Quote:
Originally posted by allaffiliatepro
Affiliate Networks
Advantages
· Affiliate pool to tap into
· Hands off affiliate payment
· No software to maintain
· Network branding can increase trust
· They deal with affiliate requests
In-House Affiliate Programs
Disadvantages
· You must find your own affiliates
· Hands on Affiliate Payments
· You deal with affiliate requests
Let me know what you think is right, what's wrong and what's missing.
Remember this is from a merchants perspective, I'll do a post for an affiliate perspective later.
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Stay calm! - I like your style!
OK, I'm speaking as an affiliate but I suggest that if affiliates see advantages and disadvantages, that's relevant to merchants too - so I'll add my tuppence (if you don't mind
) It seems to me that the object of an affiliate program, indy or network, is to recruit affiliates.
As an affiliate I'm far (and I mean far) more likely to join your program via a network.
Why?
- It's easier to find you in the first place
- I get a single cheque (provided you don't join LinkS***e) oops, for the sake of clarity, the missing letter are
not h*t
- I'm dealing with a known quantity. ie, I trust them as far as I trust them, whereas with an Indy, I just don't know.
- I can see 20/50 merchants performance at one login, not 20/50 logins and time is money
- The network has an interest in seeing that the program is fair, it tracks, pays on time, etc, which just hapens to coincide with my interests
OK, there are disadvantages too (from an affiliate point of view):
- I'll have more competition to deal with
- Ummmm? - OK, that's all I can think of
Maybe the best course is a combination - network and Indy.
If you perform on the network, I can find and screen your program via the netword, then move to the Indy program if there are benefits for me as an affiliate, once I know your program performs.
Actually, maybe that's a benefit for you too - the network does the initial screening, compliance checking (except LinkS***e), etc - then you invite the winners to the join the Indy program?
OK, they're just some thoughts - remember what the man said, Stay Calm!
KM8