Although starting an affiliate program may cost a bit for the organizations in terms of paying signing fees to affiliate networks or asps; but these initial payments are nothing compared to the benefits that can be reaped there-after. Based on a good affiliate commission scheme the company can attract more affiliates and build on good relationships. The goods and services are promoted in the most cost effective manner as affiliates give free advertising space in their high ranking websites and carry out email and newsletter marketing to promote their affiliate products. This leads to free promotion and brand awareness of the affiliate merchant's products and services in the least if not the actual sales. Affiliate program also helps the affiliates in order to generated value for their websites and give their customers with a useful service. The affiliate can also earn good handy cash in the process.

Although affiliate programs are extremely popular they are kind of biases towards the affiliates as the odds are against them. The affiliate merchant gets all the fame and the affiliates generally remain promoting the goods with nothing in return. There can even be frauds in many cases. In spite of all this selecting the right affiliate program and promoting it in the right way can go a long way in helping the affiliates earn handsomely.