If you're considering the possibility of making money on the Internet through affiliate programs, here are 10 important points to consider before you invest your time and money in any affiliate program.

1. Is the Merchant Hiding from You?

When you participate in any affiliate program you should make sure that the merchant's company name, address and telephone number appears somewhere on his or her website. Once you have found the contact information make a hardcopy of it and put it away for future reference.

If the only form of contact you have with the merchant is by e-mail, and the merchant's website disappears, your commission checks could be gone too.

Personal Tip: Whenever I invest my time and money in any business venture I always think worst case scenario. What is worst thing that can possibly go wrong in this business venture? If I can live with that problem I will move on.

I want you to think for a minute.

How many brick and mortar businesses have you seen or heard of that don't have a phone number and mailing address. In my lifetime I have not yet seen or heard of any brick and mortar business without a phone number and mailing address.

By not placing their mailing address and telephone number on their website this should tell you that they are not taking their web business seriously.

It is a wise thing to do a support test and email the company before you start promoting their program to see if they reply to your email.

Here is one e-book everybody should read it is called "Kickin' Butt and Takin' Names" and after you've finished reading this e-book you will know why it's important to have your company name address and telephone number on your website. This e-book comes free when you purchase a one year subscription to this very informative ezine called The iCop Rap sheet. Click here for more details. http://www.affiliateprogramsreview.com/icop.htm

2. Maximize Your Monthly Income

Let's say you want to earn $1000 per month, let's say the product you are selling is a broom, each broom sells for $40.00 each. And you get a 25% commission for selling each broom, which comes to $10.00 in commission