The easiest definition of affiliate marketing is from wikipedia, which defines affiliate marketing as a method of promoting web businesses (a merchant or advertiser) by which an affiliate (publisher or individual) is rewarded for every visitor, subscriber or customer, and/or sale provided through his or her efforts. In simple terms, you promote an advertisers website by creating links from your site or blog. If someone clicks on those links and subscribes or purchases the advertisers product, you get paid.

It sounds pretty easy, and it is. So, why is it so difficult for many affiliate marketers to make a success of it? The number one reason, they fail to plan. The first thing an inexperienced affiliate marketer does is they look for a product without going into detail and put links and banners on their website pointing to the advertiser’s product. After a while they wonder why they are not generating sales, clicks or even traffic. Newbie’s to affiliate marketing are like the loaded gun situation, "Just aim and shoot".

The first step in affiliate marketing is deciding if you will market through a website or blog of your own, or by using PPC. If you are starting out in affiliate marketing, than I would definitely advise using a website or blog as PPC is a little more advanced. There are several great ways to market affiliate products using a website of your own.

First, find products that are based on the theme of your existing website. If you have a website that’s about gardening, than locate affiliate products that involve gardening, etc. Second, build a new website around a particular affiliate niche product. Keep in mind, it helps tremendously if you find products or programs that you have a passion for. This is something that you will learn fast as you begin affiliate marketing. If you can’t think about any product that you might have a passion for, than you need to take time and learn about the affiliate product that you choose to market.

An affiliate internet marketing tip to consider - Find a niche product to promote. Niche products are not hidden or secrets. You see them all the time, but don’t even realize it. However, the trick or technique is finding the right one to market. Locating the right keywords, how much competition will you have, writing articles or reviews about your niche product and more? An example, once I find the niche products to promote, I’ll narrow my list down to five that I really like. From those five I will narrow it down even more by using a combination of keyword searches until I find the right keywords for the least amount of searches. (You can use google keyword tool for this until you purchase a program that will do it for you)

I know, it probably sounds a little confusing. Basically what I’m doing is removing myself from the competition. It is much easier for me to market a product that had only 5,000 searches the month before, than it is to compete with a product that had a hundred thousand or even a million searches. What I’m doing is leveling the playing field instead of trying to go head to head with my competition. Now, don’t misunderstand me. I go head to head all the time with my competition with some of my affiliate products that I truly am passionate about.

Just remember there are no secrets to affiliate marketing. What you will have to learn though are techniques and strategies from good mentors that have proven to be successful. They have already been on the battlefield and learned what works and doesn’t work. They themselves become even more successful as they teach others how to be a success. The problem is finding the right mentor that is going to really take the time to guide you on a path to success using affiliate marketing programs. A good mentor or teacher is going to provide you with all the affiliate marketing resources, tutorials, up to date information, and complete step by step instructions with videos, personal support, and a training program that is ongoing even after you reach your goal. That is the perfect affiliate marketing tool.

Visit the website to find the perfect mentor for all your affiliate marketing needs.