Affiliate marketing is a system whereby one business partners with another (or many), and each company works to drive new visitors to each other\'s websites. This has proven to be a very effective marketing tool, which is not used as much as it probably ought to be.

The companies need not be the same types: there are various methods that may be used to send customers to each other despite not even having much in common. Partners may share some of the same techniques in advertising, such as search engine optimization. Perhaps one website may display an article which gives information on the other\'s and provides a direct link.

Here\'s how it works: systems allow for tracking to see where customers have been. Let\'s suppose that Company A has an affiliated agreement with Company B. Company A can readily keep track of how many hits or sales they have had from customers who came there from Company B\'s website. Depending on the nature of their agreement, Company B will get a commission from Company A as a result. The vice versa will usually apply as well, of course.

Online merchants of hard goods are the ones who really go for this method of marketing because there is no advertising expense unless someone goes to their website. It\'s a great way to get name exposure without necessarily having to pay for it in the form of a set fee. Of course, increased exposure is bound to bring increased sales as well.

Some companies run their own affiliates with the help of personalized software, yet others employ a third party to help run this side of their business. Using a third party increases the cost of doing business this way, but it saves the company the trouble of keeping track of things themselves.

Affiliate systems are subject to categorization within the industry; they may include, but are not limited to: reward systems (where a company receives money, points towards a goal, or a charitable contribution), product review sites, shopping directories, news sharing, email lists, and comparison shopping.

Whether your company plans to use its own software, or outsource its management to a third party, affiliate marketing is a great way to advertise your business and get your name out there. It has been used successfully by thousands of online merchants, and the technology for easier implementation, tracking, and upkeep continues to improve. If you are looking for a new way to get more customers, find out more: this may be the answer you\'ve been searching for.