All good affiliate programs have one thing in common. Except for marketing, everything else is taken care of for you. Knowing how to market puts you in the top 5% of affiliates who realize a good income from their programs.

Of course you do need to educate yourself with the products you hope to sell. And you do need to understand the marketing and compensation plan, but these you can learn as you go.

Principally the two areas you must master if you hope to turn a profit are:

1.Marketing Ability

2.Coaching Ability

If you don't know how to market your product and service, you won't attract a buying customer. Thankfully there are many ways you can learn the techniques of marketing. Your affiliate program likely has online lessens you can study on how to advertise to get those important buyers that will make your business profitable. There are ebooks (most of which are free) and courses you can take to hone your skills as an Internet marketer.

Once you've learned the skills of marketing you'll need to learn the second area which is not as easily accomplished, but needs to be addressed if you are to make an above average income.

Affiliate programs are set up to not only attract a buyer but offer an opportunity to those who are looking for a way to make extra income. While focusing attention on your existing client base is important, it's the multiplication factor that the affiliate program offers that will help you earn above average income.

Residual income is what makes an affiliate program enticing and is far more important than making those front-end sales.

Once someone signs up into your program, you become their coach and as their coach your job is to help them realize an income. You simply can't duplicate yourself if you don't teach others how to do it. Most affiliate marketers find it hard to touch base with their downline simply because their downline affiliates are too skeptical, feel they can do the business alone or are too shy to ask questions. The onus is on you to contact them and offer any services they need to run their end of the business.

One of the keys to attract buyers is to offer them extras; free ebooks, bonuses and counseling. These are equally effective in helping a new affiliate get comfortable as he takes his first steps in the program. Don't neglect this important area.

And just as you would continue to offer your existing customers special deals through emails, snail mail and phone calls, you should do the same to your downline affiliates. You can't expect your new affiliate to contact you. You have to contact them and do it constantly.

If your new sign-up takes the time to fill out a profile, you should take the time to read it and respond by offering some advice as to how they can reach a particular goal they put into their profile. You need to establish a personal relationship. If they email you an inquiry, answer them immediately. If you're afraid of spamming them, send them email through the affiliate program. Many offer this ability.

Once you have established a personal relationship with your affiliate, you need to take a more active approach in their success by spending more time as their coach and mentor.

While the majority of affiliates will never contact you or do anything more than sign up for the program, your ability to make a serious income rests with the few who want to succeed. Like customers, you should treat these affiliates with special care and take the same time and effort that it takes to market your business.