Affiliate marketing has been a staple of the internet marketing scene for many years. Highly touted as a money maker for newbies and experienced marketers. But does it really pay to be an affiliate marketer? Let's take a look to learn more ...

Basically affiliate marketing is an agreement between the owner of the website and a dealer. The web site owner's actually an advertiser for the merchant or product creator. The agreement is a contract between two parties, which stipulates that the site owner can use various methods, including the space on its website promoting goods merchants. The merchant meanwhile agrees to pay a percentage of each sale generated through the affiliates personalized link.

This benefits both sides because the product creator spends nothing to advertise their products and the affiliate pays nothing to research and develop new products.

This creates a win-win situation.

The product creator wins by saving money on advertising, which is one of the most costly aspects of doing business, to pass this cost on to affiliates. Basically it is a pay for performance agreement, as the trader does not generate any costs until the sale is made and the merchant pays the specified commission.

The affiliate earns by being able to sell a product already developed, thus saving time and money in the front by not having to deal with R & D and product creation. The product is developed and tested by the merchant, and all you have to do as a member is on the prospects you can, that will bring benefit to both the merchant and yourself.

Another benefit for the affiliate is that most programs are free to join and have pre-made sales material so your marketing experience does not have to be that of an expert.

Probably the biggest advantage of being an affiliate marketer on the Internet in the Internet itself.

Due to the global Internet is very easy to reach thousands of potential customers for almost any product line. It is also very easy to intensify your efforts as an affiliate marketer to exploit new and productive strategies such as viral marketing, ebooks, special reports and autoresponders.

Finally, as an affiliate marketer you get to pick and choose from a variety of products to promote. You are not married to a specific product or even a specific type of product. Your risks are minimal because there is no long term binding contracts so if a product does not bring a benefit that can quickly and easily replaced.

But affiliate marketing is still an excellent way to earn income through the Internet. Perform your due diligence, finding a hungry market, find a good product and go!