Affiliate Marketing : The best internet business idea!

Affiliate marketing is a "win/win" concept in which internet marketers pay you a commission for sales they make from your referrals. You don't need to maintain inventory, deal with customers, or even have your own web site (although it helps greatly) to be successful at affiliate marketing.

You don't need to have a product of your own to sell, because you are helping to promote someone else's product(s) on commission.

Affiliate marketing simply involves sending potential customers to the web sites of the companies you're affiliated with. You can focus on just one or two programs, or join as many affiliate programs as you'd like - the sky's the limit. Affiliate marketing is probably the quickest way to get a home business going with minimal cost.

Most affiliate programs are FREE to join, and you simply help the merchant get visitors to his or her site. If visitors you have sent make a purchase, you are paid a commission, often in the range of 20% to as much as 50%. You can generate these referrals by word of mouth, e-mail or by placing banners or links on your own or someone else's web pages.

Your unique affiliate ID code issued by the affiliate manager allows tracking of your referrals, so you get credit when they buy something. Some programs also pay a smaller commission on sales made through affiliates whom you have recruited, giving you a chance to earn residual income from your referrals. Each affiliate program has its own rules, which are outlined in the affiliate program agreement or the informational pages maintained by the affiliate manager.

To learn even more, review our affiliate marketing FAQ.

For those who are looking for just one or two programs to join to get a taste of what this is about, we also have a list of some of the most highly regarded affiliate programs, all of which also actively guide, assist, and "mentor" their affiliates.

Joining a top-notch affiliate program can be a tremendous education in itself, with a built-in opportunity to start an internet business. Be sure you check some of these out. Many successful people will tell you that having a mentor to guide them in the early stages of their career was a major contributor to their success.

Many affiliate programs offer ideas and suggestions on how to maximize your affiliate income, and you can also buy guides and "how to" manuals online (check out our bookshelf here).

Here's an outstanding affiliate program that I highly recommend. This is the largest program of its kind on the net, and offers its affiliates terrific support and suggestions for how to develop an online income.   Not only will you get free internet business training, you'll also have the opportunity to develop residual (i.e., recurring) income. This is the web site your boss doesn't want you to see.