Hustle Hack #24: Networks vs Individual Affilate Programs
Affiliate Networks vs. Individual Programs — Which Is Better for Beginners?
When you start out, you’ll face two options: affiliate networks or individual programs.
Networks (like ShareASale, ClickBank, or CJ) give you access to lots of brands and affiliate offers under one account.
- Pros: Easy sign-up, simple tracking, one payout source. Giant marketplaces typically offer easy approvals to sell affiliate products.
- Cons: They may not offer products that are a good fit for your audience.
Individual programs (like a course creator’s own affiliate program) often pay more, but require separate applications and tracking.
- Pros: You can tailor your offers to exactly the right product or service for your audience. Many of the big brands (Nike, designers, apps and software) have their own affiliate programs.
- Cons: You will have to manage many affiliate dashboards and payout rules and will need separate approvals to sell.
For beginners: networks = less hassle. They give you a platform that builds out a lot of your systems.
Once you start getting more experience, layer in individual programs for bigger commissions.
✨ Your Hustle Hack: Start simple, then scale.
👉 More beginner-friendly steps inside the Hustle Hacks series.
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