Affiliate programs can be a brilliant way to start in the world of online marketing. An affiliate program is simply a way to earn money by promoting and selling other people products. The companies do all the work once the sale is made but it is up the affiliate to drive traffic (customers) to the site to make the purchase.
The majority of affiliate programs pay a commission as a percentage of the revenue generated by the sales made. Each affiliate is provided with a tracking number this allows the company to track sales and keep a record of where the commission should be paid.
Affiliate programs vary widely when it comes to the quality of the program and the reliability of the company and the commission paid which can be anything from 1% to 50% and the amount of training support and help you will receive from them.
Always research any program you are interested in and pick a product or service you feel comfortably with You have little chance of promoting and selling something that you yourself would not dream of buying or using.
If you are inexperience try to pick a program with a proven track record which will offer you the support, training and backup you will require Many programs offer you a website to give you a start but most do not offer the facility to build a subscriber list which is a must for anybody marketing. Most people once they get started work towards getting their own website and newsletters so they can build a list. The affiliate website is a great starting point use it to learn and educate yourself.
Ignore any program that offers get rich schemes. Nobody unless they have a list of thousands earns hundreds of pounds in the first month, an online business is just like any other business you have to work and learn and put a lot of effort in before you can reap the rewards.
If you do have you own site choose an affiliate program that compliments your own site. Its no good trying to sell baby products on a site selling history books the two just don't mix.
Even with the drawbacks affiliate programs are well worth investigated as a business opportunity with a little research and care over which you choose they can offer you a real chance without the necessity of a large cash investment to start your own business.

All the best

Sue.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am English married with two daughters and live near Nottingham in the East Midlands.I have been running my own business for the last year.