Affiliate Marketing Forum

gregwatson · Guest

I have a new business book coming out in November, and for the first time, I will be publishing not only a hardcopy format, but also my first foray into an ebook format.

I've taken a look at several different affilate services such as clickbank and commission junction. I am really looking for feedback from professionals that use affiliate programs about which ones *they* prefer and why.

Obviously from my perspective I can't be successful with an affiliate program without you. So what works best for you?

Greg Watson

Charlie · Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 3305 Location: UK

Hello Greg.

Guest

Charlie · Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 3305 Location: UK

Hello again Greg.

As an affiliate, I'm not overly concerned about which of the affiliate networks the program's with, except in certain circumstances ClickBank, for one main reason...

One problem with ClickBank as an affiliate, is the ease with which the buyer can buy through his own link (and deprive the original referrer of his rightful commission). This is a serious problem with marketing products, since many people are familiar with affiliate programs and are already members of ClickBank themselves. It is not a problem in many other markets.

Actually, ClickBank are just in the process of fundamental changes to their tracking system. They confused and angered many people with the initial details, but things are looking a little better now, and I think things will be better for affiliates in the end, everything considered. Still, time will tell.

Actually, I am happy to let merchants use their own server-based affiliate program, too. OK, you have to trust them, but I've never found anything to indicate that the absence of a third party "auditor" has led to worse results.

It's just robust tracking, actual $ commissions and issues like "lifetime" commissions vs "last cookie gets the commission" and residual income that interest me.

If I'm in early, I like lifetime commissions. If not, last cookie looks better - especially in "incestuous" niches like marketing.

When it comes to the merchant's point of view, I have used ClickBank for a couple of small digital products (though I made most of the sales myself). They were cheap and easy to set up, and the problems of affiliate hijacking are almost irrelevant to the merchant. A bit hypocritical maybe, but convenience was of the essence, then.

If you use any of the networks, you will stand a better chance of growing a larger team of affiliates quickly. Unfortunately, most of them will never sell anything. This is where the management features of a third party service come in.

Allan G has some excellent articles covering both sides of the coin, on his
Affiliate Programs site.

Hope this helps,
Charlie.
_________________
"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx

Mrs Parakeet · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 3

Just my two cents from an affiliates view:

I much prefer aggregates like clickbank, ccbill, cj, etc. I never pick up independants anymore, although I do have a small few I have been with for a few years.

As far as clickbank goes, I think it is great, I have used it as an affiliate and also used it for my own affiliate program. I personally never market anything as an affiliate through clickbank though that is directed toward other web marketers. It is a waste of time since all they have to do is make up a hoplink with their own id in it before they order. So if your business book is going to be of great interest to that market, I'd think twice about clickbank, you might lose potential affiliates.

Very Happy

Bobby · Joined: 12 Jul 2003 Posts: 764

The following are things you see on some Clickbank merchant sites that will discourage affiliates from promoting the product:

1. Prominently promoting the site's affiliate program on the site

2. Accepting payment by PayPal, checks, money order, telephone, and other methods that don't pay a commission to the affiliate

3. Putting links to other affiliate programs on the site so that a visitor driven to a merchant site by an affiliate may make a purchase from those affiliate links and the merchant will earn a commission, not the Clickbank affiliate who sent the visitor to the site.

Bobby

Bobby · Joined: 12 Jul 2003 Posts: 764

For affiliate programs in general, the following are things that attract affiliates:

1. Long period of "return days" - lifetime commissions tracked by something other than a cookie are even better

2. Allowing affiliates to earn commissions on repeat sales

Bobby

Charlie · Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 3305 Location: UK

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