I recently went through the process of explaining how affiliate marketing works, so that if you wanted to become an affiliate marketer, you would know where to start.  If you now know how it works and want to get started, the first thing you probably want to do is sign up for a few big affiliate networks so that you can join their affiliate programs.

There are a TON of affiliate programs out there, and quite a few affiliate networks as well.  Some are big and have hundreds of affiliate programs in them, while others have only the one affiliate program.  You’ll also find everything in between.

Here is a list of some affiliate networks that you can sign up for that will get you started.  Of course there are more, and in future posts I’ll list them, as well as go more into detail about the networks, but for now, here is a list of some of the big ones, and what they offer.  We are signed up for all of these, so I can tell you that they are real, and that you will get paid from them.

• Linkshare – They have hundreds of affiliate programs. Just to name a few: Orbitz, Toys R US, Macy’s, Walmart, Disney, and many many more.
• Commission Junction – They have over 1,000 affiliate programs. Just to name a few: Gap, Staples, Best Buy, Carnival Cruise Line, Ulta, and many more.
• Google Affiliate Network – They also have hundreds of affiliate programs. Just to name a few: Target, Barnes & Noble, Sears, Kohl’s, Nike, and many many more.
• Share a Sale – They have a lot of affiliate programs as well. Just to name a few: Checks Unlimited, Best Deal Magazines, Baghaus, Mario Badescu, Scrapbook.com, and more.
• Pepperjam Network – They have many affiliate programs as well. Just to name a few: Warner Brothers, Star Trek, Sesame Street, Jelly Belly, iGourmet, and more.
• Amazon – This is the affiliate program for Amazon alone, but considering how many products they sell (and at such low prices), they belong here.
• ClickBank – If you’re looking to promote digital products, this is the place. They have hundreds and hundreds of digital products to promote.