While using Internet Explorer my son said, "Dad, nothing happens when I click on this link." I scratched my head for a minute and thought, "he isn't doing anything different, only thing I recently installed was XP SP2"; then light went off ... one of SP2's features is incorporation of a pop-up blocker. After installing SP2, links that normally opened in a new window now don't open at all. The immediate way around it is to hold down control key (Ctrl) then click link or right click link and select "Open in New Window". To permanently turn off IE's pop-up blocker, click Tools > Pop-up Blocker > Turn Off Pop-up Blocker.

So how does all this relate to lost affiliate sales?

If you have your affiliate links set to open in a new browser window, they are considered "pop-ups" by post-SP2 Internet Explorer and many other pop-up stopping programs. The average Internet surfer with pop-up blocking software or SP2 installed will simply go to another site because they think link does not work. If they do not see your affiliate product/page, they will obviously not buy what you are selling. Since pop-up blocking feature is more-or-less automatic with SP2, you potentially lose a customer when they upgrade their copy of Internet Explorer.

In my search for a presence on internet, I searched many avenues, but was finding more scams and dead ends than I would care to speak about.

It was one last scam and six months of my presence on internet that I realized that only way I could possibly make a living on internet -- and gain any amount of satisfaction --was to work for myself. Duh! But how? Affiliate Marketing seemed to be answer.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is promotion of another person's or company's product, in which you get a percentage of profit if a sale is made. That doesn't sound so hard, does it? Well -- it's doeable if you have information you need to get you started in this field -- and it is work. So let me begin enlightenment.

First and foremost, you need passion?

What is Passion?

Passion is a feeling that you have -- a feeling that is so strong that it is your driving force in doing it.

As you can see, passion is needed in any venture if you want to succeed. With passion, it will drive you forward through hard times, bad times, and good times when developing your business.

This passion thing, I must admit, was my first stumbling block. I believed I didn't have a passion for anything -- and feared that maybe, just maybe, corporate world and it 70 hour work weeks may have consumed my passion.