Affiliate Marketing: What They Don't Tell You
David Gates
You have probably seen those ads while surfing the net: \"make money at home\" or \"making money on the Internet.\" We mostly brush them off as scams or nonsense but on some occasions we are tempted to think, \"Is this really possible?\"
Welcome to the world of affiliate marketing. \"What is affiliate marketing?\" you may ask. The business model of affiliate marketing is not really all that new. In some sectors of business it's called sales commission or revenue sharing. The idea has been around for centuries.
For example, you may have earned a referral reward from a business for bringing them a new customer. A company selling air conditioners might give you a cut of the profit they get when they make a sale on your recommendation; a car dealer might offer you a free tune-up or credit toward accessories. Affiliate marketing works on the same principle.
There is real money to be made through affiliate marketing, that is true. And it is also true that as an affiliate marketer you can work at home in your pajamas. But it is still a job, and it is still work. You shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that this is a way to get something for nothing.
There are some definite benefits to choosing Internet marketing for your home based business. Because you are helping to sell someone else's products, you don't actually have to buy and manage stock yourself. That saves you money, especially in the beginning, when you would otherwise have to shell out for product before you know whether it is going to sell.
And the dreams of working from home can be a reality, too. You are your own boss, you choose your own hours, and you choose your place of work. You can work as many hours as you like; some people do 10 or 12 hours each week, others work more than 60 hours a week. It is all about how you want to spend your time and how much you want to make.
On the down side of affiliate marketing is that you have no fixed pay or fixed monthly income. Some months may be exciting, while some may cause doubts and either send you into a tail-spin or back to the drawing board. Still there are lots of independent folks that would happily trade some security for this kind of freedom.
You also have to be very self motivated and it helps to be organized. You control your work schedule, but that also means that no one is going to make you work when you need to, but don't want to. You will have to be resourceful, creative, and willing to keep at it when sales are slow, which will be especially true in the beginning. Stick with it though, and the rewards are well worth it.
About the Author:
|
