Books Affiliate Programs

Below is a list of affiliate programs for businesses that sell books, music, and videos, with the best affiliate programs listed first.

Be sure to read the fine print when joining any of these affiliate programs. Some insist on exclusivity, or they may only pay for items that you link directly to, or you may find other problems. Even though it is in their best interests in the long term, do not assume that an affiliate program will treat you as a true partner.

• Shoplet.com - This site sells books, software, games, and hardware online. Many of the software items are downloadable. Online stats are updated daily. Commissions vary depending on the item, with software games paying a high of 10 percent, and computer hardware paying a low of 3%. Books sales pay an 8% commission. A nice touch is that they do allow you to use images and other info from their site to promote their products. You can link directly or use their search engine. Online stats are updated daily, and commissions are paid quarterly on amounts over $100. Except for this amount, which is very high, and the quarterly payments, which should be monthly (especially with this high of a minimum payout), this program looks very promising for larger sites.
• Amazon.com - This is the program that started the affiliates program trend. Amazon.com has made improvements to their affiliate program since the early days, and they now pay for all items sold, even if you do not link directly to that item, though you get as much as 15% for a direct link and only 5% for other items sold. They pay quarterly and only send out stats via email once a week. Amazon also now sells music and videos, as well as other gift items. They also have extensive product info and reviews, which make Amazon.com a good affiliate program for my site. There is a link to their affiliate program page at the bottom of their main page.
• Barnes & Noble - Barnes & Noble's affiliate program offers up to 7% on book sales but you must sell a huge amount to receive more than 5%. They also offer magazines and software for sale for which they also offer commissions. They only pay quartlerly, and you only get paid if the amount owed you is over $100. They also insist on exclusivity. They do offer daily sales stats.
• BooksNow - This affiliate program offers an 8% commission on all sales. They do provide daily stats online, though they don't make that clear on their web site. They sell both books and magazine subscriptions. They also offer a special program for larger sites. You can find a link to their affiliate program on their main page.
• BusinessBookPress.com - This affiliate programs is aimed at business web sites and offers 30% commissions on sales of their books. They pay monthly on amounts over $25. They do not have online stats, but I was told that they are tying in a notification system with their shopping cart so that an affiliate will be notified when a sale is registered.
• Book For Cooks - This affiliate program is administered by Commission junction and offers a 7 percent commission. Real-time online stats are provided, with monthly payments on amounts over $20.
• TheWell.com.au - This Australian bookseller offers 10% commission from their affiliate program. They pay monthly on amounts over $10. Online sales stats are available and are updated as sales are registered.
• Spree - Spree.com has a complicated affiliates program with the longest operating agreement I have seen. You should visit their site, if interested, and read all the fine print, and consider their previous bad reputation for trying to take advantage of their affiliates.