you take a little more time to consider the decision, you'll make the right choice and join a great affiliate program.