Can Money Really Be Made from Affiliate Marketing?

**sjb007** · #1 28th Apr 2009, 11:52

Howdy all

I am looking at ways to gain extra revenue online with various ideas, one of these is by affiliate marketing. From searching around I have found various affiliate programs offering this and that, but can money really be made from this type of marketing? If so, what are the best programs to participate in and what is the best way to market and exploit this avenue? I guess theres quite a few other sites/webmasters doing this, some successful and others that are not, but I guess if I dont try I will never know!

**Hybr!d** · #2 28th Apr 2009, 11:59

Short answer is yes. And Lots of it. I know people making $1000's daily.

It's not easy though, no different to making money off adsense or even selling your own products. Or even starting an offline bricks and mortar business.

Traffic = $$$ - So you want to learn how to get traffic from Google via SEO.

Takes a lot of time, and money too. Trial and error mostly.

I make 4 figures online a month, it took 3 years working almost every day to get here.

**Hybr!d** · #3 28th Apr 2009, 12:04

Check out http://www.webmasterworld.com/

Many webmaster forums are full of bad advice, scammers and crap. Making money online is like a secret society, no one really gives out any advice that is gold and the good stuff people keep to themselves but that place is pretty good.

**sjb007** · #4 28th Apr 2009, 12:07

Its good to hear it can actually work, I do appreciate it is not something that would spring up money overnight and it takes a lot of work to nuture, I do understand the basics of HTML/CSS but only the bare bones of it but enough to put up a simple site, I guess then its all down to SEO and good advertising. Are there any affiliate programs that stick out more than the others or are they all about the same.

EDIT: Looks like I was still creating my reply while you was posting! Will check out the link you have placed above - Cheers

**Hybr!d** · #5 28th Apr 2009, 12:15

Yeah marketing, SEO etc. plays a big part. With scripts like wordpress aside from the domain name and hosting you can put a site up in minutes. The other important factor is content. Google wants good original content, just look at wikipedia. So, to answer that and your question about programs is stick with what you know. For example even if say brain surgury ads and afiliates pay well I could never make a decent site on it, I just don't know enough about it. Also it pays to be first, for example when google chrome was released a load of chrome forums and sites popped up, the first ones now doing very well, very fast due to next to no competition. Converting the traffic is pretty easy, something silly like 90% of people online are looking to buy something. Getting it is the hard part.

**sjb007** · #6 28th Apr 2009, 12:26

Ive heard quite a bit about wordpress but its something ive not played with as yet, another toy to play with. I know what you mean about sticking with what you know, I was thinking about starting with maybe something like computer software but I guess this would have its drawbacks too as there will be a few people with the same idea of a quick buck in this department. As you have mentioned - Trial and error to start with!

**Hybr!d** · #7 28th Apr 2009, 12:32

Pretty much every niche is saturated, thats why the up and coming ones are easier. Like chrome sites Eee pc sites etc. Although not easy to pick. Have a look at evilfantasys blog, he's doing software. It requires no hosting or domain, takes 5 mins to setup and then start playing. Make regualar posts on your subject and work your way up. As soon as you get traffic monitize it and see how you go. Play and test. A cheap, hassle free way to test the water.

**sjb007** · #8 28th Apr 2009, 12:39

Thanks for the info, I didnt realise EF had a blog (have you got a link?) a good cheap way like you say, I did think of maybe running a web server to cut cost but then again I have no idea how virgin media would take to me running one on a private account, plus I dont have any idea on how quick the traffic would choke up due to the bandwith limitations and virgin medias fair usage policy!

**Hybr!d** · #9 28th Apr 2009, 12:44

Home hosting is a big no no if you are serious. Too many limitations.

http://evilfantasy.wordpress.com/

**sjb007** · #10 28th Apr 2009, 12:56

Thanks for the advice and the link,

I did kind of think home hosting would be a no-no after thinking it through earlier, if I did decide I needed another domain then there are few decent cheap enough hosting places. Time for a beer and gather a few ideas I thinks!