Affiliate Programs: Can I Really Make Money?

As an Internet marketing consultant, I often hear the

question, "Can I REALLY make money online with affiliate

programs?"

To me, that question speaks of the asker's skepticism, so

let's put aside any question of whether money is REALLY

being made online before we look any further.

Thousands of merchants have put resources into developing

affiliate programs so that others can promote their products

in exchange for a commission, which is usually a percentage

of the product's price. If there wasn't money to be made,

Sony, Dell and those thousands of other merchants wouldn't

waste their time and money building affiliate programs.

I personally know at least a hundred people who make

marketing on the Internet their full-time occupation. If

there wasn't money to be made, that wouldn't be possible.

I am one of those people. The secondary title of my eBook

about affiliate marketing is 'How I Made $436,797 Last Year

Selling Other People's Stuff Online'. Although I dislike

that subtitle and its crass approach, it IS the truth, and

it IS effective proof that money can be made online. The

statement is backed up on the Super Affiliate Handbook

homepage with a picture of part of my income tax statement

from 2002 which shows my earnings.

See it for yourself at: http://SuperAffiliateHandbook.com

So, having dispelled any question about whether there is

money to be made online, let's proceed to the REAL question.

Let's take the emphasis off the word 'REALLY' and place it

where it belongs - on YOU.

Can YOU really make money online?

Sure you can! IF you REALLY want to.

Desire is the first key to success. But here's where it gets

a little tricky. If your desire is for money, as opposed to

what money can buy, your work will be made much harder, if

not impossible.

'Huh? Why is that?' you may wonder.

Money is a concept. In and of itself it does nothing for

you, unless you are very fond of small rectangular pieces of

colored paper.

If you focus instead on the good that money will bring to

your life, such as free time and all the fun ways to spend

it, then you'll give positive direction to your efforts.

Think about it.. what can that money buy you? The kids'

education, a new car, a new house, a second honeymoon...

how about a sailboat?

Dream a little - dream a LOT, but create some desire, and a

REASON to work hard for what you want to achieve.

And that's the second key to making money online - Work.

Too many people still hold onto the notion of 'get rick

quick'. I've got news for them - there's no such thing. You

can get rich a little quicker on the 'net, but the truth is

that nothing worth having comes without a price. You must

invest some time and money.

Not much money, but some. Compared to starting any other

business, the amount of financial investment required to

start an affiliate marketing business on the Internet is

negligible.

If you don't have one or two hundred bucks - or can't beg,

borrow or steal that amount - then maybe you can get a

part-time job and save up to start your online business.

No matter how you slice it, you won't find another

opportunity anywhere that has the potential for this much

reward for so little outlay. This IS one of the least

expensive businesses you can start.

Last but not least - can you stick with it over the long

haul?

Persistence is perhaps the MOST important quality shared by

all entrepreneurs. That's why you hear about those who make a

million, lose a million and then make another million. They

go up, then down, then up again, but they never gave up.

You can't let the ups and downs get to you. Not everything

will go your way all of the time. You'll have to make

some effort and it won't always be easy.

But, if you keep your goals foremost in your mind, learn

what you need to know and invest your resources wisely and

with persistence, you virtually can't help but succeed.