For the sake of our tutorial, we’re going to assume you have a site all about Affiliate Marketing. You know your target demographic, and what kinds of advertisers sell products that will appeal to your readers. Let’s apply to a company that sells “Internet and Online” products, specifying “Development.”

You come to a screen with a list of companies who fit in this category.

Ok, “fotolia” looks interesting. They sell stock photos for websites, and anybody doing online marketing should be interested in that. On the right side is an “apply” button. Click there.

If you’re not sure they’d look good on your website, go ahead and click “view links.” You can see what kinds of graphics they use in their banners. I rejected a couple of possible companies because the only banners they offered were HUGE, or came in garish colors that I thought would look offensively out of place on my website.

Once you've clicked "Apply," a pop-up will appear, telling you that this advertiser has to approve your application. So far, every one I have applied for at LinkShare says the same thing. This confused me at first; I had assumed that simply by being accepted by LinkShare I was now already accepted by all their advertisers. Not so.

Read the Terms and Conditions, then check the acceptance box and click OK. Most of the TaC are standard, common sense requirements that you must not steal, represent their company badly, or spam the entire population of the world with their logo. If you behave, they will pay you.

You get an acknowledgment. Click OK again, and now you wait. Notice will come in your email shortly, letting you know if you have been accepted or rejected.