The World Wide Web could be considered a synonym for opportunity. Millions of Internet entrepreneurs are finding new ways to make money online, as the opportunities for building home based businesses online are growing everyday. Existing businesses are using the Internet as a vehicle for marketing their products and services online while at the same time brand new businesses are getting started with only a home computer and a determination to succeed. The general landscape of commerce has changed forever.

One of the most exciting developments of Internet marketing that is making many entrepreneurs rich is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing could be the future of marketing and replacement for much of traditional paid advertising because affiliate marketing only cost the advertiser when the advertising is effective. In any affiliate program there is a host web site and affiliates. Affiliates advertise for the host web site using banners, text links, and e-mails with embedded text links and when a web search surfer clicks through from an affiliate link to the host site and makes a purchase the affiliate is paid either a set fee or a commission based on the affiliate agreement.

Affiliate marketing has proven to be so profitable that some people are making a fortune on the net solely through affiliate programs. These affiliates are basically advertising agents earning profits by selling other people's products and services. This means that the affiliate can concentrate on the primary object of generating targeted traffic and promoting affiliate products.

The potential for making money in affiliate programs is virtually unlimited but affiliates need to choose the right programs to maximize the chances of success. One of the most important aspects of choosing affiliate programs to promote is to choose products and services that would be of interest to the affiliate's current traffic base. For example, a webmaster

operating a web design firm is going to be most successful promoting affiliate programs for products that would interest those who are building new web sites. Potential products and services to promote might include search engine optimization services, blog template design and implementation services, Internet marketing, web content and merchant account services. There is a much greater chance of making sales when the affiliate links are relevant to the market of the affiliate web site. A web designer is not going to have much success promoting affiliate links for vitamins or other unrelated products. It is all about targeting qualified prospects.

There is no doubt that affiliate marketing will continue to grow in the future creating even greater opportunities for entrepreneurs all over the Internet.