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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:06 pm
Post subject: Affiliate Networks: When Commissions are "Icing" n
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Greetings,
I currently earn commissions through my participation in reseller and affiliate programs.
I've invested the necessary due-diligence time to review each affiliate program, not to mention learn each of their particular commission tracking system, policies and procedures, etc. Ugh.
As there are so many great products and services available, this approach to evaluating and signing up as an affiliate on a one-by-one no longer seems to be an approach that is going to have diminishing returns as the list of affiliates grows longer.
Unlike many who frequent these forums, my affiliate income with respect to my particular business represents the "icing" on the revenue cake", and not the cake itself, ( I earn my principal income through products and services that I develop and provide).
So, I'm wondering if I would be better off joining one (or more) of these popular affiliate networks, like Linkshare, Clickbank or BeFree, rather than continue to invest the time in reviewing and joining each company affiliate program seperately, which is time consuming and difficult to manage as one joins more and more affiliate programs.
As I recommend products and services via my web site as well as via my eNew briefs, any network affiliate program I join muct have tracking capability to manage both kinds (web and email) of referral links.
I'm interested in hearing opinions from affiliates that use Clickbank, Linkshare, and BeFree (anyone?).
Does the use of using Affiliate Networks make more sense for those of us who are not principally in the business of making the majority of our income through affiliate marketing?
Appreciate any feedback (Pro/Con) and suggestions/advice along these lines - thanks! |
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Debs
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:33 pm
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I have to say using a Network can save a tremendous amount of time in finding appropriate programs, tracking, etc. simply because everything is one place.
Since it is a secondary income for your site, it could be a viable option for you, and worth checking out. A lot of merchants offer product direct links as well through these Networks (Linkshare & CJ mostly). I like CJ because if I promote 10 merchants, I get a check each month so long as the aggregate earnings meet $25 (very easy to do). Linkshare payments take longer and you must meet individual merchant earning minimums to receive a check.
I use independents and the major Networks you mentioned, I also use Adsense (which really simpliflies things).
My 2 cents,
Debs
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Charlie
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 4:22 pm
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Of the networks, I have most experience of ClickBank, but I agree with Debs (almost) completely.
Just one thing - if you have a lot of traffic and you are interested in a small number of merchants to affiliate with, I'd contact then directly and ask for special terms. See where it leads.
Cheers,
Charlie.
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JimInCo
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 4:38 pm
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Thanks Debs and Charlie for your quick posts!
I was a CJ member for a short time several months back, as this was how one of the companies I am an affiliate for, managed their affiliate program.
I dropped CJ when they changed their terms to as you stated Charlie, because I felt that their new policy would cause me to dedicate more time than I had alloted for managing this aspect of my business. (Put another way, based on CJs current policies and practices, CJ is best for those that want to earn the majority of their income from affiliate marketing.)
Your feedback has been helpful (keep it coming!) - I plan to dig-in and review at least five of the major network affiliate service providers, and then signup with one of them over the weekend.
Anybody know of a side-by-side spreadsheet sort of comparison of Network Affiliates (compares each of their affiliate benefits/policies/services etc? If not. maybe I'll create one and market it via whoever I select.
Thanks again,
Jim
www.JimIntrigliaConsulting.com
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Jim Intriglia
JimIntrigliaConsulting.com |
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Charlie
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 6:40 pm
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| JimInCo wrote: | | I dropped CJ when they changed their terms to as you stated Charlie |
That wasn't me, Jim.
Cheers,
Charlie.
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"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
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Debs
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:53 pm
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| Quote: | | Just one thing - if you have a lot of traffic and you are interested in a small number of merchants to affiliate with, I'd contact then directly and ask for special terms. See where it leads. |
Actually you can also do this with the merchants in the major networks and it is actually encouraged by the networks. I've done it with several already. The tracking still goes through the network which is what I like.
Debs
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JimInCo
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 1:49 pm
Post subject: Re: Affiliate Networks: When Commissions are "Icing&
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| Anonymous wrote: |
I've invested the necessary due-diligence time to review each affiliate program, not to mention learn each of their particular commission tracking system, policies and procedures, etc. Ugh. |
Based on my first review of BeFree, it looks like there is no advantage (for me) to join BeFree, as I would still have to invest the time to review a companies particular affiliate agreement.
I was under the assumption that Affiliate Network companies provide their member affiliates with the benefit of a single standardized affiliate agreement, to reduce the significant time investment on the part of affiliate marketeers, along the lines of signing-up as affiliates for a number of companies.
I see no benefit of joining BeFree at this point from that perspective, as I would still have to review each of their clients' particular affiliate agreement, which I already do now.
If I am going to make that sort of time investment, as an affiliate that is interested in the income as a secondary revenue source, it appears to be wiser for me to continue to investigate reseller opportunities, as they pay considerably higher commissions, and require not much more in the way of review, with respect to reseller agreements.
Not sure if this the the case with LinkShare, but if it is, than I would say that the benefits associated with signing-up with Affiliate Network organizations are best enjoyed by those whose primary business is Internet product/service marketing.
The other interesting thing I've come across in reviewing AssociiatePrograms.com is the pay-per-click companies. I like that approach better, as it does cost money to maintain a web site with banner ads, or even a email account to market third-party products and services, regardless if a sale is made or not.
TV/Radio advertising is paid for by the advertiser, regardless of if a product or service sells due to the advertising effort of the adwriter or broadcaster.
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Jim Intriglia
JimIntrigliaConsulting.com |
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Charlie
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 9:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Affiliate Networks: When Commissions are "Icing&
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| JimInCo wrote: | | The other interesting thing I've come across in reviewing AssociiatePrograms.com is the pay-per-click companies. I like that approach better, as it does cost money to maintain a web site with banner ads, or even a email account to market third-party products and services, regardless if a sale is made or not. |
Unfortunately, due to fraud concerns, pay per click programs are now nowhere near as common as pay per sale.
Cheers,
Charlie.
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JimInCo
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:46 pm
Post subject: Re: Affiliate Networks: When Commissions are "Icing&
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| Quote: | I was under the assumption that Affiliate Network companies provide their member affiliates with the benefit of a single standardized affiliate agreement, to reduce the significant time investment on the part of affiliate marketeers, along the lines of signing-up as affiliates for a number of companies.
I see no benefit of joining BeFree at this point from that perspective, as I would still have to review each of their clients' particular affiliate agreement, which I already do now. |
Checked Linkshare this morning, and their response to my question re: sellers using an generic affiliate agreement was:
| Quote: | | The merchants will most likely route you to LinkShare as we are the agreed upon platform for their affiliate program. Once you create an account, you will see that it can be done in a matter of minutes. |
Key word: "most likely"
The first mechant I chose on BeFree was VistaPrint (VistaPrint.com). The BeFree link redirected me to VistaPrint's website, where I would need to review their affiliate program. They also had their own affiliate mgmt system, so now I would have to learn that as well?
Yuk.
I think I see why some 'Net Marketeers do not make use of Affiliate Networks, as to proceed this way (reviewing each merchant affiliate agreement plus future changes, and needing to learn their affiliate mgmt systems, in addition to the affliate network system, could make the time investment a losing proposition.
Minus well do it one at a time, and leave the middle man out.
I would be more entusiastic re: affliate network companies, if they would require their sellers use a generic agreement, not to mention the Affiliate Network system for managing affiliates. This would really deliver some great benefit to affiliates with respect to one-stop management of their sellers.
Call me a skeptic, but the suggested aforemention process for LinkShare and BeFree for affiliates, sounds like it would eat too much into profits, as one adds affiliates via these networks.
Jim
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Jim Intriglia
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