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If you're like 99% of the population, you have some interest that you are passionate about. Maybe it's travel, or sports or animals. If you have an interest like this, why not make some money from it? Create a website to showcase your interest, join some affiliate programs and add the links to your new website. Now, starting raking in the cash. Simple, right?

No, not really. When a new affiliate marketer comes to me for advice, I tell him or her it's not as easy as it sounds. Many will listen to my suggestions and then "go his own way" to creating banner farms. Sometimes pretty, but not very effective. My biggest piece of advice is "Don't create a website about pets and add affiliate banners like satellite tv or gambling or dating to it. It doesn't work!

Let's start by discussing what affiliate marketing really is:

Affiliate marketing is a partnership between a web merchant and one or more affiliates. Affiliates are paid commissions for referring others to the site - specifically for generating sales, leads or "clicks."

There are a lot of benefits to affiliate marketing. You don't have to deal with customers, worry about payment processing or find your own affiliates. But, do you have the patience it takes to build from the ground up? It takes knowing yourself. It takes time and it takes persistence. It takes having a strong desire to succeed. And it takes a little bit of luck. You're not going to become a millionaire overnight - sorry!

Again, what's your passion? What affiliate products can you find that will compliment your interests? Do those affiliate products actually sell? Do your homework! You must research your products thoroughly.

It's not easy to be a successful affiliate marketer. There's a lot you must learn. Once you get your website up, you need to know how to market your site effectively. You'll need thousands, even tens of thousands of visitors to see your affiliate products' "offers." Think big! Go for LOTS of sales - not just one! By the way, don't sell - PREsell! The real key to being successful with affiliate marketing is to develop a good content based website and weave your affiliate links into all your content.

Create a list - a newsletter. You must have a way to bring your website visitors back to your site. Once they leave, they won't be back without some incentive. Put your newsletter signup box on every page of your site because you never know what page your visitors will land on first.

Be creative. Think of ways to keep your visitors coming back. Perhaps with contests or polls. You might want to give away a "freebie" every once in a while. Write reports and articles. Keep your content fresh and new.

What do you think? Do you still want to be an affiliate marketer? Good, then get started, and, as the saying goes, "Keep on keepin' on."