I'm an affiliate marketer and have been since 2008, and I make a great living with it. THAT SAID, and not to toot my own horn, but I am one of the FEW honest affiliates out there. I think that's why I've been able to achieve the level of success I currently enjoy.

I don't promote anything to do with cryptocurrency. I'm in a totally different niche altogether. I am an email marketer, meaning I build lists of people interested in the same things I am, and then share valuable content with them, and of course promote products that I think will be helpful to them.

The thing is, though, I NEVER promote or endorse a product that I don't own and love myself, and I don't engage in doing fake reviews and all of the other shady practices that most affiliate marketers do.

I can completely understand why the entire affiliate marketing industry has gotten such a bad name. It really sucks because it makes it difficult for people who are doing the right thing to succeed.

I have no love at all for people who promote shoddy programs just to make a quick buck. I believe that in order to be successful as an affiliate marketer, you need to truly want to help people. Help people first, then ask for the sale later.

Of course you need to sell products. That's how you make your money. HOWEVER, you need to have a moral compass and conduct your business ethically and not just try to sell anything and everything under the sun to make a fast buck.

It's like anything else I guess. There are good and bad people, and a right and a wrong way. Unfortunately, it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bushel.

Also, I don't do affiliate marketing on SteemIt. I just don't think it's the right platform for it. If you are coming to SteemIt just to post articles that try to sell things, you are totally in the wrong mindset and are most likely going to fail. SteemIt is just not the place for that.

Great article! I have upvoted and followed you :)