What Is Affiliate Marketing?

As you may well know, I work in a day job and spend my free time doing affiliate marketing. This is not out of my interest to earn more money. Instead, this is out of my NEED to earn more money.

But does affiliate marketing work? And is the money good?

Affiliate marketing does work. Otherwise, I won't be writing to you about it. I have earned money out of it... not as much as I wanted to, but at least it shows affiliate marketing is not a faux hope to earn money.

I have personally known friends (whom I've made from Wealthy Affiliate) who earns more than US$1500 every month (which is around what I earn from my day job), quit their jobs, and earn even more. I've also seen young people like me earning an average of $500 a day.

A day. That's right.

But let me draw the line here. Being that successful in affiliate marketing is not easy. It IS easy to start off small and earn some loose change every month.

But to get to the point where you do not need the day job you hate, it takes:

1) Self-belief
2) Perseverance
3) Discipline

Having said that, it takes all three to succeed in the corporate world too. The only difference is, in the corporate world, you'll need luck/skill to avoid hypocrites, back-stabbers, boss pets etc. to climb the ladder.

So why is affiliate marketing a viable career option for me?

In one word: freedom.

Who wouldn't want the freedom to toil and sweat for your own good (and not for The Man to enjoy in his 3-storey bungalow), see the fruits of your labor, and just "rinse-and-repeat" to compound your rewards?

I'd like the freedom to work in a place I feel comfortable at that particular time, arrange my schedule to my liking, and spend the better part of my life with my loved ones.

Affiliate marketing is the true mobile career. Anywhere you are connected to the Internet, you are reporting to work. Anywhere you roam, you are doing your research. Anytime throughout the day you are possibly earning money without knowing it.

But I have to stress this again to you - don't believe people if they say you can start making thousands a month just by a click.

The learning curve to affiliate marketing starts with a gentle gradient. That's where you start learning the basics, earn a few bucks, and start getting excited.

To reach your pinnacle of success, it takes more learning, time sacrificing, and brain cracking.

I owe it to Wealthy Affiliate for getting me started, and getting to know these people whose success stories I aim to emulate.

2009 is said to be a tough year. Let's see if we can defy the odds yea?

Much love for 09,

Herwin