What is Affiliate Marketing, Anyway?

af·fil·i·ate [v. uh-fil-ee-eyt; n. uh-fil-ee-it, -eyt]: a person who is affiliated; associate; auxiliary.

mar·ket·ing [mahr-ki-ting] the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer.

One of the easiest ways to make money on the Internet or off-line, has to be Affiliate Marketing. It is the perfect place to start for beginners who are eager to see some – any profit, as most programs make monthly or bi-monthly payouts. You don’t have to have a product of your own, just promote your partner’s item, whether it is an e-book, a membership site, or a physical item.

We’ve all seen the Avon Lady, leaving the current campaign booklet on doors throughout our neighborhoods. This is a perfect example of off-line affiliate marketing. By getting the books out and taking orders, she earns a percentage of all sales made. Having been an Avon lady, I can tell you that with some effort, this can be a lucrative second income.

On-line, there are literally thousands of companies that are looking for people to promote their products. From big names like Sony, Dell and Amazon to smaller companies who sell e-books and memberships, they all share the need to get the consumer to what they are selling and will pay those who help them in this endeavor.

Becoming an Affiliate Marketer is as simple as signing up on-line in many cases, though some companies do require actual forms to be completed. There are even special sites that bring companies and affiliates together. Commission Junction, Clickbank and Paydotcom, being among the forerunners. At these sites, you simply sign-up and select the product that you wish to promote and are given a URL link, also known as an affiliate link, to direct web traffic towards.

There are dozens of ways to market the partner product that don’t cost anything at all. Traffic exchanges, direct e-mailing, article marketing, e-mail and forum signature lines, joint ventures, to name just a few. By utilizing these free methods, the newcomer can realize the full value of their commissions, without any initial outlay. Off-line, there is some cost associated with printing and mailings that Internet Marketing allows a newcomer to bypass.

The ease which affiliate marketing can be achieved on-line has made it a favorite of the new Internet business owner as well as the veteran. Sign-up to promote a product, advertise it, and watch the profits roll in. Like all successful ventures, it will take both effort and originality to produce stellar results, which in turn can result in super affiliate status.

One tip, we want to pass on to all new marketers is: Don’t just advertise your partner. To become successful, you also want to brand your own name and face to build customer trust. With all of the hundreds of advertisements out there today, you have to give the consumer a reason to buy from you rather than the next guy, who may be promoting the very same product.

Now that you know what Affiliate Marketing is, go out there and earn your piece of the pie!

Want more information on becoming a Super Affiliate? You can Check out Rosalind Gardner’s Super Affiliate Handbook here!