Statistics of affiliate marketers show that personal blogs are by far the most prolific of all affiliate partners, and there is a very good chance that no matter where you are on the web you will be pitched to click on something, sign up for something, or eventually buy something. If you do, you have just become a "lead" or a "referral".

Affiliate marketing remains the third most popular way to monetize your blogging efforts (third only to display ads and search ads). The amount of income which can be generated varies depending on whether you decide to work full-time or part-time and on the size of your blog or website - a larger site with a large number of pages simply means more opportunities and more locations to place ads.

About 50% of people who use affiliate marketing as a source of income do so on a part-time basis. Around 32% are working full-time and about 17% of those full-timers claim affiliate marketing as their sole source of income. The mean annual revenue from affiliate ads is $42,548. This includes full-time, part-time, and so-called "corporate" ad marketers - those major companies who use affiliate marketing as part of their larger income stream.

Highly focused, niche marketing is where most leads and referrals come from. If you have a blog or a website designed to reach a highly targeted audience and can generate steady traffic, there is a good chance your conversion percentage will eventually reach the industry average of 1 - 2 percent.

There is no question that affiliate marketing on the web can generate a substantial income, but don't think for a minute that it is an easy job. There is no such thing as "getting rich quick."

Who succeeds and who fails? Ask anyone who has succeeded in affiliate marketing and they will tell you that they had to spend several hours a day for little or no money while learning the ropes. Afterward, don't expect it to get any easier.