Before you make an expensive commitment to setting up a sponsored Affiliate Scheme, read this advice from one who has been through the mill.
Stuart Forster of Holistic Holidays made a study of the market and started out with a hosted service and was very unhappy. Having learned more about how it works, he has revised his approach based on the following limiting factors.
- The most progressive companies have a horrendous sign-up charge which you may not want to commit to in your formative stages
- You have little or no control over the marketing
- You have little or no control over acceptance of an order or lead
- You have to pay upfront for the service
- You are one of many so don't expect a great service
- A better way is to host your own Affiliate Scheme and promote it conjunction with a reciprocal links project
He recommends using the following 2 inexpensive software programs
Arelis and My Referrer
two separate downloadable programmes, used together
for the following reasons
Arelis finds suitable Link Partners automatically based on competitors URLs or key word Searches. You target your partners. On other models you accept or decline whatever mixed bag comes along.
- It keeps a database of who you have contacted and the correspondence status quo
- It sends emails from a selection of templates
- It compiles a structured list of categories and subcategories for your link partners
- It builds and uploads the latest link updates you have accepted
- And much more
With MyReferer you can host your own flexible and inexpensive Affiliate Programme. Search Engine positions are enhanced by links to your site so it makes good commercial sense to make links with selective sites. It makes even better sense to offer pay per sale / pay per link. Pay per click deals with your partners.
MyReferer does this easily, inexpensively and they offer a very efficient and courteous support.
That's my chosen system and I recommend you do the same!
While you're here, you may wish to join the Holistic Holidays Affiliate Scheme
£20 per sale and a Holistic Holiday for 2 once you reach 10 sales