Are there any "best practices" for affiliate programs? (Or any that one wishes to make up on the spot?) I am aware that one should make an affiliate link look like a normal link and validate that the vendor is being honest with cookies. What else? Joe Jensen
Don't join any rubbish, make sure the affiliate program is reputable and has a good minimum payout level with many payout options. Also make sure that the affiliate program has a good sales team and website. At the end of the day, you are sending the traffic, but if the affiliates programs site doesn't look professional then it's going to put a dampers on your conversion rates.
Review the product and make the buyer interested in finding out more about the product from the product website.
vendor should also be honest with his affiliates and customers and provide good customer service and affiliate support.