|
When launching your affiliate program, you
must choose one of the following:
Unless you have very specific requirements, don't re-invent the wheel, but
rather purchase a commercially available solution. The key questions are
whether you pay all fees up front with a software solution, pay the high fees
associated with a network solution, or pay monthly with an application service
provider.
Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of each:
In-House Software Solution
Licensing a 3rd-party software solution such as Affiliate Wiz is well suited
for those who want the security of maintaining all contacts and affiliate
ownership in-house. The costs are lower than the setup costs of similar
networked solutions. You also avoid the high monthly transaction costs.
This is also well suited for merchants selling niche items or those in niche
markets who cannot afford the enormous startup costs associated with a network.
The only real drawback of an in-house solution is the lack of an existing pool
of affiliates. This creates a bit more upfront work for the affiliate
manager who must recruit affiliates by obtaining listings in
Affiliate Directories.
Affiliate Networks
The benefits of networks go beyond the basic tracking and reporting
functions. They provide some extras that help reduce the time it takes to
manage your affiliate program. They provide an existing pool of affiliates
that helps simplify the affiliate recruitment process.
Startup costs vary considerably from one network to the other but are
typically on the order of thousands of dollars. The affiliate networks
tend to attract larger merchants who have deep pockets rather than merchants
selling niche items. Monthly transaction costs can also be costly,
especially if your site does not meet the minimum monthly requirements of the
network. For example, the networks take a fraction of all commissions and
if that amount does not meet their monthly minimum you pay an extra fee.
The networks often handle payment of the affiliates directly which is another
plus. However, expect to pay a hefty fee for the service.
Remember that only the top few percent of any Program's Affiliates generate the
bulk of traffic and sales. Your ideal partners will need to be tracked down and
introduced to your program personally. Networks can lighten the load in terms of
'management time'. However, that doesn't mean your Program will look after
itself.
Application Service Providers
An application service provider will provide all the same features as an
in-house software solution. They only major difference is they host the
software for you. The benefit is you don't need a programmer to look after
the software. The drawback is if your site generates a lot of traffic the
monthly fees can get expensive. Some ASP's also take a percentage of all
your commissions so be sure to investigate all associated costs.
Read More >> Now that I
have chosen an affiliate software solution, how do I recruit affiliates?
Return to Affiliate
Marketing Resources
|
