What's Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing a type of Internet businesses and the form of performance based marketing in which affiliates get commissions for their promoting endeavors.

Affiliate marketing has four major participants in:

1. The merchant,
2. The network,
3. The affiliate marketer
4. The customer.

As a merchant it may be any brand or person which sells products or services, a network gives offers for affiliates and takes care of the payments, an affiliate promotes affiliate products or services for a commission and a customer purchases the stuff promoted by affiliates.

Usually affiliates insert hosting (affiliate) links with banners and product reviews on their blogs, websites, social networks, viral products and other reachable places for the people online.

Being an affiliate starts with the submission to any affiliate program or system. After being a member and getting an account, affiliates may choose a subject in the marketplace and then promote products or services by using various methods.

Let me tell you about some of the benefits of being an affiliate marketer.

Zero or Little Business Investment

In affiliate marketing you can start with little or without any financial investment. Most successful affiliates invest some little money for establishing their websites and blogs. But some of them even start without any money using just free promoting methods like free blogs, forums, revenue sharing websites, viral products, social media, etc. That's why affiliate marketing attracts numerous people online who are eager to start their Internet business with limited capital.

Time and Money Freedom

For succeeding in affiliate business you don't need to any employees or special working hours. Everything depends on you. The more time and effort you deposit, the more money and success you get. Because in affiliate marketing income is not limited and it is almost up to you how much to work and how much to earn. For example, once successfully created affiliate business or good written product review may turn into a passive income, which may bring capital even when you are not working.

High Diversity

Affiliate marketing can fit to almost any person and any subject you're interested in. There are various profitable subjects (niches) which you can find, promote and make nice incomes from them.

Without Expert Knowledge

It isn't necessary to be an expert in the field you are working and promoting affiliate stuffs. For example, if you are promoting skin care products, you don't need to be a dermatologist or a skin care specialist. All you have to do is advertising and marketing these affiliate products properly and professionally.

Limitless Programs

There are many affiliate programs and networks on the Internet which you can join and make excellent profits from them.