Building a business with high profit with affiliate programs

QUESTION:
I'm thinking of starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs, but there is so much hype out there I can not figure out which programs would work best for me. Everybody claims their program is the best. I'd really appreciate some guidance here.

ANSWER:
Great question, Todd. Affiliate programs can be a great way to start an ebusiness. Before diving into specific, let me explain how an affiliate program.

An affiliate program simply means that you sign up as an affiliate marketer for someone else's product. It 's your job to market the product, send business customers, and get a cut every time you made a sale from your efforts. Affiliate program commissions can range from a minimum of 2% for high ticket items, up to 50% for ebooks and informational products.

For example, let's say you sign up with affiliate program Amazon.com 's. You are assigned an affiliate code which you use to promote Amazon's books on your website. When someone clicks to purchase an Amazon product from your website, the affiliate code is included in the URL and you get a commission for the sale. Some people have built elaborate websites that sell books, but nothing of Amazon.com 's, and every time they make a sale they get a piece of cake.

One of the most interesting aspects of affiliate programs is how quickly you can start making money. You can literally sign up as an affiliate and start making money in minutes. I did, I know it works.

Sure, I'm not an expert affiliate program, so I tried the person that many call the Ultimate Affiliate Program Authority, Rosalind Gardner.

Rosalind Gardner began making money with affiliate programs in 1997. It has since grown her affiliate business into a $ 400,000 a year business and is now considered the authority on the subject. His book 'The Super Affiliate Handbook: How to make a fortune selling other people's stuff online' has been out since March and is already considered by many to be the affiliate marketers bible.

I ordered Rosalind Gardner's book as research for this article and I must tell you that I found to be one of the best books on the subject I have ever read. This is a hype-free approach to what affiliate marketing is really all about and how to make it work. The book is 270 pages and leaves no stone unturned. For anyone serious about making money with affiliate programs, I highly recommend this book.

The bottom line, Todd, is this: you can make lots of money with affiliate programs, if you choose the right product and do your part to promote it. As for which programs would be best for you, I suggest you concentrate on one or two products instead of starting with a shotgun approach. Choose only the top quality products that hold some personal interest. Never choose an affiliate product just because you think you do a lot of money with it.

Remember, you start a business. If there is a business that holds your interest, you will not be in business very long .......