Forum Moderators: skibum
First-time poster, long-time reader here!
I am starting to put together a plan for a small affiliate program for my company. In the short term, I want to make payouts for leads generated by affiliates and, down the road, start getting more into PPC and even selling advertisments on our site.
I've found a lot of companies out there with expensive hosted software, or programs that take percentages of each sale, and those with large networks, but I'm more interested in building something myself or using something I can at least implement myself.
I have a lot of experience with LAMP/open-source/free-software stuff and I was wondering if anyone out there has experience with this side of the affiliate world and could offer some advice in terms of software packages or maybe talk about their own approaches and their successes and missteps.
I know that talking about specific software and/or making recommendations can be a little dicey because we don't really want messages from company shills, so if you prefer, private message me.
Thanks for reading and thanks for all your great posts here!
"Homegrown, Open source, or inexpensive affiliate software?"
Sorry but I'm a little jaded about this subject. Do you want "homegrown, inexperienced affiliates?"
You get what you pay for and there is no way anyone can build a homegraown solution that has the power, flexibility and TRUST FACTOR of the name brand solutions that have been tested and improved for years. I have worked with TONS of merchants who had DIY tracking solutions, built in-house by top programmers. They were all missing lots of features.
Affiliates need to trust the tracking solution and also prefer software they are used to and have used for different affiliate programs. Imagine for a moment that every time you wrote an email you had to learn and use a different word processor with different commands and features. It can be a terrible time and energy drain for affiliates. The pro that value their prefer a solution they know and trust.
BTW I don't sell software - I just believe if it's worth it for your company to have an affiliate program, then it's worth it to do it right and not cut corners on building a foundation.
My 2 cents ;-) Linda
[edited by: eljefe3 at 1:33 am (utc) on Feb. 28, 2006]
which networks do you feel are the most respected?
The network I would recommend for you could vary somewhat if I knew the type of product or market. Also budget sounds like it's a factor for you, so I will recommend my top 3 LOW cost networks.
Shareasale set-up is 350 right now but well worth it. Lots of top CJ affiliates are part of this network and some even prefer it due to the fact they are parasite-free. CJ has been doing a good job of cleaning house lately, but is not totally clean yet.
MPORT is the new affiate network from AzoogleAds. They are also parasite-free and have free set-up through the end of March.
LinkConnector is pretty good and has some cool features with their Naked Link Technology. I'm just not certain how big their affiliate base is. Set-up is free right now.
Hope this helps! Linda
The only downside I have seen so far is China Affiliates. but it seems that they are active with weeding out the bad affs.
For those merchants that don't want to be on a network and do it themselves but want an already proven affiliate tracking and magagement solution, you made the right choice with MYAP/Kowabunga.
