Affiliate Marketing is a widespread method of promoting a website, in which an affiliate is rewarded for every sale generated through his/her efforts.

When it comes to Affiliate Marketing, there are many ways to make money.  Even though any one of them can lead you to a successful and profitable business, the research and work involved can be so overwhelming that you find yourself exhausted practically before you begin. Then that uncontrollable desire to procrastinate takes over and you either never get started or you're not able to finish anything that you do begin.

That is what happens to many people when they're first starting out. In fact, it can ultimately lead them to believe that only a few Internet savvy people can make money promoting affiliate programs.

If in fact only 5% of affiliate marketers ever made money that does not mean that only 5% of affiliate marketers can be successful.

Read the first paragraph again. This is the main reason why only 5% of those that try actually succeed. It is not because affiliate marketing is difficult or only for the more educated, or worse the more lucky person that just fell into it accidentally.

If you are willing to put in a little time and effort, you will quickly get a taste of success. Procrastination will no longer have the ability to slow you down. You will be so thrilled with just a taste of success; you'll want to sit down and begin taking that little extra time to watch your efforts grow.

So, for now, how about taking baby steps. First, follow this simple plan to a successful affiliate marketing campaign. Once you see that you can do it, and that it actually works, you will have the confidence to take on something a little more involved.

Start by learning what you will NOT need:

*NO website required to get this started. *NO huge
investment for pay per click marketing. (No PPC needed in
this plan.) *NO long-winded ebooks to read, just follow
this plan. *NO software required!

So, what DO you need?

*You will need an affiliate program to promote. Choose one with an excellent sales letter and quality product. You may even want to choose a program that offers a monthly residual income. A residual income is generated through programs that charge the customer on a monthly subscription bases. The affiliate is paid every month the customer continues to subscribe.

Now for the route to promoting your affiliate program.

Writing articles is the perfect avenue to do this. Every article you write and allow others to read, copy and distribute on their own sites and in their ezines, is an opportunity for your affiliate program to be promoted as well.

Each article you write will have a resource box with your name and a small paragraph containing whatever it is you'd like to say. This is where you would promote your affiliate program and where you add your affiliate link.

Your resource box should say something to motivate your readers into clicking on your affiliate link.

Once you've written your article, it's time to submit it to article directories and ezines. You will need to submit your articles to more than a few. Because it is a time
consuming and tedious job to do this, you may want to consider paying to have your articles submitted.

You may be thinking this sounds too simple to work. And you are right, it is simple, but it does require work. And let's face it. In order to make money you are going to have to DO something.

If you can commit to consistently writing articles each month, you will soon be on your way to building a residual income that takes very little time to maintain.

This is a very simple yet effective plan. It costs you nothing but your time to write and submit the articles.

Whatever you decide to do, stay focused. Don't give up. You can do it!

About the Author:

Successful web designer and childrens author. Enjoying the creative energy of Internet research and discovery. Learn the Ultimate Sales Generating secret to carefully crafting sales letters. Step by step video shows you how. http://lazyaffiliateprofits.com/e-videos