Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to prosper online is to market products and services as an affiliate.

While there have been many an article and book written about how to be an affiliate, most overlook one very important aspect of the affiliate process.

That aspect is to make sure you get paid!

By way of background, the term "affiliate" on the Internet can be compared to a commissioned salesperson offline. As an affiliate, you do the selling and get paid when a sale is made.

The beauty part is that you don't have to worry about creating products, having a merchant account where you collect payments, doing customer service, and the other things that product creators have to do.

You just sell and collect your money. Simple and effective.

And there are literally hundreds of thousands of products you can promote. From A to Z, if you can imagine it, you can sell it as an affiliate.

If you want to learn how to succeed as an affiliate in 10 simple steps, please consider my SHORT report called "How To Succeed As An Affiliate for Under $100". It's the same process I use and will show you how to succeed as an affiliate without busting your budget.

Over the years, becoming an affiliate of a top selling site is the most proven path to success. I recommend you learn how to do this, because being an affiliate is smart business, even if you create your own products.

But there can be a ** hidden problem ** when it comes to being an affiliate. That problem is making sure you get paid!

Here are three ways to make sure that you get paid what is owed you, and you get it on time.

====> KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT PAYMENTS

Read the fine print! KNOW when to expect payment. Also, know the date to write and call if your payment has not arrived. Keep a calendar with due dates marked by program name.

====> WHAT'S THE COOKIE POLICY

A cookie is a little file that is placed on the computer of the person who clicks your affiliate link. Being able to identify this cookie is how the affiliate program knows that it's you who made the sale.

While this is completely automatic for you (all you need do is promote your affiliate link) you must know the "cookie policy" of the program you are promoting in order to protect yourself.

EXAMPLE: Some very large sites only use a one-day cookie. That means that visitors you send to them today, but buy tomorrow, do NOT get credited to you!

This seems to be changing about every 5 minutes, so be sure you are up to date on the cookie policy of your program. You KNOW the value of a more durable cookie ? so pay close attention to this one.

====> LIFETIME COMMISSIONS & EXCLUSIVITY

Lifetime on the Net means as long as the company is in business, and your link is sending buyers, you are paid.

Exclusivity means that to sell my widget, you cannot sell other widgets. Very few programs require this, but if you find one that does, think long and hard before joining.

Lifetime commissions are very important because they mean that links you put out there today and get clicked on months from now will still pay you the commissions you deserve. Look for Lifetime Commission programs here.

http://www.lifetimecommissions.com

You work very hard to participate in the affiliate programs that you believe will do the best for you. You deserve payment as agreed.

Take these steps to ensure you get what you earned and remember that agreements prevent disagreements, so do take time to know the policies of any program you are going to promote.

By taking a few simple steps in the beginning, you can establish affiliate relationships with great companies that will pay you very well and last for years.

And THAT is a beautiful thing indeed!

Through Special Reports and membership sites, Charlie Page helps people succeed online.