1. What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is an online business in which one person (the affiliate marketer) promotes a product belonging to someone else (the merchant) and earns commission on sales they generate. Affiliate marketers use various techniques to drive potential customers to the website of the merchant they are working for.

2. When did affiliate marketing start?

Affiliate marketing began in the mid-1990s. It is popularly believed that Amazon was the first online company to have an affiliate program but industry insiders say that the first affiliate program was run by an adult web company- Cybererotica. Amazon started its Amazon Associates program in 1996. This was the first affiliate marketing scheme to become well-known and was patented in 2000.

3. How is affiliate marketing different from other sorts of internet marketing?

Internet marketing is a catch-all term to describe the marketing of goods and services online. Affiliate marketing is one form of internet marketing. It differs from some other types of internet marketing in the sense that an affiliate marketer does not need to have their own product to sell and does not have to be involved with the handling of goods.

4. How much money do affiliate marketers make?

A team from the research company MarketingSherpa estimated that in 2006 affiliates worldwide earned $6.5 billion. With hard work, a relatively new internet marketer should be able to make between $1000 and $10,000 a month. Top affiliates make over $1,000,000 a year.

5. Which marketing sectors have the highest affiliate sales?

Currently, the most active affiliate sectors are retail, entertainment, gaming, and gambling.

6. Which affiliate sectors are likely to grow fastest in future?

Marketing pundits predict that the sectors which will see most growth are mobile phones, finance and travel.

7. How do I find products to market?

There are thousands of companies which run affiliate programs. When you start out, it is a good idea to sign up to one of the big affiliate networks which offer a wide range of products. These include: Clickbank (for digital products), Linkshare, PayDotCom and Commission Junction.

8. Who can become an affiliate marketer?

Anyone with a good computer (preferably a laptop so you can work anywhere), a broadband internet connection and some time to invest can become an internet marketer. It also helps if you have determination, self-discipline and imagination and a small amount of money at hand.

9. Don't I need a website to become an affiliate marketer?

To start with it is not necessary to have a website. You can start your affiliate marketing career with the resources on the internet that let you publish mini-websites for free. Use these to test your markets and hone your skills. As you progress, you will probably reach a stage where need your own site.

10. How much will it cost me to start affiliate marketing?

You can start an affiliate marketing business with very little investment apart from your computer and internet connection. Some of the most successful affiliate marketers around today began with no more than $5 in their pockets. However, a small sum - say around $200 - would allow you to invest in your affiliate marketing education by buying appropriate ebooks or joining one of the membership programs available. Choosing the right book or program can save you hours of time.