**You are an affiliate

**You are running a business

**You are doing Internet marketing online

The reason I make a big point about this is that many people think that if they sign up for lots of affiliate programs and put a few ads or banners up they will make money. It is not like that.

Choose products that are in demand

As an affiliate, you need to choose products that are in demand, and for which the merchant gives plenty of good support. The more supportive merchants provide you with banners, text ads, and web pages and emails, all to promote their products. Each will have your affiliate link, which is what ensures you get paid, in them. Some merchants just put XXXXX where you put your affiliate link, so do make sure that the affiliate link is in each advert or link.

Some merchants will give help in choosing keywords, but you probably have to ask for these. If the merchant is a prominent Internet marketer, then you should expect all these things.

Run your business

Once you have chosen the products or services you want to market, you need to work out how you will run your business, not forgetting that any business has to file tax returns and that sort of thing. In some countries you have to register your business before you can start it, others are less formal.

You need to know the situation where you live. It is easy to find out because state and local governments are keen for people to start businesses, and you will be able to get free advice on how to set it up.

Internet marketing online

Next, you need to start internet marketing online. First, a word of warning: do not send out emails to people you do not know as that is now illegal in many countries, not just the USA. It is OK to email your friends, but otherwise you can only email people who have signed up for your information. It is not recommended to do this when you start out, but you will be want to do it later.

How do you go about go about your marketing? There are many ways, but to start with you could:

1. Build a very simple website, or get it built, with some information about your topic on it. The idea of these pages is to show people that they want dog training or golf instruction or a fitness program or whatever. You show them the advantages, but do not attempt to sell the product.

The idea is to get them in a frame of mind where they are thinking: 'I need something like that.' Then, you place a link they can click to go to the merchant.

2. Write articles and submit them to article directories on the subject and in due course these will be ranked by the search engines.

3. Use pay-per-click advertising to get people to your site or to the merchant. This is best left until you are more experienced as it is easy to spend a lot of money for little return. However, if you remember that you are running an affiliate business by Internet marketing online, and work that business, you have a good chance of succeeding.