Quality of affiliates?

[codewarrior]

Tweet

Is it normal for a merchant to join a network then get affiliates who are of dubious quality? A client of mine has recently joined a network (I won't say which one) and the quality of affiliates is beyond a joke. Their websites look like something a 5 year old could make in a cracked copy of Dreamweaver. Impressions are few and far between and most have had no clicks. When you visit these affiliate sites you can understand why, the banner is slapped in the bottom of a useless, horrendous page.

I personally think my client was misled when he joined this network if this is going to be the typical standard.

Its worth noting my client has a product feed which nobody has yet used, I just don't get why they even bother!

[CompareStore]

and your client is????

[Chris B]

Surely it is up to the merchant to accept or decline affiliates of this 'quality'? If an affiliate applies to the program and they don't like their site or they think it sends out the wrong message - don't accept them.

However, in the affiliates defence we all had to start somewhere

[drivetowin]

Has your client done anything to try and attract affiliates of a higher calibre - posting on here (or getting you to post on their behalf) could be a good start.

Bear in mind as well that many affiliates (me included come to that) do not register their main revenue earning sites with the networks and/or if prinicipally involved in ppc affiliates may not have a decent website as such but rather a collection of landing pages - so don't go too much on first impressions would be my motto.

That said, if you are getting few clicks then either you have bad affiliates and or your client's creative is not compelling enough to get people to click - it takes two to tango.

You do have to take the chaff with the wheat but you do need to put a lot of manual effort into recruiting the right affiliates too, you can't assume they will hunt you down - it can take hours to hunt down who owns a good affiliate site and then craft them a custom email to try to attract them to your programme, but get the right affiliate and it works out well for everyone.

[codewarrior]

and your client is????

I'm not going to divulge that, the network posts on this forum and I am giving *my* opinion. I'm not about to stir things up for my client unless they want me to of course

[codewarrior]

Has your client done anything to try and attract affiliates of a higher calibre - posting on here (or getting you to post on their behalf) could be a good start.

Bear in mind as well that many affiliates (me included come to that) do not register their main revenue earning sites with the networks and/or if prinicipally involved in ppc affiliates may not have a decent website as such but rather a collection of landing pages - so don't go too much on first impressions would be my motto.

That said, if you are getting few clicks then either you have bad affiliates and or your client's creative is not compelling enough to get people to click - it takes two to tango.

You do have to take the chaff with the wheat but you do need to put a lot of manual effort into recruiting the right affiliates too, you can't assume they will hunt you down - it can take hours to hunt down who owns a good affiliate site and then craft them a custom email to try to attract them to your programme, but get the right affiliate and it works out well for everyone.

Thank you for your constructive reply As for getting affiliates, isn't that what my client pays the network for? Perhaps I am expecting too much too soon for my client. I'll discuss with him where we go from here.

[Hero]

Are you doing any affiliate recruitment for your client? If so, posting in this forum about their site and program would be a good start, as well as adding a few details on your profile.
All networks promote all new programs to their existing affiliate d/b, but don't rely solely on that for getting affiliates on board, most of the affiliates (especially what you refer to as quality affiliates) will come as a result of your (or your client's) affiliate management.
Also, if your program has been live for a good couple of months and you don't think the quality is there, you might need to ask yourself why - is the program's offering good/competitive, are you offering quality tools, etc.

[codewarrior]

Are you doing any affiliate recruitment for your client?

The program has only been active for two weeks, I had assumed the whole idea of paying the network in the first place was to attract affiliates who would presumably do what affiliates do. So far all we have got is less than we get from our standard link exchange system. Why are we paying for worse traffic than we get for free? Its worth noting my client is more patient than I am, so these are *my opinions*.

All networks promote all new programs to their existing affiliate d/b, but don't rely solely on that for getting affiliates on board, most of the affiliates (especially what you refer to as quality affiliates) will come as a result of your (or your client's) affiliate management.

I obviously missed the point then, I thought joining the network was to faciliate in getting affiliates, by 'affiliates' I mean 'people who can do more than slap a banner on the worlds worst designed site that obviously has no targeted traffic whatsoever'.

Anyway as I stated, these are just my opinions but I will be let my client know of this thread so that he can read the opinions of others and decide the next step. FWIW I will be joining my clients program as an affiliate so I will then be able to see if I can do any better, but I certainly can't do any worse

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Perhaps your client can come forward or you on behalf of your client to ascertain if it is a program that would appeal to affiliates. Without knowing which network, sometimes networks need to assist ski-ramping a program at the start. However, my only concern is that you don't through a paddy, even if decent affiliates join up, over the slighest things.

[codewarrior]

.. However, my only concern is that you don't through a paddy, even if decent affiliates join up, over the slighest things.

Hmmm.... I'm new to this forum so please forgive me if I have over stepped the mark by expressing my opinion. Without being here a while, as with all forums it's difficult to gauge what is or is not acceptable. I apologise for making any comment that might be indirectly seen as negative towards a network or affiliate.

Thank you Moderator for pointing me in the right direction, I'll now gracefully bow out of this thread, thanks to all who responded.

[Hero]

The program has only been active for two weeks, I had assumed the whole idea of paying the network in the first place was to attract affiliates who would presumably do what affiliates do.

First of all, keep in mind that, as with all things in life, you get the level of service you have paid for. If your client is on a self-managed program, for instance, then don't expect too much individual recruitment from the network. But even if your client is on supported account, they still need to do their bit in managing the program, and recruitment is part of it.
Secondly, unless your client actually speaks with the affiliates, you'll never know who they actually are. As Keith mentioned, affiliates sign up through one generic account; it doesn't mean they are going to promote you on that site necessarily.
Another thing to assess is seasonality. At this time of year affiliates (driven by the market of course) focus on retailers for xmas gifts.

[loquax]

For a program to succeed (ref. Prezzybox, Buyagift) then it does require the uplifting of the backside and promotion of the program to affiliates so that it rises above the other programs (possibly established competitors) that exist across the networks. There's literally hundreds of programs, a heck of a lot of new ones and even a good affiliate can't keep on top of all them.

It's also a busy time of year and many affiliates will be sorting out promotions and christmas content so new programs may get shunted down the priority list.

Two weeks is nothing - it may be disappointing that you're not seeing the results you wish, but sadly "join network + get affiliates = instant riches" is not the case. Time and effort need to be included in the equation - and that has to come from the merchant as much as the affiliate.

Jason

[drivetowin]

Excuse the shameless self promotion, but if your client wants to learn how to grow their affiliate programme, and they can afford the time (and the fee ) - get them to come along to one of my training seminars in a couple of weeks time - either in Manchester or London: - details here:-

http://www.e-consultancy.com/knowled...marketing.html

There are several merchants on this forum who have attended, from large companies to much smaller merchants but from the feedback I and e-consultancy have received they have all found the day to be of great benefit. If they can't make the seminars this month, we are already planning the calendar for next year, so please ask them to get in touch.

[Mogga]

I'd be interested to know which network.

Some networks allow merchants to "vet" affiliates before they're allowed to join the program. This enables a merchant to check the sort of site it'll be listed on.

Maybe you've just been unlucky.

[jess1]

Time and effort need to be included in the equation - and that has to come from the merchant as much as the affiliate.

Yeah I agree with that and again as you say its Christmas and affiliates are swamped.
I don't think naming the network is relevant here, but most networks do have have affiliate signup validation, but I suspect that this is not the real problem.

One thing you may wish to take into considertation, the site that the affiliate has registered way back when, may not be the website they use now or the website that they are promoting you on. I know... its a bit confusing

But do please keep asking questions