Affiliate Networks Vs. Affiliate Programs

Affiliate Networks Vs. Affiliate Programs

The first intellectual hurdle you need to pass is the distinction between in-residence affiliate marketing applications (merchants) and affiliate networks.

Some novices deal with those phrases as though they’re interchangeable – they’re now no longer.

Far from it.

Let’s say you construct an expert website online round out of doors carrying equipment, selling merchandise like trampolines, water slides, garden sports, etc.

You’d then have the selection of both signings as much as several (or dozens!) of affiliate advertising and marketing applications for unique producers and providers.

Or you may really join up to a community that could join you with the bulk of the product providers you need to paintings with.

The practical path for any individual new to affiliate advertising and marketing is to really join up with affiliate networks and cross from there.

But affiliate networks aren’t a few forms of panacea.

In fact, there are a few affiliate applications that handiest exist out of doors of affiliate networks, so you’d join up to them individually.

My favorite instance of this changed again after I began out as an affiliate marketer…specializing in duplicate lightsabres.

True story – I made plenty of cash promoting toy lightsabres.

The business enterprise at the back of them changed into known as Master Replicas, and that they ran a wonderful affiliate application. So I needed to join up immediately with them due to the fact they “owned” the prop and copy lightsabre marketplace again then.

Years later they migrated to an affiliate community, however, the payouts have been lower, the phrases have been quite terrible, and eventually, I simply allow the affiliate web website online to die of a damaged heart…and damaged affiliate links.

So, we’re going to study each facet of the game.

Firstly, the pleasant and maximum famous affiliate networks, and secondly quite a number numerous and moderately common sufficient affiliate applications that they observe to maximum audiences.

What To Look For In A Good Affiliate Marketing Program

Ease Of Use

When you’re first beginning out in affiliate advertising and marketing you ought to make matters as clean as viable on yourself.

That consists of signing up for affiliate applications that now no longer handiest make feel however are identical components wonderful control and wonderful design.

After all, the final issue you need to must cope with is an affiliate application with a cluster of an interface.

This could make developing affiliate links, or importing a banner, an absolute nightmare.

I’ve been that soldier – crying over my keyboard due to the fact the geniuses at the back of a given affiliate application created an interface so complicated that the handiest man or woman successful of “fixing it” might be a hybrid of Stephen Hawking and Doctor Strange.

Affiliate networks generally tend to now no longer have that problem – their aim is to make your lifestyles in affiliate advertising and marketing as clean as viable.

Because if you’re now no longer being profitable (i.e. passive income), then they’re now no longer being profitable both – nor are their clients.

With that being said, there are simply as many in-residence affiliate applications which might be the affiliate advertising and marketing model of the Sistine Chapel.

But the factor we need to enhance right here is that ease-of-use ought to be an identifying aspect for something affiliate application you choose.

It won’t be a lot of problems if you have a bit greater pores and skin withinside the game.

Point Of Contact

Things will cross incorrect from time to time.

Links will prevent working, or you’ll have a query on why the final month’s income file seems like it’s upside down.

That’s precise while you’ll want assistance from a devoted affiliate supervisor.

Affiliate networks generally tend to have a moderate benefit right here due to the fact you could rely upon their aid team of workers further to the affiliate supervisor for something application you've got got a query on.

Just undergo in thoughts that affiliate managers aren't any unique from face-to-face managers in that a number of them are in reality suitable and a few are awful.

Always test what form of aid you’ll get earlier than you join up for any affiliate application i.e. do you've got a devoted affiliate supervisor.

Commission & Payments

Find out now no longer handiest how lots you’ll receive a commission with the aid of using a given affiliate application, however additionally while you’ll sincerely receive a commission.

Most affiliate applications are Net 30, however, a few are Net 60 or even Net ninety.

What the above manner is undeniable English, is that maximum affiliates are paid 30 days after creating a sale, however, others don’t receive a commission for ninety days.

That’s a long term to look forward to your affiliate income, in particular when you have payments to pay.