Choosing the right affiliate program can make the difference between being a successful affiliate marketer, and one that fails within the first few months. Super affiliates have this down to a science, but new affiliates can often be confused by the terms or requirements listed in the program's details.

There is a strategy to picking the top affiliate programs that can help you be more successful, however. This strategy is derived from the experiences of some of the highest-paid, most experienced affiliate marketers. What are the key differentiating factors that make a top affiliate program, and what should you look for to avoid frustration with a subpar program?

1. The product or service must be in demand. There must be some kind of interest in the products being offered, and you have to be able to substantiate the claims of the product's creators. Do your own research here, and work your way down from the top. Affiliate programs that are worth your time will be selling something that people actually need.

2. Good commissions. The commission must high enough to make up for your expenses, such as cost of buying pay-per-click ads. Avoid promoting products that have low commissions for affiliates. A top affiliate program will offer enticing commissions - 50% of a sale is typical.

3. Great Support. There should be some kind of obvious support structure in place that's offered by a top affiliate program. The support they offer should extend beyond a recorded message on a phone, or a form email in response to your inquiry.

4. Professional image. The copy on their sites should be written in a convincing and engaging way. A top affiliate program will be able to hire professionals to help flesh out their offerings. If there are obvious typos or poorly-written content, then the product they're offering may be of similar quality.

5. Trustworthy. A top affiliate program will display some kind of money-back guarantee in a prominent location. Those who fail to offer any kind of guarantee on their product may be producing something that is of poor quality.

6. Proven success. Top affiliate programs will have a history of success. If they can't prove they've been successfully promoted by a range of affiliates, then you should look elsewhere.

7. Buzzworthy. The top affiliate programs are often the ones most people are talking about. Professionalism will be evident in the breadth of their marketing campaign. If no one's heard of them, how can they be considered to be the best?

If you follow these guidelines, you'll find yourself in good company with some of the top affiliate programs available.