1. writing articles

2. Optimizing your site for the search engines

3. Putting Adsense on your site

all this takes time and work. But, when you first begin, you do have time to optimize, to write articles, and to put adsense ads on your site. Why? It has been said that for the next six months or nine months, Google, and possibly, the other search engines, may put you in the Sandbox. Some say the Sandbox exists, some says it does not. Whatever it is called, you will see a degree of dormancy in your site.

My own thinking is that there may be a pre-set time of six months before you see a rise in your unique clicks ? I know I did. I feel that there may be several reasons for this:

1. it's a great way to protect the Internet community against unscrupulous sites ? I figure that these sites have a lifespan of six months before people give them the boot. It only takes one person to feel the blunt of a scam, before talk in the online forums begins.

2. Websites go up and go down daily. The search engines are looking at saving themselves time and money. If you are still on line after six months or nine months, you're paying your dues, and they may figure you are serious about maintaining a business online.

What Do I Do during That Six or Nine Month Period

first, and foremost ? since I have supplied you with this information ? do not get frustrated and throw in the towel. Granted, at first the only clicks you may see is your own, but that will change.

Second, start positioning yourself, so when your dormancy with the search engines ends, you have the quality content, and the quality products to begin to fly. That means, writing articles, getting your name out to the masses, and learning to utilize Adsense.

And when you have spare change, try your hand at advertising on Adwords.

In the beginning your learning curve is just out of the starting gate ? take this time to read, buy appropriate e-books, experiment and research. All are important to moving your learning curve to the expert level.

To conclude, a website is just a small part, but an important part, of becoming an Affiliate Marketer. The other important elements, is persistence, hard work, and marketing. And finally, if you still have the passion after the initial exhilaration of becoming an online entrepreneur wanes ? then you'll make it.