Making money online seemed just like an illusion a couple of years back. Today, with the birth of affiliate marketing, it suddenly became one of the sweetest perks an avid internet user can take advantage of.

Here are the 5 popular ways to make money through affiliate marketing:

1. Choose the products to sell. Most first-timers are wondering about what items they can sell online. Professional affiliate marketers suggest that you promote products and services that you know very well or compliment your interest. If you love traveling, you can sell travel packages or hotel accommodations. When you start with something you are very good at, you can add your opinion or even your personality when you promote your products.

2. Use banners sparingly. When advertising using banners on your website, remember, less is more. Too much banner advertisements can shun your visitors and bury your website's content.

3. Promote your products incessantly. Never get satisfied with the amount of exposure your product gets. Utilize PPC advertising so you can direct targeted visitors to your site. You can also promote your product using free advertising tools like forum posting and article marketing.

4. Work hard. This is the secret of most successful affiliate marketers. They never get tired of promoting their products and they continuously make follow ups on their potential clients. Remember, the more time you spend letting other people know your offerings, the higher your chances of closing a sale.

5. Establish personal relationship with your target market. Get in touch with them through e-mail or phone call. Continuously learn their growing needs and identify where your product fits.

6. Get rid of "parasites". Parasites are applications being used by scammers to redirect your customers to their site to rob your sales and your commission. Learn how to safeguard your investment against this kind of scam to make sure that you get what you worked for.