Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Chapter 2: Making Money with Affiliate Programs

In This Chapter

• Setting up affiliate programs that match your site's objectives
• Recognizing and avoiding rogue revenue streams

Affiliate programs, or revenue-sharing plans, have been around for quite some time, both online and off. Online versions became more than a passing fad when companies such as Walmart and Best Buy started offering them. A big-box retailer doesn't set up this type of program unless it has something to gain — usually, money. Affiliate programs, in a nutshell, pay you to send them customers. If a purchase is made by one of your referrals, you receive a small percentage of the profit.

Brand-name retailers aside, some affiliate programs are good, some are (admittedly) a little cheesy, and others are an outright bust. In this chapter, we help you sort out the winners from the losers so that you can earn affiliate income from your own Web site.