Allowing Affiliates Pros and Cons

Are Affiliates a good idea

[jamesdiego]

I am a medical person, but learned enough to create a profesional resource website to help individuals new to my specialty. So far I'm fairly pleased with my sites success.

75% percent of traffic comes from web search, 14% from referal sites.

Site revenue
15% from adsense
60% from my ebook
25% from my book available on Amazon

Site has 1% ctr
and 1% of uniques to the site purchase the book.

I am trying to decide if I should allow affiliates? Does anyone have positive or negative experience from a creator and copyright holders standpoint? Keeping in mind, I am in a somewhat niche specialized area.

Many thanks,
James

[eljefe3]

Affiliates are basically like commissioned sales people in the B&M world. If they don't produce, they don't earn, but if they produce then this is extra revenue for you. Just make sure in your T & C exactly what you will allow and what you won't allow as far as copyright etc.

BTW, welcome to WebmasterWorld!

[decaff]

Yes..your terms and conditions statement has to be very specific.. ... you might consider using a third party provider like CJ (Commission Junction) ...so that very specific policies can be enforced to protect your site, brand and reputation...(affiliates can be a negative when they go the "dark side" for marketing to generated sales...etc..)