Your reason for concern is a valid one.  With all the competition on the web you want to have some sort of assurance that your website will get traffic.  I may have just the solution for you.

Depending on the nature of the business you’re looking to start you may have a great option in working with one of the big web names such as EBay or Amazon.

Not only will you get instant recognition by being "partnered" with either of these companies, but there’s a steady, heavy flow of traffic to both sites.

While this doesn’t guarantee success and you still have to work hard to get your business up and running and seeing a profit, it does give you a boost.

So what can you sell if you’re "partnered" with one of these sites?  Well, just about anything.  I know people who have created EBay stores and they’re selling things like gift baskets, automobile parts, candles, computers, you name it.

With EBay you have the option of creating an EBay store or simply putting your items up for auction and using your own website for your store, whichever you prefer.

I know another person who sells used books who uses EBay, Amazon and half.com to list his inventory.  Great exposure and credibility from being "partnered" with these sites have provided him with a very comfortable living.

While I’m not saying that these sites are the only options for sites to "partner" your business up with they do make a fine example.

You’ll want to check out each site carefully to find out all the details on how you can build a business with them.

Be sure to take careful notes for each site you’re considering and then compare them with one another to find the best fit for you and your business.

While we’ve all read success stories on various topics, some of the most encouraging stories to read are those that are written about people in a similar situation as you.

The following tidbits are based on true success stories of affiliate marketers.

Without naming individuals’ names or giving site links I’m going to give two-sentence bits on several different affiliate marketing success stories.

This article would quickly become a book if I were to include bigger portions for each case.  If you’d like to know more about any of these success stories a quick Google search for affiliate marketing success stories will turn up what you’re looking for.

Ebay’s affiliate program has produced many, many successful affiliate marketers.  Using a variety of marketing methods such as Natural Search, Content/Niche Site and Paid Search, eBay’s affiliates have reaped the rewards of being part of a successful affiliate program.

Not nearly the scale of eBay’s affiliate program, but producing successful affiliates nonetheless, is AllSat.com’s affiliate program.

This two-tier affiliate program offering DishNetwork satellite systems has provided a very comfortable living for many of its affiliates.

Now I understand that I’ve only given two examples of affiliate marketing success stories, but there are so many more out there like these.

My hope is that by giving you just enough to really catch your attention you’ll take the time on your own when you’re finished reading this article to do a Google search of affiliate marketing success stories and read more.

Believe me, when you’re done reading a few of the stories out there you’ll be feeling very inspired and ready to take the leap into affiliate marketing.

If you’ve already taken the leap and perhaps are feeling a bit down because your progress has been slow, then this might be just the pick-me-up you need!