Learn How to Get Started With Affiliate Marketing Programs - Legitimate Home Based Jobs Are Real

If you want to learn how to get started with affiliate marketing programs, you have found the right article.

Affiliate marketing is a great way for average people to start an "at home" business with little or no cash up front. Unlike many internet based programs, affiliate marketing is a legitimate work opportunity, not some scam that tries to fool people into letting go of their money. There are of course some affiliate marketing products that are garbage, but they are easy to spot and easy to avoid.

Almost every major retailer and manufacturer offers an affiliate program, which is a testament to the validity of the opportunity, and proof, that it is a perfectly legitimate enterprise.

For you to learn how to get started with affiliate marketing programs, you should first do a little research. Did you known that you can open a search engine and type "product type + affiliate" (without the quotes), i.e., purses + affiliate, or designer sunglasses + affiliate, to see a listing of available programs for that product type? You can also search for programs with particular retailers (Wal-mart + affiliate, Sears + affiliate) if you are interested in promoting a wide variety of products through a particular company.

Some affiliates sell mostly digital products (Clickbank, etc.); others sell mainly physical products, while others sell both. I personally promote a wide range of both digital and physical products across several different affiliate programs. Digital products usually have a lower cost and pay a higher commission (up to 75%); whereas physical products vary greatly in price, depending upon the nature of the product; and pay much lower commissions - after all, the product has to be manufactured, warehoused and shipped - so the cost of selling those products is much higher.

Once you have identified some programs that you might want to promote, do a web search on "affiliate marketing forums" and spend a little time reading posts from other affiliates. Oftentimes you can get some valuable insight into which programs are great as opposed to good, by reading about the experiences of other marketers. sunglasses affiliate program You can also get a good idea of what types of promotional methods other people are using - and which methods are working the best.

Once you have done that, it is time to sign up with a program and get started. Most affiliate programs are free to join and will accept new affiliates immediately, but some do require an approval process.

Now, you are ready to start promoting your products. I do suggest that you stick to the free article directories and free classified advertising sites until you gain a little experience and start making a few sales; then you might want to start using some of the paid advertising methods.

It will not cost you anything to learn how to get started with affiliate marketing, and getting started only has to cost you the time that you invest in it.

This is a great way to start making some extra cash in your spare time, or even to develop a full time occupation.

If you have questions about choosing a program, or questions about how to promote products, or wish to see some of the programs that are available... or you just want to learn more, follow the link below.

Post Source: ezinearticles