Affiliate Feedback on Independant Programmes

[Chris Brown]

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Hi guy’s

I’m looking for a bit of feedback and advice from affiliates on independent programmes.

I have recently moved across to Brilliant Media as Head of Affiliate Management from buy.at where I was a Senior Account Manager for over 3 years. At Brilliant Media we are committed to delivering strong, solid affiliate programmes for our clients, which means ensuring that you guys are happy with all aspects of the programme.

We are not trying to position ourselves as a network or compete with networks as we don’t have their reach or resource, my role is to make sure we are getting the most out of them as well as ensuring that the programmes are geared up to give the affiliates everything they need.

However outside of this we do have a few clients where it is not feasible to launch with a network as the programme needs close monitoring and/or ran on a closed basis or it maybe a short term campaign which we will need to turn on and off. For such instances we have licensed TD Toolbox technology so all tracking and reporting is done through the TD system but we manage all aspects of the programme.

I understand that a lot of affiliates do not have a favourable view of agencies (with very good reason in certain cases) however I am adding more resource and expertise to a fully focused affiliate approach by Brilliant Media and I would like to get some feedback from you guys and your views on the following:

Independent programmes in general:

• Will you work with them?
• What (if any) would prevent you from working on an independent programme?
• What you would like to see from an independently ran programme?
• What is the best way to promote the programmes?

Tradedoubler technology

• Does it give you the level of reporting you require?
• Does it give you the tools and information you need for a programme?
• Do you see it as reliable?

Networks

• Are there particlaur networks you will not work with?
• Which networks offer the best affilaite tools?
• Which networks offer the best service levels to affiliates?

We currently run programmes on this platform for the clients below and are actively seeking new, quality affiliates for these programmes.

Safestyle Windows – Get paid per genuine lead
TD Waterhouse – Online share dealing and self select ISA’s

We also have some opportunities for affiliates to run some paid search campaigns, I do have a few contacts from my old buy.at days but as it is a new start for me it would be good to hear from any affiliates out there that would be interested in running some campaigns with us.

If you are interested in any of the programmes or are a Paid Search affiliate then please get in touch, you can PM me, drop me an email or call me on 0113 3940039. Alternately if you just want to sign up please go to Brilliant Affiliates

I look forward to hearing your views

Thanks

Chris

[max99]

Hi guy’s

Independent programmes in general:

• Will you work with them?
  Yes unless the program is on a network or they pay more independantly.
• What (if any) would prevent you from working on an independent programme?
  Poor interface or poor communication.
• What you would like to see from an independently ran programme?
  Good backend, fast stats, quick payment. Top for me is communication.
• What is the best way to promote the programmes?
  A4u, find users and send personal emails.

Tradedoubler technology

• Does it give you the level of reporting you require? yes
  Yes
• Does it give you the tools and information you need for a programme? most of the time
• Do you see it as reliable? most of the time

Networks

• Are there particlaur networks you will not work with? no
• Which networks offer the best affilaite tools? AW, WG, Buy.at
• Which networks offer the best service levels to affiliates? WG

Hope this helps

[markwelch]

Chris, these are all valid questions, but you must be aware that many affiliates don't honestly answer questions like this (as they may seek to keep their "successful strategies" secret).

I've shared my opinion about affiliate networks and "in-house" programs, from the merchant perspective, at Choosing an Affiliate Technology (Affiliate Program Advice by Mark J. Welch, Internet Marketing Consultant) Updated 17-Dec-2007 -- in general, a network is absolutely the better route for most merchants, but having an in-house program can work. I've also discussed the issue of "public vs. private" affiliate programs at Private Affiliate Programs (Affiliate Program Advice by Mark J. Welch, Internet Marketing Consultant) Updated 17-Dec-2007

As an affiliate (focusing primarily on US programs), here are my responses to your questions:


Independent programmes in general:

Will you work with them?
- only in very rare cases, due to size (Amazon) or specialty niche.

What (if any) would prevent you from working on an independent programme?
- Trust; uncertainty about integrity of merchant
- I don't include indy merchants in any datafeed-focused sites.

What you would like to see from an independently ran programme?
- High commission rate, good reporting
- Realistic (not absurd) income predictions

What is the best way to promote the programmes?
- Individual recruitment of niche webmasters.

Tradedoubler technology
- I don't use it

Are there particlaur networks you will not work with?
- I will not work with LinkShare, Kowabunga, or PepperJam. I only recently (and reluctantly) decided to re-join Commission Junction and to apply for Performics (now Google Advertising Network)

Which networks offer the best affilaite tools?
- No opinion here

Which networks offer the best service levels to affiliates?
- ShareASale, Avantlink
- Worst affiliate support levels: LinkShare & CJ.

(I haven't considered lower-tier networks in my responses.)

[Chris Brown]

Hi Max,

Thanks for your comments and feedback it is much appreciated. It is always good to hear affiliate opinions as from my POV there is very little to choose between certain networks and for me the quality of their relationships with affiliates and the tools they develop fro them are a important.

In terms of independent programmes, we are not looking to replace networks as i fully appreciate the value a good network and account manager can bring to a programme but it is good to know that if we ensure we have strong communication and open and transparent payment system we can still attract good affiliates.

Thanks

Chris

[Chris Brown]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your comments too. It seems our friends over the pond have the same views as UK affiliates.

In terms of CJ is this just from the US side or have you worked on any UK based programmes and dealt with their UK team?

Thanks

Chris

[getvisible]

- Worst affiliate support levels: LinkShare & CJ.

Maybe from the US! But from the UK I'd say that LinkShare have been extremely responsive, curtious and open to suggestions. Darren, is always sending over spreadsheets of offers and asking my opinions of actions they're taking.

Can't fault them.

So I feel your views are not indicitive of the UK Linkshare operation!

[kylah16]

Maybe from the US! But from the UK I'd say that LinkShare have been extremely responsive, curtious and open to suggestions. Darren, is always sending over spreadsheets of offers and asking my opinions of actions they're taking.

Can't fault them.

So I feel your views are not indicitive of the UK Linkshare operation!

Yep, I'm with Lee on this one. Linkshare's support is great. Darren is always on msn if I need anything and he regularly sends over spreadsheets of their merchant's latest offers and informs me of merchants that would fit well on the sites I own.

[markwelch]

I haven't had any dealings with LinkShare in a long time -- I last attempted to work with them in July 2005. And all my sites are "US-centric" (although some of my web sites have pushed transactions by UK buyers, I've never had a site that showed prices in GBP, nor have I worked with any of the UK-focused networks since 1999).

My history with LinkShare goes "way back," and I've been consulting on affiliate marketing since before they existed. Time and again, they've tried to persuade me that they've fixed whatever problems I've had with them, and then each time I encounter poor post-sales support for both affiliates and merchants.

As I mention often, I've heard good things from some merchants (never from my consulting clients), and occasionally I hear praise for LinkShare from successful affiliates. I'm glad your experience has been different. Your response here is certainly encouraging -- if their UK offices are providing better support, perhaps things may be better in the US also.

But given the history, I wouldn't consider working with LinkShare again until I have "fully exploited" all the other relationships available to me through other affiliate networks with better "track records." (I'd probably rejoin LS long before I worked with Kowabunga again, and probably perhaps working with PepperJam, but that's faint praise.)

[Rich79]

Following on the theme of the thread I posted a blog about this subject last week.

I didn't mean for this to be a hijack of someone else thread (honest Chris!) but just thought it was relevant and adds to the discussion.