Affiliate Marketing as Your First Business Venture

Sample Affiliate Program (Source)

Affiliate marketing is a popular business practice where a merchant or retailer will ask “affiliates” (individuals or groups) to help promote their business. Customers who use an affiliate link to buy products or services will be directed to the original merchant’s site to complete their purchase. Affiliates then earn commissions based on the number of leads or sales they turn in. This marketing program is a simple way to boost merchant profits and a good way for individuals to get started with a small online venture.

 
Find the BEST fit for you. 
Research and compare different programs through existing reviews. Not all programs are equal so be sure to read the fine print. Reputable affiliate programs offer the best training methods and will walk you through to your final sale.

Stay away from ‘Get Rich Quick’ programs.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not. Keep in mind that it takes hard work and patience to make your affiliate business succeed. There’s no guaranteed, fool-proof, auto-pilot system for your online business. Constantly check and recheck your merchant’s background and reputation. 
 
Be consistent.
Be prepared to wait (awhile) to have a stable income. Build your reputation through traditional and innovative marketing techniques to promote your affiliate business. It will take a lot of discipline to meet your goals and grow your profits from month to month, year after year. 

Don’t spend too much on training.
Seek out free resources and expert advice to generate traffic and maintain your online business. Internet marketing is actually one big community where success is based on good networking. If you have the right connections you can enjoy a lot of free resources to help you earn and run your business right.