There is no better ways to start off an affiliate marketing business then to have a good affiliate guide to refer to and guide you along when you are lost. If you are a newbie affiliate, you can make use of the following steps to kick start your affiliate marketing business.Step #1: Find A Niche MarketThe first thing that you need to do is to find a niche market. This is area with great demand and unfulfilled needs. The best way to identify a niche market is to check out forums, blogs and discussion groups and find out what people are discussing.Step #2: Find A Product To PromoteAfter you have found your niche market, the next step is to find a product to promote. The product that you are promoting must be able to fulfill the needs of your niche market. In another word, there must be demand for the product that you are going to promote.Step #3: Set Up A WebsiteWith all the research done, it is time to start working. Set up a simple website to promote the product and to collect your prospect’s particular. On the website, it should include the benefits of the product it brings to your visitor. It should also include a form to collect the email and name of your leads.Step #4: Build TrafficThere are many ways to build traffic. One of the most effective and cheap ways is to write relevant articles and submit to article directory. If you have spare cash on hand, starting a pay-per-click campaign to drive traffic to your site can also be a good idea.Step #5: Follow Up With Your LeadsWhen leads start coming in, the last important thing is to follow up with them. This should be done with an autoresponder system. Not only will it help you automate the whole process, it can also save you lot of time and convenience. Using the autoresponder system is also a great way to build relationship with your prospect. The better the relationship you have with your prospect, the higher the chance they will buy your product.