I am going to try to start a simple, easy to understand thread here on Affiliate Marketing as I get a lot of questions on that so I know there are quite a few new folks that are trying to wrap their brains around the whole concept - just as we all had to at one point.... I am going to use Amazon as my spring board as they are considered the King of Affiliate Marketing. Don't ask me how they got started or when - I just know that they are the biggest affiliate network on the net right now! Basically what they are is a gateway to all the millions of products and services you can get thru Amazon.com... Amazon does the marketing, but they don't have to SHIP the stuff, STOCK it or HANDLE it... all they do is set up sites for people to come to, market products in oodles of ways, and make commissions when customers click and buy. They are the perfect example of what affiliate marketing is all about... The concept is so simple anybody can do it - from teenagers to grandmammas (and grandpappas ) 1) Set up a few sites such as blogs, websites, etc... 2)Find products or services to promote thru places like Clickbank, Commission Junction, linkshare and even Amazon itself.... 3) Link from your sites to theirs thru tracking links provided when you register with each company... and it is free to register , by the way... 4) This last step is by far the most important - and the most difficult to master... and that is learning how to get traffic to your websites. No traffic - no clicks - no commissions! Simple. So - anyways, I know there is a lot more we could cover but it will get covered with time as hopefully others will come on and share their experiences and tips for affiliate marketing.... This will hopefully help some light bulbs go on for those that are trying to get some light on the subject.
Good advice, mtnmom5. The big secret to making money online that I tell affiliate marketing newbies is WORK. No matter what program you choose or techniques you use, YOU WILL NOT MAKE MONEY if you don't WORK AT IT. Most people would not expect to keep their 9-to-5 job if they stood around all day and did nothing. But strangely, a lot of people think that it's different on the Internet, that the money magically flows into their bank account a few minutes after they put up a site. If they work hard, though, the money will come.
I know - and the beauty of it is that it really IS fairly easy once you get your brain wrapped around the concept of it all and then there is no limit to what you can do with it... all I need now is more time. lol