Tools for Establishing Affiliate Relationship

[Thirdcatgy]

Hi,

I am currently attempting to put in place an affiliate system b/t myself and a local sales company which markets high end products. My site will simply provide an extended level of marketing with SEO in mind, preferably routing email and phone inquiries directly to the Sales Company.

My question lies in how to properly set something like this up because I don't want to be a contact middle man, however would like to receive a commission if the inquiry ultimately results in a sale.

I'm interested in establishing some level of accountability is this regard. Thus, the questions are:

- How would you effectively track email inquiries not only when it passes on to the client(sales co.), but also continued communication beyond this between the interested party and the sales company?

- What would be the best way to handle phone inquries? I'd really like to have their 800# on my site so i would not have to answer calls but I don't see any other good options?

- Also, are there options I'm overlooking?

Thanks so much in advance for any insight.

Billy

[Brett_Tabke]

Sounds like a CPA: Cost Per Action affiliate model - which is different from a traditional percentage model.

First, make sure the cookie on the destination site lives as long as you can possibly get them to make it. On high end products, 90 days to 6 months is not uncommon. If it is over $1000 product, 90 days would be minimum for most people. From there, a traditional affiliate program will suffice where the ultimate sale is tracked.

[grainfarmer]

I am looking at doing something like this also with a couple of local merchants with high end products. Can anyone recommend a good affiliate software or system for tracking? Is there any easy way to keep track of phone orders? I know that in the end, there will have to be trust of merchant honesty on exactly what commissions are due to me. I just would like to hear some recommendations for affiliate systems.

GrainFarmer