Affiliate or Super Affiliate: which do you want to be?

"Super Affiliate" may sound trite or hype, but it is the term used to describe affiliates who are both successful as well as ambitious at affiliate marketing. They set goals for themselves. They reach them, then move the goal posts further away.

There are exaggerated and mostly unbelievable claims made about online affiliate marketing: Millions Can Be Yours in Days! Quit Your Job in One Week! See How I Made $72,578.65 in One Month! They give people the idea that anyone can achieve almost overnight success and wealth from internet marketing or something related to it; these claims are almost always false. Some people do make it; many make their money quite quickly from the gullible, often desperate people they are trying to convince can do the same. The majority fall by the wayside because they don't apply themselves to the task, or they give up when things are not showing signs of the promised success.

However, not everyone expects or even wants to become an internet millionaire. As with most professions and trades, many people who choose online marketing as a source of income are content to plod along, making anything from pennies a month, through being an averagely successful affiliate (if there is such a thing), making enough to live on with perhaps some left for savings.

The vast majority of affiliate marketing sites are run by people who are not driven by the idea of turning a huge profit; many do not feel they are capable. There are hundreds of thousands of social networking, article and blog sites where people put up a few links and show ads for various related products or services from Clickbank or Amazon or Google AdSense, on the off-chance that some casual visitor in a buying mood will click on them. That's all well and good, but it doesn't make for successful affiliate marketing.

Only a few will eventually make it to Super Affiliate status – one who is recognized and admired by his or her peers, as one of the "online elite". It doesn't happen overnight and it certainly doesn't happen by accident or just good luck. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and usually some considerable time to achieve. This is a highly competitive business.

But those who want to excel at what they do, thrive on challenge as well as being motivated by success itself. The money flows in naturally as a result. Some are first motivated by the money itself; they really do buy those huge mansions, fine cars and yachts to show others "they have made it". Many are content to quietly sit back and invest in businesses or charitable causes, without wanting any recognition or credit from their peers or wannabe emulators.

Super Affiliates take their business seriously and are truly professional in their approach. They don't treat affiliate marketing just as a part time hobby or job that you do on the side to put a couple of extra dollars in your pocket.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a misconception that affiliate marketing is not a proper business. After all, most affiliates do not actually produce their own product (most Super Affiliates do, though). However, even though an affiliate marketer is not manufacturing a product, he or she is still offering the product up for sale. All affiliate marketers are responsible for search engine optimization, providing original or custom content, quality web design, financial management, and everything else that goes into running a successful e-business. As with any business, an affiliate marketing plan's success is directly related to the amount of the necessary work put into it.

A Super Affiliate will be able to make as much (and even more) than a traditional 'bricks and mortar' business (especially in today's economic downturn), usually from multiple sales each and every day, from a variety of different sources or 'income streams'. Much of the income is 'passive' in the form of second tier commissions on sales they are not even aware of by others in their 'downlines'.

Most successful affiliate marketers don't have just one site. They set up a variety of affiliate sites with a good web address, quality web design and look for the most lucrative affiliate marketing opportunities, often as joint ventures with other Super Affiliates. The more successful attract bonuses, higher commission structures and get better terms than ordinary affiliates. Super Affiliates are offered the best of everything.

Becoming a Super Affiliate isn't an easy proposition but it is certainly achievable for those that want it.

Are you one of those who aim for the top? Here's where to start:

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