Publishers, help me out please

Where do you shop for affiiliate programs?

[mysterynme]

I've been an advertiser in CJ since 2001 - the program runs great and my affiliates are first class, but with all the competition, it's hard to get noticed among the high-visibility advertisers. Internal recruiting emails work well but they get expensive after a while.

Where do you suggest I promote the program?

Also, do publishers really look to directories like AffiliateMatch.com, AssociatePrograms.com, etc.? I see the same listings that were there four years ago - plenty of which are outdated, so it's hard to believe these are effective for recruiting affiliates.

Thanks - I appreciate your advice...

[Drastic]

>Where do you suggest I promote the program?

In the serps for "yourwidget affiliate program." Content to pull in affiliates that would be a good cross-sell makes sense here as well.

>do publishers really look to directories like AffiliateMatch.com, AssociatePrograms.com

Nope, just like you we find the data old, outdated, useless.

[itrainu]

As an affiliate network, our best affiliate signups are coming from affiliate diretory types of sites... we have paid for a couple of listings that pan out...

I keep track of who is sending traffic and who is not and I reserve our links page for those sites that send us traffic.

And if a site sends converting traffic, I blog about that site, etc. Basically return the favour ;-)

Darlene

[laertes]

I shop for merchants to promote mostly by looking in CJ and other networks and looking at the EPC and network earnings numbers. Showing affiliates that your site can convert and pays well is the best advertisement, IMHO.

[mysterynme]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

<Content to pull in affiliates that would be a good cross-sell makes sense here as well.>

Drastic, I'm not sure what you mean by this- can you explain?

And Darlene, are you refering to the type of directories I mentioned above (AffiliateMatch.com, AssociatePrograms.com)?

[Drastic]

If you sell blue widgets and they are a good cross promote to my red wodgets site, it makes sense that you would target a red wodgets aff program term.

So when I search for redwodget aff programs, I see you in the serp.

[mysterynme]

Gotcha, thanks.

[itrainu]

And Darlene, are you refering to the type of directories I mentioned above (AffiliateMatch.com, AssociatePrograms.com)?

Yes. What works for us may not work for all others of course :-) And there are plenty of directories that don't pan out. I would say that if you make a list of directories, start with those that are "better" - more useable, updated regularly, higher PR, higher Alexa ranking...whatever variables you decide to base better on.

And then track. And if a site sends traffic, consider advertising on that site if it might give you a more prominent placement.

Darlene