What is an Affiliate URL?

With the majority of affiliate programs you are assigned a special identifying URL that your referrals click-thru to reach the vendors website. That is how your referrals (hits) and sales are tracked. Here's an example of what an affiliate url looks like:

http://lessworkmoremoney.com/cgi-bin/a/clickthru.cgi?id=presmar

Most affiliate urls are similiar in structure, basically pointing to the reatilers website and/or individual product or service. It also would have your affiliate id in it, usually at the end. In this case you can see my affiliate id is "presmar". Now when I place my affliate url into my webpage using html code it becomes a hyper link that you can click on and will take you to the retailers website. My Affiliate URL Link. If a surfer clicks on this link and then makes a purchase from the website that it leads to then I would earn a commission from the sale. My affiliate link could also be in the form of a banner.

There are literally thousands of affiliate programs online. Frankly, a great number of the companies selling products and services online have affiliate programs. All you have to do is apply to the program to get started as an affiliate sales rep. Most affiliate programs are free to join. Very few will require you to purchase their product or service before you are given affiliate/associate status.

The beauty of being an affiliate is that you don't have to worry about many things like stocking merchandise, credit card processing, shipping, customer service, etc. There are so many different types of products for you to promote. You name the product and I'd bet my bottom dollar there's an affiliate program for it somewhere online.

7 Step Quick-Start Guide to Making Money Online With Affiliate Programs