We have previously discussed affiliate programs in passing. But in this article, we’re going to get an overview of this subfield of Internet marketing and how it could help bring about some stable and generous earnings for you.

It has been said that affiliate programs are easiest ways to online riches. There is a lot of truth in that statement, though it must be remembered that affiliate marketing is still a job, albeit one which you could do in comforts of your own home, hence, you cannot make most out of it without exerting some effort.

Even if you are not familiar with affiliate programs, I’m sure you have encountered some in your years on Internet. For certain, you have visited a site that was suggesting a book from www.amazon.com to supplement information its pages revealed. That site’s webmaster, my friend, is an affiliate. And if you decided to purchase book he recommended, he would have earned a commission from merchant site.

Amazon, indeed, is first business model for affiliate programs. There are more, of course, usually asking affiliate partner to sell web hosting, domain names, and tangible products. But it’s affiliate programs which offer information products that often give highest commissions.

But first, let’s discuss how affiliate programs work. There are three parties in affiliate programs:

* The affiliate merchant * The affiliate * The buyer

The affiliate merchant is one who has products to sell. He would establish an affiliate program to invite affiliates to pre-sell his products. Once affiliate finds a buyer, he would recommend same to affiliate merchant. The affiliate merchant would then sell his products to buyer. If buyer buys, affiliate merchant would give affiliate his corresponding commission.