Just ten years ago, having a Web presence was perceived as something rather exotic. Web pioneers were trying to find a way to bring the Internet to the masses, and email was still in its infancy as people battled to stay online with their dial-up connections.
What a change a decade can make! Today, there are millions of websites and virtually any person can start up an online business. Obtaining domains and web hosting are just a few clicks away, and business opportunities abound. The primary challenge is finding an online business opportunity that can bring in revenues without you having to actually sell products, stock inventory, or deal with customers.
That’s where affiliate programs come in. The truth is, one of the best mechanisms for monetizing a website is through affiliate programs. Even if you’ve never heard of them, chances are you’ve seen affiliate programs on hundreds of websites. They are the buttons and banners and links that advertise ecommerce sites both large and small. Every time a person clicks from your website to that of an affiliate website and that person buys something, you get a percentage of the sale. Although the...