While setting up an online business can be real easy, not everyone actually makes money at it. To be successful in the online business marketing, you have to find what works for you the best. Every online business is different. They all use the same tools for the same reasons but which ones that work will depend on you and your business needs. Here are ten things that help you to be successful when beginning your affiliate marketing business.

1. Set goals for yourself.

You cannot have a business by chance, that just does not work. You must have a goal, something to strive for. The long-term goal is to be able to live off the income it generates. This can take some time, so make smaller goals as you go. If you set your sights too high in the beginning, it can be discouraging. Set a standard for each site you build. The goal could be to make approximately $500 a month per site. This is a realistic figure to be able to do in the first few months if you work hard. Build more than one affiliate site. This will help broaden your spectrum and generate more money. The more sites you build and affiliate with good merchants the higher you pay check becomes.

2. Make a plan and stick to it.

Having a plan of action will help to keep you organized and get things done appropriately. Setting up a plan that has an affiliate site up and running with in a few months is very possible. Spend the first few month researching keywords; affiliate programs available, and the resources to refer back to for writing content pages. During the second month or so write at least one article a day to add to your content page. This will give you several keyword documents that can generate hits.

3. Set a budget that is reasonable.

It is possible to start an affiliate business without investing, but it is a good idea to invest. If you want to make money, you have to spend it first. The investment should go to domain name and web hosting. You can expect to invest a minimum of about $300 per year to register a domain name, contracting with a host company, and that type of stuff.

4. Check your lifeblood -- have great keywords, programs, and content articles.

You want to be sure that you are constantly updating and increasing your keywords and content. You want to have a good affiliate program and use the keywords and content articles to generate traffic. You want to be able to convert that information to the affiliate program link. If you are having a problem figuring out where to start there are several free online affiliate masters courses you can download right to your computer. These are very informative and give you step-by-step instructions.

5. Prepare what to say before you write content page.

You want to write articles or ads that will eventually generate business. They should be informative and make people want to have the product. People like to read things that peak their interest and keep them wanting more. Use prime keywords that describe what you are selling, use of the item or the history of the item. Once you know what the merchant you are affiliated with wants sold, pick out your keywords and start writing.

6. Don't forget pre-selling.

One thing you should never do is write a contact article with the obvious intent to sell something. You want to get the customer to buy, but not by slamming it in their face. That is a big turn off for a reader. You want to get the potential customer to fall in love with what you are writing about. Make them desire it on their own and then provide a link to where they can get it. You want to give great information and subtly guide them. Provide suggestions and recommendations to the product. Don't just tell them to but this or that it won't work.

7. Build targeted traffic to your site.

When you first hit the Internet highway no one is going to know where you are. You must get out there now and promote your site. You can either do this the free way, by paying, or a little of both. The best thing to do is to get an e-book on affiliate marketing and see what free things you can try first to gain targeted traffic. Then if those don't work move to a paid service while still trying the others.

8. Make you determined to succeed.

Well if it takes about two months just to get the site up it is also going to take a few more months to generate any significant traffic. You have to work at this. Don't get discouraged and just quit when you only get 10 visitors that first day. Be patient and check your site for improvements all the time. Write more content articles to keep people coming back and improving your keywords.

9. Time management is a rule of thumb.

Being an affiliate means you are a web master, writer, manager, and editor. You will have multiple sites and will need to be able to budget your time for each accordingly. This when hiring an assistant can be of great use. This person can write articles as well and check the sites with you to see how much traffic is being generated. You can also make sure you just have good time management skills. Set up time to do articles each day, and editing, etc. Work on all sites in a specified area for a period of time and then move to the next area.

10. Stay up to date with the changing markets.

Every day there are new affiliate programs emerging and policies changing on search engines? Keep up with what is going on. You can keep yourself in the loop by subscribing to newsletters and SEO news. Join an affiliate forum to hear the latest from those in the business with you. Make sure you know what is going on to stay on top.