Questions for you guys

We're looking to setup an affiliate scheme for one of our websites.

We won't use Commission Junction/TradeDoubler to promote it for varying reasons, and we figure once it's going we can promote it sufficiently ourselves.

As we're finalising the software, I'll ask you guys:

What do you guys look for in an affiliate scheme ?
What reporting tools do you want ?
What do you dislike about many schemes ?

Sorry if this has been asked before.

What do you guys look for in an affiliate scheme ?

Content / Cookie length / Commission rate not necessessarily in that order

What reporting tools do you want ?

Sales, pending sales, clicks (daily/weekly/monthly)


What do you dislike about many schemes ?

Insulting commision rates, lack of flexibility

I'll get back to you if I think of something else.

By the way what is your product?

Keith

What do you guys look for in an affiliate scheme ?

The product. Is something that I can sell. Is it reasonably priced, and is the site easy to use.

Only after I've decided I can sell something does the commission rate become important, and even then I'd rather earn 3% of something that I can sell than 20% of something that I can't sell.

Cookie duration is important, but I don't think it's as important as a lot of people believe.

What reporting tools do you want ?

Live reporting is very important. Haveing to wait until the next day, or even to the end of the month is not something I like having to do. I'm constantly experimenting with the way I use affiliate links and it's impossible to measure how you're doing without live stats.

The option for affiliates to add their own variable to the affiliate link, which shows up in sales reports. This is very useful for affiliates who promote the same product in more than one place, and want to track the performance of each.

What do you dislike about many schemes ?

Downtime. Poor reporting. Poor support. Late payments.

Keith, I didn't want to say what site it's for because it'd seem like it was a cheap plug.

We currently have one affiliate in trial, who has been signed up for 4 weeks now.

The reporting is real time, and uptime is currently at 100%. Detailing sales by day/week/month

Payment can be requested at any time once £10 of commission is reached.

Variables for affiliate links is interesting, I'll pass that on.

Our trial affiliate has referred 315 people to the site, who have gone on to trial the system (not sure the total number of clickthrus, but I can get numbers). Of which, 116 people signed up to pay for the service, earning the affiliate 25% of each signup; which works out to £149.75 in commission.

Exiges, let me put you out of your misery and "officially" ask you what your site/product is. This way nobody can accuse you of spamming.

Kieron

I thought it might be www.planetpersonals.com , but the earnings figures don't add up if it is.

It is PlanetPersonals.com

Why do you feel the numbers don't add up JF ?

For reference, the affiliate earns 25% of the members first deposit, which can be:

£6.50 for one month
£15 for 3 months
£40 for 9 months
£50 for a year

The the average deposit has been £7.22 (£1.81 commission)

(NOTE: I made a slight error in that 83 people signed up to the paying service, opposed to the 116 previously stated - D'oh!)

I think it doesn't add up because the cheapest subscription I can find on the site is £6.50

You said 116 signed up, so if they all went for the cheapest option (unlikely), that would be a total of £754, and the affiliate's 25% share would be £188.50. But according to your figures the affiliate only earned £149.75.

hehe.. you're quick on the ball JF ! You replied before I posted my correction

What I look for nowadays is programs that do belong to one of the networks.

Unless it is some fantastic earner, which lets face it most of them are not.

I really havent got the time or the inclination to have to deal with hundreds of independents, I would rather deal with the main networks and get my money on time and aggregated together.

Even if it means slightly lower commissions.

This sounds ok to me, I mean for starters you get a human for a merchant, who speaks real English

the affiliate earns 25% of the members first deposit

Some similar merchants pay commission for the life of the customer, not just the first deposit. I'm sure it would be much more attractive for affiliates if you did this, even if you reduced the commission rate.

I agree, similar to self confidence. They use a cookie, and tag the email adress with your ID.