Launching new website need network (any advice)

[Gareth_marshalls]

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Hello there,
My name is Gareth Robinson. I am the Head of E-Commerce at a company called Marshalls based in West Yorkshire.

The company is responsible for the manufacture of hard landscaping products (paving) for businesses and consumers. We provide companies like Wickes, Travis Perkins and the Olympics with products.

In February I am launching a new Marshalls Web Shop that will sell:

- Greenhouses
- Natural stone walling
- Granite furniture
- Interior flooring

The site is going to be supported by PPC, a focused SEO programme and some email marketing activity.

One critical item missing from my arsenal is affiliate marketing.

The problem I have is if I talk to an affiliate network e.g. awin, Tradeoubler they will ask me what my site traffic and conversion rate is. The problem I have is that I do not have a track record of data to draw upon.

With this in mind is anyone aware of an affiliate network that are willing to work with you without asking for this information. Alternatively, is anyone aware of any decent tracking software that affiliates are open to wotking with without an affilaite network?

I also have one more site (B2B site) bollardsdirect.co.uk which is doing very well which I want to launch an affiliate programme for. For this site I do have unique visitors and conversion rate data. So any tips on who I approach for this would be welcome too.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks
Gareth
gareth.robinson at marshalls dot co dot uk

[Mogga]

You need conversion stats. Otherwise potentially you are wasting affiliate traffic.

When you know it converts, launch it.

[Towlie_Jon]

I think what Mogga is saying is correct in that you need to give the affiliate network something to advertise.

Even with simple lead gen campaigns that we specialise in we would need some idea of how the site converts, apart from providing the information to affiliates how would the network know if affiliates are performing well or poorly ?

I think the best way to go would be to launch your site first get some data, as well as making sure any bugs etc are ironed out of your ecommerce paltform and then speak to some of the retail networks such as CJ, AW Linkshare etc.

If you would like some info on affiliate tracking systems I can send you a few links.

Regards

Jon

[John Jupp]

Equally when I consider managing an affiliate program for a client I like to know conversion, retention, 2nd metric, functionality, cross channel performance promotional opportunities and a thousand and one other things that only an established eCommerce presence can supply. Then I can tailor an affiliate program to suit the client.