While this may seem a little complicated, it really isn't. There is definitely a lot of work involved, but isn't that the case with any successful business?

To make money with affiliate programs is no different... You do what it takes, you work hard, and in the end you make money.

Actually anyone can make money with affiliate programs. It's definitely not brain surgery. It's just knowing what to do and doing it.

The lure of making money with affiliate programs attracts more and more people everyday. And it is a fact that many people even live very well from the money made with affiliate programs. In fact, this is how I have made my living for years now.

If you have a website or a blog then you definitely should be taking advantage of affiliate programs. It's just another way to completely monetize your site.

For instance, if you have a blog that is already receiving traffic... find someone offering an affiliate program related to your niche and just place your affiliate link or banner somewhere in your article or on your blog.

There are many other ways you can make money with affiliate programs as well. It's one of the easiest ways to break into the internet marketing game.

So then, all you have to do is to build a site and get traffic to it... right?

Well... actually there is a little more involved to make money with affiliate programs than that, but that is the basic idea. It really is! And when you get the traffic coming to your blog or site, you are then able to sell your product if you have one, or if you don't you can promote an affiliate product, or you can do both.

There are basically three ways to make money with affiliate programs... or I guess I should say these are actually payment options for affiliates.

* Pay per impression (CPM)

* Pay per click (PPC)

* Pay per sale/lead

Pay per impression which generally means you get paid according to how many times people actually view your image or banner... they don't necessarily have to click on it for you to make money. However, I have not had much success making money with this type of affiliate program.

Pay per click... With this type of affiliate program you get paid for every click that you receive whether that's a link, or banner, or image that they provide you with. I have a friend who has done quite well to make money with affiliate programs of this type. However, here again I have not.

Pay per sale or lead affiliate programs is the area that I have had the most success. In this situation, the affiliate earns a share or a commission on the sale of every product he directs a client to. This type of affiliate program also pays the best. The art of preselling a product is a technique that works very well here and when done correctly is a great way to make money with affiliate programs.

Overall, I feel it is easy to make money with affiliate programs. However, like everything else, there is a learning curve. Nothing comes free... except salvation, so if you're looking for the sit on your tail and do nothing route, then you need to look somewhere else.