If you're new to affiliate marketing, here is a FREE .pdf file written by a friend and affiliate marketing contact of mine (Vinny from NYFalcon.com & awesomegang.com - a public advice forum which he's still working on - feel free to check it out), which overviews the basics of affiliate marketing, how it works, and how you can get started at becoming a self-employed, affiliate marketer in your own right.
http://www.nyfalcon.com/TheBasicsOfA...eMarketing.pdf
Be forewarned - this is NOT a get rich quick scheme nor is it MLM or anything like Primerica or Amway. I repeat - it is NOT a get rich quick scheme. It is a legitimate means of doing business online.
Affiliate marketing is a "Cost-per-action" biz model - a means of making money by advertising merchants products and services on your site, by linking to their sites, whereby you are paid a "referral fee" on each resulting lead, sale or click, depending on how the program is set up - it varies from program to program.
If you're interested in becoming an affiliate, interested in launching a program for your own e-biz, or just want a free way to learn about how it works, download the e-book from the url posted above (I make no money off this - it is a FREE, safe download from NYFalcon.com - I know the webmaster personally and he's good people) and take some time to read it online or print it and read it offline - the choice is yours.
Best regards,