Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online. You do not have to worry about creating a product, delivering the product or customer service. You do not have to do anything but advertise and collect commission checks. This is why affiliate marketing on the web is growing in popularity.

Unfortunately it is not as easy as some people proclaim. You see there is a lot of competition on the web. You have a big number of people trying to sell the same product.

So what you have to do as an affiliate is to stand out from the rest so customers buy through your affiliate link.

Here are 2 ways to help you stand above the crowd and increase your affiliate commissions.

1. Have your own website or blog

Do not just send your traffic straight to the product website. Having your own website will give you credibility in your niche. I would recommend using a blog. Get a webhost with cpanel access and fantastico and you can install a wordpress blog on your site in minutes with a few clicks on your part.

2. Offer a review of the product on your blog or website

Give your honest review of the product. Give the good and the bad. Potential customers know that there will be a downside to every product. Tell them what it is and how this will effect them.

Try and get a copy of the product to review or you might have to buy the product yourself so you can give the product a good solid review.

Do not be afraid to offer a bad review for a product. Tell your potential customers not to waste their hard earned money on a product that is not up to your standards or you feel is not giving you what it states. This is will not make you any money in the short term but your trust with your customers has just been increased and they might buy the next product you promote.

3. Offer a bonus for buying through your affiliate link

Make sure that the bonus you offer coincides with the product you are promoting. This helps them as they can use your bonus with the product they just bought. This gives the product more value.

If you in your review if you talk about a negative aspect of the product, your bonus can be something that will offset this negative.

Give these suggestions a try and watch your affiliate commissions grow.