What I suggest to noobs is promote affiliate link through redirect from tinyurl or some other service like that. Do not promote all offers from just one network. Picks 3 networks. Never promote networks like CJ thru CL. ALways promote the ones which gives u direct access to ur affiliate manager. If u feel like u can even chat ur affiliate manager and ask if it will be proper to do that. u will be surprised many affiliate manager will say yes to go ahead with caution. In those circumstances, if they (affiliate company) gets paid u will get paid. However there is one out of thousand chance that end client terminates ur account and dont pay a dime for ur traffic, in those cases u wont get paid.

Overall just jump in. Dont worry about not getting paid. First make money then worry about getting paid or not