One of my specialisms is magazine affiliate programs and I have sold hundreds of subscriptions online since I started in 1997.
In the US a typical commission rate for affiliates is
30% on magazine subscriptions. The stingiest magazine specialist stores might offer 15%-20% - but only the real suckers bother linking to those stores because 20% commission is considered an insult Stateside.
In the UK we have three magazine sites with affiliate programs: UKSubscribe (CJ), GreatMagazines (
TD) and WHSmith (
TD). Their commission rates are...
5% to
7%! Postal costs are higher in the UK, appreciate that, and therefore the profit margins are not as high, but there is a massive difference between 30% and 5% to 7%.
Not only that, but neither UKSubscribe nor GreatMagazines even have deeplinking options to individual magazines.
They only have about 200 magazines on their sites (WHSmith, far less). Most of the US magazine subscription stores have 1000+
And, oh yes, the EPC of UKSubscribe at CJ is one of the lowest for any affiliate program we belong to.
The US magazine subscription sites not only pay better and have far better conversion ratios, but they have deeplinkng options and dynamically-updated links which feature latest covers of each magazine. UK subscription sites often show cover of magazines from 2003.
I know people are interested in spyware etc. but you should also take action against how poorly we are often paid by many UK affiliate programs. 50p on a magazine subscription is a joke. Rip off Britain is still alive and kicking in 'affiliate' marketing! Fight for your rights and don't just be grateful somebody is giving you the honour of linking to their stores for 50 pence - if you generate a sale/their tracking works/order is not made via the telephone number plastered all over their site.