What Is Affiliate Marketing? How It Works and How to Read Affiliate Business System Reviews

Affiliate marketing is a three-party deal: a company, you, and the customer. Before you trust any review of a training system, including ours, check the five things in this article.

Affiliate marketing in plain words

A company that sells a product pays a commission to people who send it customers. You get a personal tracked link. When someone buys after clicking it, the company records the sale and pays you a commission under its terms.

How affiliates get paid

Payment is usually a percentage or a fixed amount per sale or sign-up. Each company sets its own rules, including how long a click counts and when payouts are made. Read the affiliate terms before you promote anything. Our 6-step guide walks through the whole process.

Is affiliate marketing legitimate?

The model itself is a normal way for companies to find customers. The problem is that some sellers promise fast, easy income. Real affiliate work takes time, content and a willingness to learn, and results vary widely. Be cautious of anyone who guarantees a result.

What is the Affiliate Business System?

The Affiliate Business System, or ABS, is the turn-key system shown in our free training. Our Affiliate Business System reviews article describes the parts it covers: finding a niche, content, traffic tools and tracking your numbers. The best way to judge it is to watch the free demo yourself.

Five checks for any review

• Who wrote it? Does the writer say whether they earn a commission?
• Does it show the product? Look for a real demo, not just praise.
• Are results shown with context? A single big number with no detail is not evidence.
• Are the terms clear? Look for the price, what is recurring and the refund policy in writing.
• Is it the only source? Compare more than one source before you decide.

We recommend ABS on this site, so treat our writing as coming from people who like it, and judge for yourself. For a side-by-side method, see how to compare training systems.

Types of affiliate offers

Some programs pay on physical products, some on software subscriptions, and some on high-priced courses or services. High-ticket offers pay more per sale but are usually harder to sell. Our high-ticket guide covers the trade-offs.

The honest pros and cons

Pros: you do not create or ship a product, you can start small, and you can work from anywhere. Cons: you do not control the product or its terms, income is not guaranteed, and you must build your own audience.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience?

No, but you do need to be willing to learn. Start with the free on-demand webinars.

How much does it cost to start?

It depends on the program and any tools you choose. Read every price and refund term before you pay.

Where can I ask a question?

Use our contact page or the chat on this site.

Results vary and are not guaranteed. Nothing in this article is a promise of income.

About the author: Christopher Collman