Darren Lewis is 42 and lives in London with his partner.

Q: Do you work from home part-time, full-time, just for extra cash or do you freelance?
A: I work from home online on a part-time basis.

Q: What type of work do you do?
A: I work in Affiliate Marketing.

Q: How did you get started?
A: I did a short web design course to get the gist of things, such as basic HTML but nowadays there are lots of sitebuilders that you can use to get started. Once my site was built I did an online search and, fortunately, hit on this website, which gave me most of the info I needed to start up. I also joined forums and studied online articles on Affiliate Marketing.

Q: Is this a difficult sector to break into?
A: No, not at all. I found a lot of useful information that I applied to my work on this site but it is a very competitive market. A lot of people think that you can work online and earn thousands of pounds a week with little input. It isn't like that at all. I have to put the hours in and I do work hard at it to make it a success. People are misled into thinking that the hard part is building a website, it isn't, the hard part is getting genuine traffic to your site.

Q: Do you enjoy working from home?
A: Yes, actually, I do. I know that if I work hard - I reap all the rewards!

Q: Why did you choose home working?
A: I used to work in retail but was made redundant in 2008. I'd heard a lot about online work so I did some research and gave it a go. I'm glad I did.

Q: How do you motivate yourself?
A: I've got a routine and I stick to it - plus I know that if I don't put the hours in I won't get paid. Simple.

Q: What are the positive aspects of home working?
A: You can work around your own schedule and there isn't a boss breathing down your neck. For instance, I can take a day or two off during the week and work through the weekend. Or I can start late and work into the evening. I also don't have to travel to work everyday - great in the winter plus I get extra hours kip! I also save on travelling expenses. Ultimately, I just like being my own boss.

Q: What are the negative aspects of home working?
A: Okay it does get a bit lonely sometimes. I'm quite outgoing so I do miss the contact with other people. But because I can work the hours that suit me I go out for a couple of hours most days, either to the gym, the library. shopping or I meet up with family and friends. Another downside is that because I work on commission only my earnings fluctuate - this can be a problem if you've got certain financial commitments. My partner works full-time so that's a safety net for us at the moment.

Q: Would you say that the type of work you are doing pays you a good wage?
A: At the moment it's adequate but I would like to earn more. I would say that it's more of an average wage right now but rumour has it that there's alot of money to be made in this sector if you learn how to market your products correctly.

Q: Do you find home distractions a problem when you're trying to work?
A: The problem is, people think that because you are working from home you are free to drop everything every time the phone rings or if friends decide to drop round. It's best to be straight with people and just say, 'I'm working all morning but I can see you in the afternoon/evening', or 'can I call you back because I'm working online and I'm in the middle of something that needs my immediate attention.' You will find that people are cool with you if you're honest.

Q: How many hours do you work a day?
A: I work about four or five hours a day, sometimes more.

Q: Don't you find home working a bit isolating?
A: Yes, it is a bit but when I'm feeling lonely or need a bit of company, I just phone someone or go out. It really isn't a problem for me.

Q: Would you recommend this type of work to anyone?
A: I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to work online and enjoys the solitude of a home based environment.

Q: Do you need any skills to carry out this kind of work?
A: You need a basic knowledge of HTML because you have to cut and paste code into your pages.

Q: Do you need any special equipment or tools?
A: You need a PC or Laptop, Internet access and either a Blog or a Website.

Q: What advice would you give to a newcomer in your field?
A: Don't give up. Affiliate Marketing takes a while to get off the ground. Just make sure that you promote your website or Blog and work hard at SEO. Traffic is very, very important in this industry. Join forums and find out as much as you can about the trade. Also, make sure that you register as self-employed and fill in your tax return on time!

Q: Have you been doing this for long?
A: Several years now but growing stronger and stronger each year.

Q: Would you return to the 9-5 grind in the future:
A: If the right opportunity arose, I may consider it but I'm happy with what I'm doing at the moment.

Q: Finally, would you recommend working from home?
A: I don't think that it suits everyone. It is hard work and you need to be able to motivate yourself too. There's a lot of self-discipline involved. Also, it's not suitable for people who are happier working within a team. It is quite isolating at times. On the plus side, if you enjoy working on your own it's great. Work the hours that suit you, reap all the rewards and avoid public transport. Bliss.

Do you work in Affiliate Marketing? Would you be willing to share your experience by filling in a questionnaire like this one? Email us at with the title Case Studies and we will send you further details.

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