How To Evaluate An Affiliate Program
Ok so you think you have found a good affiliate program to promote on your website or in your newsletter? There are some basic things you need to look out for before joining any affiliate program. Some of them may seem minor but those little petty things can cause you to lose hundreds of dollars in affiliate revenue.
Here are some of the basic things to watch out for when joining an affiliate program:
No Affiliate Manager Contact Information
If they don't provide you with a way to contact them about their affiliate program then what are you going to do if you have a problem? Who are you going to email or call if your check doesn't arrive?
Commission Is To Low
Do you really want to spend time on an affiliate program that pays a measely 2%? I see these programs all over. They pitch their affiliate program and make it sound like it is a privelidge to join their affiliate program and earn pennies per sale. I usually stay away from programs that offer less than 8% commission. I will go a little lower if the products sell good and there is a good profit.
Unreasonable Cookie Length
Make sure you find this in their terms or information pages. This is the amount of time that the customer that clicks through your link remains yours. The standard cookie length is 30 days. This means that if your visitor clicks your affiliate link then they have 30 days to buy for you to get credit. You really don't want to promote an affiliate program that offers less than a 30 day cookie length.
Merchant Site Has Traffic Leaks
Probably the most common thing I see with affiliate programs. Mostly from newbie merchants that just got their affiliate program started. Most don't realize what they are doing and usually will correct the problem once I explain to them how traffic leaks are hurting their business and their affiliate program. Traffic leaks are links on the affiliate program site that potential customers can click on and go to other sites... sites that the affiliate won't get credit for if the visitor buys something. Leaks can consist of third-party banner ads, Google AdSense ads, popups, popunders, text links, etc...
No Phone Sale Tracking
With the internet market growing so rapidly every year this means more customers are shopping online. Alot of them will call the merchants 800 number to call in their order instead of submitting it online. Where does this leave you? The merchant gets the cash on the sale while you get stiffed. So when evaluating an affiliate program be sure to check to see if the merchant has measures set up to track phone orders for affiliates. It is simple to set up and it puts the affiliates ID number next to the phone number. So when customers call in they are asked for that number so they can manually credit the appropriate affiliate for the sale.
Chet Brzezinski has been in the affiliate marketing and affiliate management industry since 1997. He owns two affiliate marketing related sites. One that offers affiliate program management & consulting services and the other affiliate program reviews, tips and resources.
Latest News
Purdue Research Park Affiliate Company Launches Educational ... MarketWatch - The new program is available from Computer-Aided Learning LLC, which is an affiliate company of the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana. ... |
PubEasy Adds Southern Book Service as New Affiliate Partner MarketWatch - As the newest PubEasy affiliate, the company will now be able to offer their customers the ability to check price and availability on various book titles, ... |
Court blocks Sprint Nextel affiliate iPCS’s motion to delay WiMAX deal Bizjournals.com, NC - s $14.5 billion WiMAX deal can continue — for now — without trouble from affiliate iPCS Inc. An Illinois circuit court said Monday that iPCS must withdraw ... OMS: We are not a telco, says Xohm Sprint affiliate backs down on WiMax suit Telcos see potential in WiMax |
Out of the Starting Gate : tyBit's First Payout to Affiliate Partners Emailwire - Lastly, tyBit delivers fast, relevant search results to its users and pays its affiliate partners the most robust revenue share in the industry. ... tyBit Issues First Payout to Affiliates |
CJRW and Burson-Marsteller Sign Affiliate Agreement MarketWatch - CJRW is currently Burson-Marsteller's only US-based affiliate. Through this relationship, CJRW clients will have access to Burson-Marsteller's global ... |
Host Department Launches a New Affiliate Program MyHostNews.com (press release), OK - With the new affiliate, affiliates will receive 25% commission of the total valid sale price after 45 days of the valid sale date. ... |
The Whitlock Group Achieves IOCOM Preferred Affiliate Status MarketWatch - With this Preferred Affiliate status, The Whitlock Group has enhanced flexibility in using IOCOM's products to deliver sophisticated videoconferencing ... |
Amazing New Rates for Anastasia International's Affiliate Program MarketWatch - BANGOR, Maine, November 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- - Anastasia International has Announced Incredible New Terms for its Affiliate Program. ... |
Convio and Charity Dynamics Help Austin Affiliate of Susan G ... MarketWatch - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate ( www.komenaustin.org) implemented Boundless Fundraising(TM) from Charity Dynamics as part of an integrated ... |
GM of Texas Stars named Bizjournals.com, NC - The club is the minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars. “The Dallas Stars have a solid history with Scott White and ... Ka'aihue Receives Topps Double-A Honor |
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