AFFILIATE MARKETING - MYTH OR MAGIC - IS IT THE WAY TO GO??

What is affiliate marketing? Before the computer and internet websites there were sales representatives, marketing representatives, and manufacturers representatives. What they all had in common is that they would represent and/or sell other peoples products. That is how they were affiliated with the people whose products they would market. Though they didn't formally go by the name, they could have been called 'affiliate marketers'.

Since the beginning of internet websites the term 'affiliate marketers' has evolved and is used to refer to those who represent or market other people's products on the internet. One of the big appeals of marketing on the internet is that for the most part you don't have to deal personally with the customer. Also, you don't have to maintain ledgers, arrange for advertising, worry about shipping products, or absorb overhead costs of business dress, travel or maintaining an office. You can work your own hours, in your own home, and for the most part on your own terms. Now that is appealing!

And yes, what you have heard is true: many have become millionaires as marketing affiliates, and many more are earning a comfortable living. But don't be taken in by all the hype. The truth is that the vast majority of those who try internet marketing do not succeed in making a living at it.The deeper you look into the field the more you will discover that those who succeed at it have invested a great deal of time and effort, and often money.

This fact makes it clear why all the programs on the web which promise overnight wealth are misleading if not downright scams.Success does not occur by paying for some overnight marketing tool promising immediate riches. If you choose to become an affiliate marketer you should be prepared to make a modest income, and to be very patient if you set your sights on a making more than an average income.

That being said, there are numerous websites and forums through which you can get a good insight into the world of marketing as an affiliate. I will list some of them below, and you can check them out.

The first program, regarded as the best for information on how to become an affiliate marketer, is Sitesell. They will provide you with a free 152 page book called "The Affiliate Marketers Course". It is regarded as the most authoritative online source on the topic. For information and your free copy click here: The Masters Affiliate Course

A jam packed reference and directory styled source of affiliate information is the website 'www.affiliatetips.com'. I would regard this a a must resource for any beginning affiliate.

There is an excellent and very clearly written free text for affiliate marketers available from the website "15DaysCash.com" It focuses specifically on setting up links without having to develop a full website, and especially on how to use adwords programs, such as Google Adwords. Just go to their website at "15DaysCash.com" and sign in for free as a member to download their free e-book.

A basic traffic building program which will help you identify and all importantly list your site on other site links is: LotusJump.com SEO Software - SEO Made Easy

Another way of accessing affiliate programs, to see what they offer, and what they can do for you, is to go to:Affiliate Marketing Once on the FreeAds Home Page, just type in 'Affiliate Marketing' in the search box at the right side of the top of the page.

Here is a unique tool for affiliates that captures visitors as they are leaving your website and converts them into paying customers. It is called Exit Splash. To check it out just Click Here!

The program known as Clickbank Pirate is a helpful one for new affiliates. It can save you a good bit of time and get you oriented into the Clickbank market which has proven to be quite profitable for many affiliates. For more info, just click here: ClickBank Pirate Program

For a good affiliate marketing program that will connect you with numerous merchants whose products you can market, be sure to check out Linkshare which you can join, free of charge, by clicking here:LinkShare Referral Program

I personally am impressed with the approach of the 'PPC Bully' program to help affiliate marketers identify profitable keyword and ad campaigns and to hook up with the proper merchants for good profits. They will also provide you with a free tool for using their method. To check them out, click here: PPC Bully

I believe the main substance of what affiliate tool programs have to offer is covered by the programs I have referred to above. I chose these programs because of their reputation as being affordable and legitimate. You will find scores of other programs advertising on the internet.

Because affiliates rely totally on linking, it is important to have a good handle on this activity. To establish links, both to other pages within your own website or to pages in other peoples websites, you need to use "html codes". These codes are in a universal computer language through which the desired communication (the desired linking) can be established. They are free and though - like any foreign language - they may be unfamiliar to you, they are not difficult to use. Some programs, like Sitesell will provide you with the information on where to acquire the html codes, and if you are a registered member with Sitesell they will even do most of the work for you in building your links.

While marketing as an affiliate is one of the major ways to use your computer to make money at home, it is not the only one. For a consideration of other ways lets go to the next page which deals with work at home programs. Just click below:

Work at Home