Each e-commerce site is a little different, so it's important to learn what's being offered up front. The affiliate marketing trend supposedly began when a woman mentioned to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos that she wanted to sell books about divorce on her web site. This got Bezos to thinking about how to do this. Getting started as an affiliate is simple. First read the rules of the site you would like to be associated with and earn commissions from, then fill out their form and insert the necessary HTML code on your web page.
Affiliate programs makes the most sense when they're targeted.
If you are a well-respected leader in the graphic design industry, it would be a good idea to list your favorite graphic design books on your web site. If you write Internet marketing articles, you might include your favorite Internet marketing books. I think you get the idea. An affiliate program is really a win-win situation for everyone. A link or banner doesn't cost anything, and it provides an easy link or resource for the online shopper.