CHOOSING AN AFFILIATE PROGRAM? START OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT! by Nathan Lynch http://www.superaffiliatecash.com In these troubled economic times, many people are looking to supplement their income through innovative means. Because of this, affiliate programs have become more and more popular -- many businesses now offer programs that will allow enterprising individuals to make money by marketing an affiliate website or placing an affiliate link on their own website. Unfortunately, many people don't take advantage of the opportunities that affiliate programs can present, mainly because they don't know how to become a part of one of these programs. In fact, they don't even know where to start. I know that, when I started out, I didn't know "didley squat" about the Internet, much less e-commerce! But, with a little research and a lot of trial-and-error, I discovered that affiliate programs are NOT all created equal, and that there are a few basic steps you need to take if you want to become a successful affiliate: * EVALUATE THE PRODUCT. Really think about the product that the program is marketing. First of all, do they even have a product, or are they just selling an "opportunity"? If they do have a product, what kind of demand does it have? Would YOU buy one? Would others? * EVALUATE THE COMPETITION. Remember, if the competition is too stiff, you will have trouble making sales. Look at both outside competitors (similar products that customers might choose) and internal competitors (other affiliates and the company itself). If the company is high profile or has a highly recognizable brand name, customers might go directly to the company's site, rather than going through you. * EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. Choose a program that has a good payment system -- make sure that everything is clear and straightforward. Also, examine the company's tracking system. Do they have a clear idea of where their customers are coming from, so that they can correctly credit your account? Plus, is it easy to find out how much you have made? * EVALUATE YOURSELF. This might be the most important -- how much work do you want to do, and how much reward are you expecting? Also, look at how much support you might need to run your business. How much help will you need when marketing your site? Do you want to design your own sales materials, or are you looking for ready-made marketing? Answering these questions will help make sure that you find an affiliate program that is a good match. Of course, there is no guarantee that you'll make mega-bucks, but this kind of good research will greatly increase your chances! Author Nathan Lynch is an affiliate program specialist and author of a new ebook called "Affiliate Success Blueprint." This great new book offers insight and advice to the newbie and veteran alike on topics such as choosing an affiliate program, running your own mini-site, and writing great classified ads. To find out more about "Affiliate Success Blueprint" please visit his web site at http://www.superaffiliatecash.com  Nathan can be reached at mailto:webmaster@superaffiliatecash.com