Now that many people’s financial situations are getting even tighter thanks to the recession, the concept of earning online is getting even more interesting, and one of the first things many people learn about is something called affiliate marketing. While there is enough info out there to overwhelm the majority at first, the basic concept is fairly simple.

Market research is the 1st step in the process.

First, you must research markets you have an interest in.  This is your most important starting point, and you can do this by finding out what your future clients are searching for.  This is the bedrock of keyword research finding the actual words or phrases folks type into search engines to find solutions to their issues, and you may be certain that if you do not do your analysis, you’ll regret it later.

By finding and using keywords that patrons are actively entering into the search engines, you’ll be ready to help your internet sites and landing pages rank higher, generating a nonstop flood of organic, centered traffic.

Keyword research doesn’t have to be a hard job, however.  Start with the free Google Keyword Tool, which can be found by hunting for Google keyword tool external, and enter in a keyword or phrase that identifies the product or niche that you are interested in promoting as an affiliate.

Click on get keyword ideas to get a listing of keywords and gauge the competitiveness of the the market by looking at the amount of times people are searching for your most important keywords per month.

What you want to do is find a market with existing demand that also has existing competition and products readily available, but not so competitive that ranking highly is almost impossible.

What’s crucial here is that you remember there must be an audience for whatever you choose to market.  Since you are an affiliate, your costs for entering a market are not very high, but it is’s still a smart idea to take the time to do niche research in order to elude squandering precious time.

For more info on market research and keyword research in affiliate internet marketing, particularly as it is applicable to CPA, take a look at the newly-released Zero Friction Marketing course.