Which Affiliate Solution for new Merchant

Which affiliate solution should a new merchant use?

[markwelch]

My client is just launching a new online store and we are trying to choose which affiliate solution to use. We are looking at ShareASale as a likely option because of its reputation and relatively low cost. However, we are concerned that we don't want to be overwhelmed with "garbage applications," which I know is a problem with some of the larger networks.

AvantLink seems to be another option with relatively low cost, but I've not found anyone who has had experience working with them.

Some issues: We know that there are a zillion-and-one affiliate programs for sites that appear to be direct competitors (though we don't view them as such), so we don't think any network will bring us any significant enrollments of "quality" affiliates. Our plan is to recruit appropriate sites directly, rather than just wait for folks to find us.

We will definitely offer a number of datafeed options, and we are not interested in working with networks that don't give affiliates easy access to datafeeds.

We will not consider LinkShare or Commission Junction as solutions, period.

Any advice is welcome.

[gamiziuk]

As an affiliate, I like Shareasale.

You as a merchant have the option of allowing affiliates applications to either be:
1. Approved Automatically (no restrictions)
2. Approved Automatically (only certain countries)
2. Approved only after you have reviewed the Applicant's site

Maybe this is the information you are looking for?

[markwelch]

gamiziuk - no, your reply did not help. I am looking for comments from merchants and affiliates who have had specific positive or negative experiences with ShareASale, AvantLink, or another solution provider that might be appropriate for a small merchant launching a new affiliate program.

[gamiziuk]

Humm... Well I have downloaded a number of datafeeds from Shareasale and turned them into web pages. A nice thing I like is that Shareasale requires their merchants to put together a "standardized" datafeed - so that I do not need to figure out the column layout for each merchant.

The datafeeds always work out better for me than banners - I can put together an online store that looks like a "gift shop" that fits in with topical web sites I run. For example, I have a Golf site and offer golf clubs and related golf products.