Sadly, most people that try their hand at Affiliate Marketing are ultimately unsuccessful. Some rush into the sea of tech and get lost in all of the sophisticated tools and code available to affiliate marketers. Others simply underestimate the amount of work required to be successful, or just fizzle out before they reach the finish line.

So, what does it take to succeed in Affiliate Marketing?

We have found that the most important step for any aspiring publisher is to take a personal inventory of the qualities required to become a successful Affiliate (the terms “publisher” and “affiliate” are often considered interchangeable).

First, define your goals, …what “success” looks like to you. Are you trying to make enough money to fund vacations and new gadgets, are you attempting to make a full-time career of Affiliate Marketing, or do you fall somewhere in between? Once you have defined success for yourself, you can then determine if you have what it takes to achieve your goals.

Here is a list of the personal qualities the staff at MGECOM regularly see in the most successful Affiliate Marketers:

Open to learning – If you are are new to Affiliate Marketing, you should do as much reading and research you can to learn about this industry. There are many, many helpful resources on the web to teach you everything from basic Affiliate Marketing terms to the technical side of what is needed to create your first website. As you become successful, remember to never stop learning. Attend industry events, network and be active in the publisher community in order to stay abreast of affiliate marketing changes and trends. Remember, the MGECOM Affiliate Managers are always ready to help answer your questions as you begin your affiliate marketing career.

Patience – As the saying goes, “patience is a virtue”. This is very true in Affiliate Marketing, as success takes time. Sometimes it will feel as if you are pounding sand rather than making progress toward your goals. However, if you are patient, methodical, and stick with your sound business plan (you made a business plan, right?), you will be on your way to reaching your goals.

Self-Disciplined – Although being patient is necessary, you must be working while you wait. Sitting around waiting, checking Facebook, or browsing Priceline for a great deal won’t get your website built, get customers to your website, or grow your email list. You will likely be working at home as you get started in Affiliate Marketing and it is easy to get caught up in the lassie-fare lifestyle by only working hard a few hours a day. To succeed, you need to treat your stay at home Affiliate Marketing job for what it is — a job. Work hard and smart, don’t just “show up”.

Determination & Commitment – You will hit obstacles. You will be stumped, confounded, baffled, flabbergasted, and maybe even dumbfounded (and sometimes all of the above at the same time). There will be times when you will not know what to do next. To be successful, you cannot let these obstacles stop you from moving forward every day to reaching your goal of being successful in affiliate marketing. Push through your self-doubt and uncertainty, and have an unshakable commitment to making your affiliate marketing career a success, and you just may achieve your goals.

Affiliate Marketing can be, a lucrative and rewarding career. For some, it is about taking control over their fate and future. As with any business, competition is fierce. Affiliate Marketing can be a friendly, collaborative industry with people offering much help, but it is also a cut-throat business as everyone is relying on earning a commission to make their livings. However, you if are open minded, patient, disciplined, and determined, then you already possess many of the necessary tools to becoming a successful affiliate marketer.