Affiliate marketing occurs when one Web site (an affiliate publisher) promotes another web site’s products or services (a merchant) in exchange for a commission. The merchant provides banner ads and text links for the affiliate to place on their website, and if an ad (which links to the merchant’s website) results in a sale, a sign up or a click, then the affiliate earns a commission. The best part about it for affiliates is that, hey, it’s free and easy – you refer your web site visitors to something they like, somebody else does the hard work of providing the product or service, and you receive the commission! The best…