Creating Own Affiliate Network - Feasible?

[E_Flat_Horn]

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As a newcomer to affiliate marketing and to this board - been lurking and learning (or at least trying to) for a while - I wonder if anyone can give me any feedback or advice on the following:-

A friend of mine has a couple of website directories with links to various companies who have online ordering facilities but are not members of an affiliate network.

We are interested in exploring the possibility of setting up our own affiliate network as we have canvassed several of these companies who have given positive responses to the idea.

The network would, therefore, have several merchants and just one or two affiliates (initially at least).

Setting this up is something I am keen to 'have a go at' and I have been trawling the web for software that will help us get started. I have found an offering that sounds appropriate, based around php / mysql, that we can tailor to our requriements.

I am aware that such a scheme could well require a lot of time investing to administer and that the technical requirements are not straightforward but we believe (or blindly hope) we are prepared for these challenges.

As I am a total newbie does anyone have any advice / comments as to any pitfalls, obvious drawbacks, reasons not to even attempt such a scheme?

Thanks.

[drivetowin]

It's certainly possible but before investing a lot of time in it if I was you I would have a word with Pete at Affiliate Future - they charge no setup fee and only £75 per month management fee which is probably cheaper than trying to do it yourself.

[Luke]

I think the intention is to develop a new network not an in house affiliate programme.

Hi E_Flat_Horn

I would recommend you become an affiliate first and get to grips with the complexities of each network. Nothing is impossible but if you are a newbie as you say then there are a million and one things you might overlook.

best of luck!

[mark.romanelli]

E_Flat_Horn,

If you would like, I can give you a temporary account of our DirectTrack software to review? We offer a simple version to start an affiliate network and a full-blown system for large scale affiliate networks that you can later upgrade to.

Take a look at our website and email me if you would like a trial account.

Best of luck.