Q: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs,
but there is so much hype out there I can't figure out which programs
would work best for me. Everybody claims their program is best.
I'd really appreciate some guidance here.

A: Affiliate programs can be an excellent way to start an ebusiness.
Before we dive into the specifics, let me explain how an affiliate
program works.

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

As an example, let's say you sign up with Amazon.com's affiliate
program. 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, your affiliate code is included
in the URL and you get a commission for the sale. Some folks have
built elaborate websites that sell nothing but Amazon.com's books,
and each time they make a sale they get a piece of the pie.

At dropshipwholesale.net we are affiliates for many products that
fit our entrepreneurial niche. We market mostly ebooks and
software, but we do have an Amazon page for business books.

One of the most appealing aspects of affiliate programs is how
quickly you can begin making money. You can literally sign up as
an affiliate and begin making money in minutes. I've done it, I
know it works.

Admittedly, I am not an affiliate program expert, so I sought out
the person that many call the Ultimate Affiliate Program Authority,
Rosalind Gardner.

Rosalind Gardner began making money with affiliate programs in 1997.
She has since grown her affiliate business into a $400,000 a year
business and is now considered the authority on the subject. Her
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's book as research for this article and
I have to tell you I found it to be one of the best books on the
subject I have ever read. It's a hype-fr*e 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 is this: you can make a lot of money with
affiliate programs, if you pick the right product and do your
part to promote it. As for which programs would be best for you,
I advise that you concentrate your efforts on one or two products
instead of starting with a shotgun approach. Pick only top
quality products that hold some personal interest you. Never pick
an affiliate product just because you think you'll make a ton of
money with it.

Remember, you are starting a business. If it's not a business that
holds your interest, you won't be in business very long.

For more information on affiliate programs check out:

THE SUPER AFFILIATE HANDBOOK by Rosalind Gardner
Read the amazing true story of how one woman, with no previous
business experience, earns 400,000+ per year selling other
people's stuff online!
--- http://hop.clickbank.net/?tknox/webvista2

CLICKIN' IT RICH by Michael Campbell
If you are ready to fire the boss and set up a profitable home
business, I'll tell you exactly how I make over $200,000 a year
in affiliate revenues.
--- http://hop.clickbank.net/?tknox/dmcorp

Here's to your success!

Tim Knox
tim@dropshipwholesale.net
For information on starting your own online or eBay business,
visit http://www.dropshipwholesale.net

About the Author
Tim Knox as the president and CEO of two successful technology
companies: B2Secure Inc., a Web-based hiring management software
company; and Digital Graphiti Inc., a software development company.
Tim is also the founder of dropshipwholesale.net, an ebusiness
dedicated to the success of online entrepreneurs.
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com

Copyright Tim Knox - http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=14557