CPA (cost per action) versus affiliate marketing is becoming a classic debate. For a lot of people who didn't get affiliate marketing to work for one reason or another, but have been successful in CPA marketing, it's obvious which the clear winner will is.

The same could be said for a lot of the top online marketers today such as Mark Joyner, Anik Singal, and others who produced their amazing lifestyles from affiliate marketing. So who's right at the end of the day?

Neither, because both have their merits, challenges and rewards.

CPA marketing has been around for many years, but it wasn't until 3-4 years ago that it really began to catch on with both successful and also struggling online marketers. It is because of CPA marketing pioneers like Amish Shah whose success put CPA on the affiliate radar as a rewarding business model, that it has become so popular within the online community. It is regarded by some as a means of generating a cash flow, yet others see it as a primary source of income.

I know a few CPA marketing enthusiasts that believe owning a CPA business is easy compared to affiliate marketing. The reason is because it's simpler for their customers to take an action which doesn't require their credit card information in order for these enthusiasts to generate an income.

Another powerful benefit of CPA advertising is the immediate results companies and marketers get when people carry out simple actions like giving a zip code or filling in an email form. Even when it's just a couple of dollars reward per action, it really is enough to be able to inspire people to keep going as these small amounts add up quickly. Affiliate marketing however demands a lot more endurance to climb the learning curve before they get to enjoy any decent income.

CPA advertising is exciting and rewarding and gaining popularity inside the IM (Internet Marketing) community, but let's consider a little what makes internet affiliate marketing a strong "contender" in this contest to determine what business model is worth your time and attention.

It's asserted "the bigger the risk you take in any enterprise, the bigger the reward". While not always the case, I've discovered from personal experience it is fairly accurate. Normally, the more a person will risk, the more money and higher the profit margins they get in return.

Let's say you possess an affiliate product that generates $30 commission in profits with affiliate marketing. If you have a common CPA campaign set-up, it could take fifteen people doing some specific task ($2.00 for every zip/email submit) to obtain the same amount that it took an affiliate marketer.

Additionally, with traditional marketing online you're not subject to the CPA marketing merchant. Therefore you rarely need to call one to get anyone's approval to get set-up and making money.

As you can see both CPA and traditional marketing have "positives and negatives". For those starting out, I recommend CPA because the determination to succeed increases even with small successes. As you start to make money, you can then branch out into affiliate marketing for a greater online income.

Follow Ray's links to learn more CPA marketing tips and other internet marketing strategies.

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