"What are the secrets of affiliate marketing that make you so successful?" I get an email like this every once and a while. I make sure to read the emails and respond nicely. In my reply I always stress the following things:

There are no secrets to affiliate marketing! It doesn't matter what the self-proclaimed gurus might tell you. To be successful in affiliate marketing doesn't have anything to do with luck or any sort of magical method. Success in affiliate marketing comes from knowing the methods of the affiliate marketers that are already successful. I observe common ways of marketing, and I see things like a common attitude towards their campaigns. All the successful affiliate marketers I see out there on the Internet, are all crazy about affiliate marketing. They have such a strong feeling to do well when their marketing.

The perseverance of an affiliate marketer is the most important part of gaining success, not only in internet marketing but in anything you do in your lifetime. If you have to think there are secrets of affiliate marketing, then I guess this is one. Without perseverance for your business, you are going down the wide-open road of failure. You should be passionate, and that will keep you moving towards your goal, one small step at a time and your business will rise to the top. Also, keeping your pace even during difficult times, is what it means to have the right attitude towards marketing. This same passion will be the most important factor in achieving financial success.

Now ask yourself, do you have this type of perseverance? I don't know if you do or not. You are the only one who can answer that question. But one thing I do know is that without belief, interest, or determination you will never reach the goal you strive for. With the wrong mindset, the passion will never reach you and it won't push your business to the height of internet marketing success. Don't you want to be like on of the "gurus"? They know the secrets of affiliate marketing, even though they aren't secrets at all. They have been passionate from the very beginning, and you should, too.

Here are some of the aspects that will increase your passion for affiliate marketing:

Belief

Do you believe there is an opportunity for you to become successful in affiliate marketing? If you don't, then you need to change that right now. You have everything it takes, so don't think that you don't know the secrets of affiliate marketing, because there are none! It is completely necessary for you to believe that you can do it and become a successful affiliate marketer. How do you start believing? The answer is simple, just do some research on internet marketing. In your search, you will find so many ordinary people, just like you, can be very successful in this business. Some people who started just like you are right now, are now earning thousands of dollars from their efforts in their marketing campaigns. Don't fall into the trap and start believing only the "super affiliates" whose names you see all over the internet can earn money using internet marketing. Don't believe it, because it's not true. There are thousands of people you have never heard of, making very substantial incomes from affiliate marketing; they just choose less attention towards themselves.

What is the goal you are trying to achieve? Maybe there isn't an answer for that at the moment, but do your research, and set a reasonable goal for this current month. Write it down on paper, and do everything you can to make that goal come true. When you achieve your goal, move on to the next one, and do the same. Before you walk you have to crawl, and before you run you have to walk. If you work with perseverance, you will be running faster than you thought you could. The business of internet marketing is a marathon, not an all-out sprint. Take your time. Forget about the competition! Those are the ones that fill you with lies about the secrets of affiliate marketing. The frustrating times you may be going through right now will be far gone very soon. You have to believe you can be successful because you know you can do it. It's not easy, but then again anything that is worth having will take some work.

Interest

As an internet marketer, you have to have some interest in the products you are promoting to customers. In my opinion, you yourself should own and use the same products. Why? Because if you know the product you can be honest in your descriptions and reviews to your prospects. You should point out things about the products that make it unique. Stress good things about your product that customers will get when they use it. Unlike the people who sell you the "secrets of affiliate marketing", sell something legitimate, something you know works. The benefits you pick out are most likely the same benefits your prospects are looking for.

Determination

You have to be determined! You have to keep your head held high and know that you will succeed in your internet marketing business. You can't get too high or low in a business like this. You can't let a few setbacks discourage you. Go back over your plans and rework them. Figure out a different way to go about solving problems. Find new ways that are better than before to promote your products. So if you believe that there are secrets of affiliate marketing, I have to say these are it.

When you have these three traits, nothing can stop you. Your passion for internet marketing will send your business flying to levels you didn't think you could achieve. Also, all your prospects will notice this passion, and they will be just as convinced as you that you know what you are doing. So go out knowing that you can do it. Find a good place to start and get working.