What Affiliate Programme would YOU recommend as affiliates?

[Johnnymb]

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Hi there affiliate people!

I have been working with a retail industry market leader in a niche sector (sorry I can't be more specific) and they sell a particularly successful toy for kids.

Their website is finally 'up to scratch' and has been selling well for the last 24 months or so. I am recommending that they invest in affiliate marketing. Given that we all know that 80% of the success/failure of an affiliate network is the level of communication between affiliate and merchant (and given that I'm going to be doing the talking on their behalf, this shouldn't be an issue!), what network would you suggest that they join... if any?

They already have their own tracking / reporting affiliate software solution, so they don't NEED an affiliate programme... but would it still be a good idea? If so what, given that they are a niche retailer (i.e. the entry and monthly fees for certain networks would be prohibitive)...

Suggestions and comments appreciated.

Kind regards

John Braithwaite

[drivetowin]

Go with Affiliate Future - good network - great guys - popular with merchants and affiliates - and minimal fees from your standpoint.

Hey Pete and Luke, the number of times I've plugged you lately I must be in line for enhanced commissions by now

[PitBoss]

Hi John

It sounds like you've got a job in educating them into the advantages of launching an affiliate program with a reputable network.

They say that they don't 'need an affiliate program' as they already have an in house solution that's working well.

In my opinion, the main advanages in launching with a network are

1. Some Affiliates like to pool their programs in the same place as it makes it easier for them to run and manage their programs. (Rather than the admin nightmare of signing up to loads of in house programs and having to jump around in order to monitor them).

2. You are bound to expose yourselves to a new audience of affiliates that haven't yet heard of your product or program. Some networks have 1000's of active affiliates.

3. A network offers a certain amount of security for an affiliate in that they are more likely to get paid with a network than by going direct.

4. The tracking is usualy first class and accurate for both merchant and affiliate. It can make in house systems look archaic in comparison.

I could probably come up with a whole list of reasons for you, but those are some of the most important issues.

[Luke]

Go with Affiliate Future - good network - great guys - popular with merchants and affiliates - and minimal fees from your standpoint.

Thanks KBudden! Your a great affiliate too (lets get this mutual appreciation society thing going lol)

Cos we are so cheap can only offer to buy you a few drinks at the Get Together! Thats a promise!

If you want to contact us to get set up as a merchant the man is Jules - jules@affiliatefuture.co.uk - his number is 020 7380 8533. We are getting pretty inundated with enquiries at the moment so if the phone is busy send an email and he will call asap.

We don't charge a set up fee and the monthly fee is £75.

[renegade]

what network would you suggest that they join... if any?

Would definitely recommend they join a network, I cantBarsed with lots of independent programs, all the extra admin online and accounting and concerns about getting paid out just isn't worth it if there's a viable program on one of the networks.
I'm happy with all the UK networks ATM, except perhaps DMG whoi seem to be going through a rough patch ATM.
Given CJ and TD are probably too expensive AF, buy.at and Paid On Results are all worth a look.

[Johnnymb]

1. Some Affiliates like to pool their programs in the same place as it makes it easier for them to run and manage their programs. (Rather than the admin nightmare of signing up to loads of in house programs and having to jump around in order to monitor them).

2. You are bound to expose yourselves to a new audience of affiliates that haven't yet heard of your product or program. Some networks have 1000's of active affiliates.

3. A network offers a certain amount of security for an affiliate in that they are more likely to get paid with a network than by going direct.

4. The tracking is usualy first class and accurate for both merchant and affiliate. It can make in house systems look archaic in comparison.

I could probably come up with a whole list of reasons for you, but those are some of the most important issues. [/B]

Thanks for these pointers (and the other bits of advice here). In response to your points:
1. I can understand this issue, but the retailer I am representing will be paying out reasonably high commission rates, and therefore is likely to pay frequently and, because they offer next-day-delivery, on time. Also, if this is the case, then surely even choosing one network will mean that affiliates will be 'missed' in any case. Therefore wouldn't it be better to recruit directly?

2. Perhaps, but then by reading other messages on this forum, it seems that the amount of 'live' affiliates per network may be less than the numbers being quoted. If I told you that my client particularly appeals to middle/upper class parents with kids between 5-14 and live in suburbia / countryside... you can see that the market is reasonably specific. So if there were 1,000 affiliate websites, how many of these would be suitable for such a programme? 5%? 1%?

3. True. But then if there were a direct affiliate programme, then it would be able to pay out about 20% more commission directly to the affiliate (because of cost savings elsewhere). Also, any merchant knows that if they don't sort out their affiliate marketing payments, then word soon gets round.

4. In some cases, yes - but in most cases no. The programme that they're launching will have some very neat software. Should offer all the tracking, reporting and verification needed for an affiliate programme.

Thanks for the recommendations too. I have AF down on my shortlist, as I do AW and perhaps ClixGalore (although I'm not certain about them for the moment - they can't even return my call!).

Anyway, anyone with other views, please post.

Cheers

John Braithwaite

[PitBoss]

Hi John,

You have some strong arguments there for why you don't need an out of house program.

I imagine that these are the arguments you are facing internally?

You may already be thinking it, but you haven't yet mentioned that the vast majority of reputable affiliates are registered with the networks already.

Don't underestimate the power of pooling affiliate programs together. How much commission does an affiliate have to earn before you pay them? How often will you pay them?

With a network an affiliate knows that if they only earn £5 with your program they are still going to get that £5 because of their combined earnings from their other programs running at the same network.

How much of your time and effort would go into tracking down these potential affiliates?

For an affiliate, joining an in house program represents additional hassle with learning how to use a new system as well as filling out forms.

As well as trusting a merchant that they may know nothing about (unless your company is doing some kind of offline branding campaign)

It makes life a lot easier for Affiliates to test you out if your program is avaiable in the same place as some of their other programs.

I suggest you research for the truth by running a poll asking affiliates what they would rather do. First tell them a bit about your product and then ask these questions.

Would you:

a: Sign up to the in house program and make 20% more money?

b: Sign up to the program via a network but make 20% less money?

Then you will know.

[Malcolm Cowley]

Hi ,

I would not touch Clixgalore as my experiences with them as an affiliate have been terrible.

Working for a network I tend not too criticise the other networks as to be fair we dont need to knock competition to get business but in this case my feelings were so strong I had to post. If I was you I would stick to making a choice from the networks with a representation on this board.

[Fraser]

Yep I would say go with a network - after bad experiences in the past, getting paid that little bit less is ok for the increased confidence I have that I will actually see my money.

Most affiliates here will be with all the main networks, listed here

http://www.a4uforum.co.uk/forumdispl...?s=&forumid=10

so you are unlikely to exclude many serious affiliates by joining one of those over another.

Sounds like you have a quite a specific product and network or not I would expect you'll have to spend a bit of time working to get the right affiliates on board.

[Johnnymb]

Hi

Thanks for all your feedback. It's great to hear from the potential customer base and get some direct response. I'm especially grateful to PitBoss for being so open and honest in his replies... in the end, if the programme needs to work for the affiliates, as well as the merchant.

So I've taken up your suggestion and am setting up a poll regarding in-house solutions compared with affiliate programmes.

If anyone else is reading this thread, and wants to add in their tuppenth worth, then please do so.

Kind regards

[Freebie]

Clixgalore?????? Lucky i wasn't eating when i read that!

I've had little dealings with them direct, i should make that known, but i've read/know little good about them. You should rethink that particular part IMHO.

[Ecco]

Given the time of year, there's not many likely to promote a new program before Christmas, irrespective of where you promote it, so you're looking at probably Jan/Feb of next year before you'll start to get lots of interest, I'd have thought.

Personally, I'd say you should experiment with good targeting of affiliates for your indy program and set up with one of the 'lower cost of entry' networks for the wider exposure as a test.

Plenty of other posters will extol the pros and cons of the various networks, but I'd also leave the indy option open as some people will prefer that route.

Given that you're promoting a fairly niche product by the sounds of it, how likely are you to benefit from having 2,000 affiliates? If you're targeting a small number of affiliates with a niche product, there's possibly no need for a network.

[Johnnymb]

Originally posted by Ecco
Personally, I'd say you should experiment with good targeting of affiliates for your indy program and set up with one of the 'lower cost of entry' networks for the wider exposure as a test.

Ecco, I think we're singing off the same hymn-sheet on this one. This is what I initially recommended to the client, and this seems like the 'way to go' for the moment. I was just doing a little investigation to back up my recommendations (as they were 6 months ago and this is still a pretty nascent marketplace).

Cheers