This is a short list of the successful affiliate program:

• Usability of the program's website.
  
• Quality of the program's landing pages.
  
• Efficiecy of the program's shopping cart.
  
• Questions are answered on the website.
  
• Not overplaying the ability to phone in orders.
  
• IF price is an issue (commodity) the business price is competitive.
  
• Is the offer is a commodity, it is a value-added proposition.
  
• An affiliate manager exists with some track record of "doing the job well".
  

  For all the reading and research, I don't find even the best affiliate managers (by reputation) doing a particularly effective nor convincing job of getting or presenting the proof of the readiness of any program OR proof an existing program IS top shelf. I find it troubling given the business IS marketing.