A sure shot route to success for businesses, both big and small, Affiliate Networking is one of the greatest revolutions in modern day marketing. The prodigal child of Internet marketing, it is today considered to be the most expedient means of growing your business.
In simple terms, an Affiliate Network is the intermediary between two business entities – merchants, the people interested in selling their products, and affiliates, the people with well-defined resources that can promote the sale of these products. Using the Internet as the medium, such a network acts as a platform for merchants and affiliates to come together for a common objective – profit. On this platform, a merchant can choose the affiliate that he deems best for promoting his product or service. Similarly, an affiliate can pick the merchant he chooses to work for.

Key components of an Affiliate Network:
Merchants – These are all small and big sellers or manufacturers that cater to myriad products and services, ranging from mobile phones and cars to flowers and perfumes. These businesses perpetually feel the need to expand their horizons. Today, the Internet is undoubtedly the most widely used form of media all over the world. With the help of affiliate marketing networks, merchants can promote their products and services online and thus reach a worldwide audience.
Affiliates – Also known as publishers, these are people who have the requisite means to facilitate the promotion of a product or service. Owners of websites or other online forums, affiliates help merchants in boosting sales by establishing a global presence using the Internet as the advertising medium.

Why Online Affiliate Networking?
This form of marketing offers benefits in profusion. Apart from having the advantage of reaching a global consumer base, it is an advertising medium that can be used by all kinds of businesses. It is extremely cost effective and reduces the need for rigorous sales programming. This kind of network also gives the marketer a plethora of options to choose from.

Most of the Online Affiliate Networks are free to join, as far as affiliates are concerned. On the other hand, merchants do require to pay a minimal fee to be a part of them. However, these membership procedures differ from one network to the other. All networks charge merchants a certain percentage of the amount that they pay to affiliates as commission for their services. With the Internet widening its ambit with each passing day, Affiliate Networking is a marketing gambit that's here to stay.