So more and more people are realizing the power of being an "Affiliate". In my humble opinion, affilates will be as common as any retail store, any newspaper ad or any of the other traditional methods of selling now.
An "affiliate" is an online representative of a company, individual product or service who gets a commission ranging from 1% to sometimes 100% of a products price.
Usually, affiliates have very little if any interaction with a particular product as far as delivery. On the internet, many of these types of products are digital and require only driving traffic to a link that directs the person clicking the link to a place either describing or directly to purchase said product. When the product or service is purchased, the affiliate is paid a commission through paypal or direct with a check. The product is delivered by the company, serviced by the company, and any returns are handled by company. Usually, in the event of a return, commissions are reversed, but in my experience, this is not too common.
In the end, affiliate marketing has serious upside potential. Some of the best methods are to have a blog focused on a particular niche. Then going to sites such as CLICKBANK or others that are basically a marketplace for all types of digital download products.
All these represent products that can be represented online by you, for free on your virtual real estate (web pages, emails, etc) and you earn a very respectable commission! Many sales can result in $30 - 50 each sale, and you can make these sales while you sleep, work or play. It's a truly powerful method to earn online. At the same time, the top earning affiliates understand the power of website traffic, and what it means to truly PROMOTE an offer and drive sales. Imagine you had a high profit item in your retail store, but you sat in the office, reading comics instead of promoting? Would you make sales? Possibly...but the difference is DRIVING sales to your site using combinations of social media, expert blogging, PPC advertising, or other methods and making substantial commissions.
