Too many online marketers leave a pile of cash on the table because they either don't know about affiliate marketing or don't know how to use it effectively. If you want to take your business up a level, affiliate marketing is the way to go. You can increase your profit margin by allowing others to market your products for you, and it's much easier than you think.

Affiliate marketing is when you strike a partnership with another online marketer to promote your merchandise. They provide a link on their website that directs their visitors to your webpage. When the customer buys a product as a result of clicking on that affiliate link, you share the profits with that affiliate. It's an arrangement where the vendor (you) and the affiliate can create a lot of cash.

Many vendors like to use an online marketplace like ClickBank or PayDot.com to showcase their products. These marketplaces catalog products so affiliates can select their products from their chosen niches. Although many vendors like to sell digital products this way, you can also market subscriptions and physical products through affiliate marketing.

Here's how it works. You offer your products through an online marketplace. Affiliates search the directories to find products they want to market. If they choose to market your product, they'll get a unique affiliate link to publish on their website. When a visitor clicks on that link, they'll be directed to your sales page. All sales made through that link are shared by you and your affiliate.

Whether you're an experienced Internet marketer or new to the online arena, affiliate marketing is a win-win solution. This is why. Although the affiliate may drive the initial sale, you can offer upsells and cross-sells to earn more cash, as well as enjoy backend sales in the future. Whether you use affiliate marketing in conjunction to your sales program or use it to drive all the sales to your site, you will see a rise in profits by striking an agreement with an experienced affiliate.

While some affiliates will help you make a fair share of sales, super affiliates -- marketers who are really good at affiliate marketing -- will make up the bulk of your sales. A lot of vendors split the profits 50/50, but some affiliate agreements offer up to 80% of the profits for high-end items.

The benefit to you is that when an affiliate agrees to promote your product, they cover the costs to do so. They also spend their time and energy to promote your product. That's why so many vendors love selling digital downloads this way. It's quick. It's easy. It's automatic. If you sell physical products, your best bet is to use a fulfillment center to handle your orders.

Don't underestimate the power of affiliate marketing. The more affiliates that promote your products, the higher your potential income stream can be. Whether you rely on affiliate marketing as your main source of income or use it as a second income stream, if well executed, it can put a lot of money in your bank account.