Having a Web page is the only prerequisite to becoming an affiliate. Your page can live anywhere on the Web. If you don't have one, you can build one for FREE on Tripod or Angelfire. Affiliate rates vary from merchant to merchant. Click through to each of your merchant partners from Your Merchant Partners page to find specific rates.
Payment schedules vary from merchant to merchant.
Click through to each of your merchant partners from Your Merchant Partners page to find specific schedules. From there, you can generate links for your homepage and run reports on those links. You also need to log in to apply to other merchants' affiliate programs. Neither Commission Central nor your merchant partners know who you are until you've logged in. Commission Central is where you'll find all the information you need.