If you’re new to affiliate marketing, you’ve probably wondered where and how to buy an affiliate marketing course, and questioned whether you really need a course to launch your business and if so, how you should decide which course to buy.

Is an Affiliate Program Course Right For You?

The first thing to consider before you buy an affiliate training course is whether you need to buy anything at all. Affiliate marketing isn’t rocket science, after all, and there are plenty of free materials out there, this blog included.

I want to be clear that affiliate program courses are not for everyone. I only want to encourage you to buy a course if you are serious and committed to building an online business over time.

So how do you know if an affiliate program course is right for you?

You may want to consider an affiliate training course if you answer yes to any of the following questions:

  • Is this your first online business?
  • Do you need help deciding on a clear plan of action?
  • Do you want the help of a community as you build your business?
  • Will affiliate income be the primary source of revenue for your business?
  • Are you willing to commit to your business for several months or a year?

If you answered yes to any of the above then an affiliate course might be right for you. But, there are a lot of crappy programs out there, so how do you know which courses are worth your time and money?

How to Evaluate an Affiliate Program Course

Step 1: Develop Your Standards

Deciding on a training course begins with deciding what you want from a training. Write out a list of 3-5 things you’re looking to learn or services you would like to access. As you’re considering programs, weigh each program against your original list. Using

Step 2: Have a Firm Budget

You should decide on a budget before you begin looking for a course. This can be a tricky topic, because many courses are monthly, subscription-based programs, so be sure to think about your budget in terms of the entire course, not just the introductory offer. It’s common to pay $40-70 a month for a membership, or $200-500 dollars for an entire course.

Step 3: Evaluate the Course

If the course meets the criteria in steps 1 and 2, it’s time to get into some general points to consider.

  1. Quality of Material. Obviously the quality of lectures and handouts are an important consideration. To get you started, I’ve listed a few affiliate training programs I strongly recommend.
  2. Community Support. Personally, I think having an active community is one of the most important aspects of any training program. Courses that actively encourage community participation and feedback, like Wealthy Affiliate, make it easier to get over those first hurdles.
  3. Extra Services. Many of the top affiliate platforms, like Affilorama Blueprint or Niche Profit Classroom, include access to extra automation tools and software services. These can come in handy and end up saving you time and money down the road.

I know that the sheer wealth of options out there can be intimidating at first. I hope this article helps as you’re starting to decipher affiliate program course offerings. Also keep in mind that many programs offer free or very cheap trials, so it doesn’t hurt to sign up for a few introductory offers just to get a feel for which program you like best.