Affiliate Programs also known as "associate programs" have gained popularity among the internet users very rapidly because of its unique function of helping people make money in a more profitable way. Affiliate program is not just beneficial for the merchant's website but it carries equal significance for the affiliate site too. It basically serves the purpose of transferring or posting links to the merchant's website and ends up earning a set amount of commission, or as per agreement in return. While the merchant's site gets benefited by the customers it receives. The amount in the agreement may vary on the following conditions:

- The number of people sent by the affiliate site who merely visits the merchant's site, without performing any action.

- The number of people sent by the affiliate site, who finish up buying something from the merchant's site.

- There are other ways too on which the commission may depend, which includes pay-per-click and pay per lead.

Having an online business, Affiliate program is the best way to promoting the products and services with the least amount of inputs and minimal effort. There are many websites who does not have any direct concern with e-commerce but they get them involved in it indirectly by functioning as an affiliate.

Affiliates works in an interesting style, maybe you have designed a website on 'baking lovers', if for instance, someone is searching information about baking. When they have reached your website they will go through it and would probably check out the recommendation on your website and if that recommendation directs them to other suppliers (merchant's site) for raw-material of baking, this can aid them to buy anything on the merchant site. Consequently you will get commission for your affiliate program.

Affiliates are helpful in a number of other ways. Prior to it, there were advertising programs which were relatively costly and uncertain for the advertiser. The advertiser in advertising programs has to spend money first which is uncertain in response of whether it will make profit or will result in the form of loss. While the affiliate program ensures the merchant site holder that he would only pay when the desired outcome is achieved. Thus unlikely the traditional advertising scheme, the risk-factor is considerably low in the affiliate program.

Affiliate program does well when the merchant's site chooses its affiliates wisely. Similarly another thing about the affiliate program that is to be carefully taken into account is that, the affiliate chooses the product and the company that is relevant to its web site's content to attract the correct targeted people. This process if perfectly executed, results in great convenience for all the concerned people. Merchant gets his customers with no trouble and without making extra expenses. Affiliate earns in the shape of his affiliate program compensations, without being directly involved in the e-commerce practices. And the person who is being directed by the affiliate program, may get his desired product which he wouldn't get this easily otherwise.