Affiliate Marketing is to the Internet what white is to rice. The affiliate programs behind this form of marketing runs the gamut from Adult websites to Webhosting and everything in between. The odds are there's probably an affiliate program for just anything that you can imagine. Affiliate marketing is big business. There are people making thousands of dollars monthly doing nothing more than marketing other people's products and services. The advantages of this type of marketing are many including not having to be responsible for warehousing and shipping products, maintaining websites, providing customer services, and many other day to day business operations. Affiliate programs are also a great place for the person with little experience to start. This article offers tips on choosing the right affiliate program for as well as pointing out some pitfalls to avoid along the way.

Affiliate Marketing is a good starting point for those just getting their feet wet in the world of Internet Marketing. There are literally thousands of affililate programs that you could join. In fact, in doing a Google search for 'Affiliate Programs' it came back with ten million, three hundred thousand results! Since most of us don't have three lifetimes to evaluate the thousands of available programs, you need to be able to narrow your search and focus on affiliate programs that offer you the greatest earning potential. What are some of the most important things to consider when looking for an affiliate program? When considering various affiliate programs, one of the most important factors is deciding on what kind of products to promote. While the scope of affiliate programs are too numerous to list, they basically come in two different shades; Those two basic types consisting of 'real' material products and electronic digital products and services such as autoresponders, and ebooks. Actual physical products such as apparel,cell phones, sporting goods, etc., usually pay a lower percentage of commission. Digital products and services on the other hand usually pay a much higher percentage of commission, ranging from 20% up to 80% in some cases. While you can make money selling either type of product or service, I would offer a few suggestions in choosing what type of program to align yourself with;

While the company's compensation plan is important, don't base your decision solely on the commission plan. If you have no interest in a particular type of product or service, then it makes little sense to try and market it even if the program offers a high commission payout. For example, weight loss supplements is a huge and expanding market, but do you really have any particular interest or knowledge about it? All things being equal, you'll do better selling something you have an interest in or related experience with.

Can you earn residual income with this affiliate program? Some companies provide products and services that are needed on an ongoing basis. Online businesses that provide services such as webhosting, autoresponders, etc., offer you the opportunity to earn income on a continuous basis. Some of the more successful affiliate marketers earn thousands of dollars monthly through the efforts of people they have referred to an affiliate program. While you shouldn't rule out an affiliate program that doesn't offer referral commissions, marketing for one that does can be a boost to your earning potential.

c) Another thing to look for when considering an affiliate program is credibility. You can usually get a lot of information on a business just by doing a Google search. Do a search on the affiliate program to see what's been said about them on forums, and other places. Since the products that you're promoting will be an extension of yourself and your business, you want to promote products that have a good track record. Would you be comfortable promoting the products that the affiliate program offers. While some people are making a ton of money promoting adult related affiliate programs, would you be ok with that type of affiliate program?

Lastly, don't fall prey to the fast buck hustlers with their 'get rich quick' schemes. Remember the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." While there are some who make big money promoting affiliate programs, they have been at it for a while, and know a few things about Internet Marketing. Start with reasonable expectations such as making one sale a day. If you made just that one sale a day, and earned a $20 commission on it, you would be pulling down a nice round $600 a month. Not getting rich, but not a bad start.

Affiliate marketing can be an excellent way to get your feet wet in the Internet Marketing arena. While affiliate programs come in all shapes and sizes, remember to do your due research and keep the above tips as well as a good dose of common sense in mind when choosing an affiliate program to promote.