An affiliate program is only good if you get paid.
Period.
This might sound like a no brainer, but I read all the time about how someone got screwed by a program that “looked really good.”
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. If they are paying 200% more than their leading competitor, ask yourself why. Then do some homework and find out if anyone out there is having trouble getting paid by these programs.
learn to spot affiliate program trolls as well. There are paid posts on many forums that spout the miracle conversions of this or that new program. But if they are one post wonders and have no history with the forum, be skeptical. Odds say that they are trolling and their post has no merit at all.
Due diligence, this is your keyphrase when considering promoting a new program. The traffic is yours, thus the money it generates is yours too. Make sure you are going to get your fair share when all is said and done.