Schmooze Your Way To Affiliate Success

Were you born between 1950 - 1959? Those of us born during these years had no interest in Elvis, but grew up with the BeeGees, Black Sabbath, Earth Wind & Fire, and lava lamps. We were in the disco and doing The Hustle.

You are a micro baby boomer and unlike the group before or afte, exploring your own limits goes deep into the bones. New frontiers are only those not yet traveled and the new frontier for many Micro Boomers is conquering the world of internet business through affiliate marketing.

Where else can you have the freedom to promote only the products or services you are passionate about, with the potential to replace or increase your income? Not to mention all while living the life you want from wherever it is you happen to be today?!

Imagine this scenario: The financial planner frustrated giving generic advice who now can lend solid, insider information on his blog that promotes credit and financing products while building his own client base. Or how about the construction manager who has first hand knowledge about green building and gives consumer tips on her blog and also promotes products from several green living home improvement DIY manufacturers.

There are others from accounting to waste management who have learned that affiliate marketing can allow you to work in an area you are most passionate about and earn a very good living at the same time. Turning your love of sailing or golf can be lucrative affiliate business options.

As in starting any small business, there is both an upside and a downside to affiliate marketing. The upside is a much shorter learning curve and less initial cash outlay to get started. You are essentially guiding people with an interest via your simple website, blog, search engine or direct mail to a product or service they are looking for.

Think of the movies, services and products you've told friends or family about in the past year. When they acted on your recommendation, as an affiliate you could have earned a commission from the company for sending a qualified and targeted buyer to their place of business.

Referral commissions range from low-end ebooks or ringtone downloads, to the higher end mentoring and consumer goods. As an affiliate, you may decide to refer business contacts you've made over the years to companies with high end private jet and time share memberships. The opportunities are endless.

There is a downside to affiliate marketing and many new to the industry miss out because they forget it's a real business. It's not fast, easy money but then what real business fits that description? You may spend time and money sending hundreds of targeted traffic to a merchant and no one buys. Or the merchant that seemed to offer so much value has products with high refund rates or their customer service sucks.

None of this should prevent you taking advantage of affiliate marketing because the industry has grown and matured over the years, with more affiliate business friendly companies starting all the time. As long as there is demand for products and services, affiliate marketing will be a very viable business alternative for those who want to be paid well for their efforts.