I've just finished reading and replying to an email from a rather confused and frustrated "Affiliate Hopeful". It's not something I do a whole lot of, as I don't advertise myself as an advisor or any kind of expert in the Internet Home Business area. But if I had any advice to give or if I was to decide to proclaim myself as any kind of authority, there is one very important piece of advice I would ram home hard to anyone willing to listen.

We all know (except maybe the newbies that arrive in their multitudes every day) that almost all of the 'overnight successes' that we see touted on every second home business or affiliate marketing related website, are either the very rare exceptions or total rubbish. Whichever the case, the truth is that 99 percent, or more, of the Internet home business hopefuls are NOT going to see a penny in the first 3 - 6 months, if indeed at all.

If the truth were known, they are going to spend far, far more than they earn at least in the beginning, if they ever earn anything at all. It's a well known and oft quoted fact that 95 percent of Affiliates NEVER make any money at all. That's one in twenty who has any success whatsoever. I suspect the figure is much the same for most home business endeavors.

We have people blundering blindly into something that they have absolutely no real idea about, ready to take on the world (literally), just because some person who owns a website (who may well have about 2 weeks more experience than they have) says they are going to make a killing!

Would you really rush headlong the same way into a venture in the real world? I'm sure most wouldn't even consider trying their hand at any kind of business in the real world, without first getting some advice, as much information as possible about what they were going to be up against and also make sure they had a pretty good idea about exactly how they might actually achieve their goals, not to mention how to start.

It sounds like common sense, but day after day, in fact, probably hour after hour, people from all walks of life are literally buying into something that they know absolutely nothing about because someone they've never met says they're going to do well.

There are a number of excellent publications around that will prepare you for an online business. It's true, some are nothing but rubbish, but it's also true that any decent title has a money back guarantee through a reliable facilitator like Clickbank or the like. Please don' be afraid to use them (of course, make sure that guarantee is there). Also don't be afraid to ask questions of anyone that you think may be able to help.

As I said, it's true that I don't advertise myself as an advisor or expert, but if someone who sees my websites or reads my writings wants a little more information, I have no problem giving it, provided it is specific and not just the usual, "How do I make heaps of money" or "What do you suggest is the best business".

This brings me to the email that I spoke of earlier. This person had decided on Affiliate marketing as a home business. A good choice as far as I'm concerned, provided you know what you're doing. However, it was clear that they had read either little or nothing because their email indicated that they had paid to join an affiliate program. Why would anyone pay to sell someone else's product?
A perfect example of someone who had no idea, believing too much without finding out for themselves.

The information is there, and the rewards can be lucrative, but you NEED the right information and you need to know how to use it. True, the information isn't always free, but generally, the decent manuals and guides are very reasonably priced and, as I said, ALL the decent ones have money back guarantees. It's well worth your while to get the information you need before you jump in headfirst.

About the Author
Stephen Brennan runs the 'Home Based Business and Affiliate Center' - http://www.online-plus.biz, and is the author of 'The Affiliate Guide Book' - The Definitive guide to becoming a successful Internet Affiliate (at little or no cost) - available at http://www.ebooks.online-plus.biz