keep in mind that he is paying a commission on a sale he would not have made if not for the affiliate referral.Because of the high volume of affiliate programs, now there are online service providers who act as third party brokers. The affiliate and merchants can register with these companies and link up through them. The brokers oversee all aspects of the partnership and in turn receive a small percentage of each sale. This type of service is, of course optional. However, some people feel the extra expense is worth the minimized hassle.Based on the recent success of affiliate programs, it’s easy to see why some people are calling these programs the most powerful marketing tools online.About the Author:Paul Jesse is a retired government work and the author of several articles on Internet Marketing. Visit his website: http://www.sheamarketing.com