A merchant or advertiser site is a reflection on your affiliate site, so you need to choose wisely. Some tips: Have a plan. Make a list of the kinds of products and services your site visitors will expect.

Never take for granted the description of the site, and dont just do a quick look. Its easy just apply to many programs on an affiliate network site such as Commission Junction and LinkShare, but see for yourself what you think of a merchant and their offerings. Go through prospective sites and their content, if it isnt just a shopping site. Does the site have the same point of view as your site visitors?

Is the site high quality? Good images and descriptions of the products or services? Is the selection or range of products good? Use the shopping cart and take a purchase almost to completion. Was it easy? If the product or service appears to be important to your site visitors, buy one.

See how the fulfillment experience is, and how the company interests with you, a customer in your site visitors shoes. Do the products duplicate those of a vendor you already have a relationship with? Be sure you are adding value, not clutter or dilution. Remember a merchant will want to see a certain amount of sales from you in order to continue a relationship with you.

Are there sites you would like to have a relationship with that dont appear to have affiliate relationships. If theyre important, contact them, market yourself, and propose a relationship. This adds tremendous value to your site by giving your site visitors something they would be unlikely to get elsewhere.