One harsh truth about affiliate marketing is that it doesn’t work just by joining a program or setting up a few links. It needs real effort, and results often take longer than expected. Many people think it’s a fast way to make money, but there’s a lot to figure out behind the scenes. That includes understanding how to get traffic, writing content, testing ads and tracking what works. Even with good effort, not every campaign brings results. Some money can be lost in the process too. These parts are not often shown because most people only talk about the success. But knowing this early can help with planning and not giving up too quickly. What do you think people should really expect when starting out?