I have heard both positive and negative reasons to open links in new windows. The main reason to do it is to avoid losing customers by sending them away from your page with no way to get back. That is what I used to do until today.

How can I tell which links open in a new window (generate a pop-up)?

A lesson in Html is beyond scope of this article but, in general, if you do not have any tags after URL in HREF tag, you are not generating pop-ups. If you have a target="_blank" after URL, it will open in a new window and is considered a pop-up.

What is an easy way to fix my links?

If you only have a few pages to fix, just edit them by hand. Pages with many pop-up links can be easily edited in Notepad or other software with a search and replace option. Simply replace target="_blank" with target="_top" (or target="_self", target="_parent" if you are using frames). If you have a lot of files to change, try ReplaceEm (http://www.orbit.org/replace/ ), a freeware program that replaces text strings in multiple files and directories.

The bottom line:

It may just be a coincidence but this morning I changed majority of my links so they do not open in a new window and saw my affiliate commissions as well as overall site traffic jump within hours!

-------------------------------------- You may reprint this article (can be found at http://www.mrgoodbeer.com/issp2bad4u.shtml ) in any form but all links to MrGoodbeer.com in credits, title, body, and this footer must not be altered.

Research, curiosity and learning -- my strengths and my driving assets. My creation -- "My Affiliate Place", was born. It would be a place where an affiliate marketer or a want-to-be affiliate marketer could find information, articles, and free tools.

So, I say to you, if I can find my hidden passion, you can too.

Onward and upward --with my passion defined, I needed a web site.

Web site! Do I need one?

Many people say you can do affiliate marketing without a web site -- however, with a website you can promote more than one product and reach a greater number of people with same interests. And last but not least, marketing is act of connecting with people -- and on internet -- a web site is your vehicle.

Web Site Is Built. Now What!

Now that your web site is built, you will need to begin promotion process. There are many avenues in which you can venture. To name a few:

1. safelists 2. ezines 3. classified ads 4. writing articles 5. Off-line advertising -- brochures, flyers 6. Search engine optimization -- To get help in this area, go to my web site at: www.myaffiliateplace.biz/affiliate_info -- to begin your optimization process.

As you can see, advertising is only limited by your own imagination.

To conclude, affiliate marketing is a viable way to begin your journey on internet and to your own business. But as you know, with anything that is worth having, you must work diligiently and passionately, and continue to grow and learn -- if success is to be yours.

To your success.

Vickie J Scanlon has a BBA degree in Administrative Management and Marketing. She left the corporate world as an Reports Programmer, to begin her journey as an Internet marketer. Visit her site at: www.myaffiliateplace.biz for free tools, articles, ebooks, and how to info.