Most affiliate effort is wasted on programs that cannot pay back the time. This lesson applies four numbers before you promote anything.
Commission per sale and conversion rate
What you earn per sale and what share of referred visitors buy, from the program’s published figures or a conservative estimate. Together they give earnings per visitor.
Cookie length and product fit
How long a referral is credited, and whether the product genuinely helps the people you write for. Fit is the number you cannot fake.
Score and choose two
The test sheet scores candidates on all four. Two programs to start, both products you have used or examined closely.
Keep scope small and finish it this weekend; a completed simple version beats an unfinished thorough one.
Use only claims you can stand behind in anything you publish from this lesson; invented numbers, ratings, or testimonials are never worth the risk.
Action Step
Score at least five programs on the four-number test and choose two to promote.
This lesson is educational content for founders and operators. It is general information, not professional advice for your specific company. Adapt every framework to your own situation and consult a qualified professional where a decision carries legal, financial, or tax consequences.