2. Learn basic terms
Review the requirements for an acceptable
site
How to find merchants
Choosing the right merchants
How to use PopShops
Working with Affiliate Networks
Broad Networks
Specialty Networks
3. Working with Affiliate Managers
Learning More
Q&A
4.
5. A website owner who sends traffic from their
website to another website in order to
generate a desired action. Upon completion
of this desired action, the website owner will
receive compensation.
AKA – Publisher, Media Partner
6. Affiliates do:
◦ Attract traffic originating around the globe
◦ Actively promote their websites
◦ Encourage site visitors to take action – buy
something, fill out a form, etc.
Affiliates do not:
◦ Know the person who has come to their site
◦ Know what product the person buys
◦ Process any financial transaction for the customer
◦ Assist in the delivery process of the product
7. A website owner who facilitates a specific
action on their website such as:
◦ Purchase a product
◦ Completing a lead form
If the site visitor originated via a link from an
Affiliate site, the merchant is obligated to pay
a fee or commission to the affiliate for
successful completion of the action.
8. Acts as liaison between merchants & affiliates
Investigates both merchants and affiliates
before allowing them into the network.
No cost to join.
Hidden Affiliate Information
All traffic flows through the affiliate network
◦ Affiliate > Affiliate Network > Merchant
◦ Merchant > Affiliate Network > Affiliate
Responsible for ensuring Affiliates are paid
for successful actions.
9. Usually has 100’s of merchants and 1000’s of
affiliates
Source of merchant banners and links
Best known:
◦ Commission Junction
◦ LinkShare
◦ Google Affiliate Network
◦ ShareASale
◦ Buy.at
10. Usually works for Merchant
Works with Affiliate Networks and/or
managing In-House Affiliate Program
Recruits affiliates
Affiliate Retention, such as day-to-day
affiliate activities
11. OPM for short
Manages affiliate program for merchant who
has chosen to outsource this function.
Usually manages multiple programs
Charges a monthly fee and a portion of
commissions.
Recruits affiliates and handles day-to-day
affiliate activities.
12. Cost Per Action, CPA for short
◦ Broad term, could mean:
Sale
Registration
Inquiry
◦ Commission can be percentage of sale or flat amount
Cost Per Lead, CPL for short
◦ Completes lead form
◦ Usually fixed payout
Cost Per Click, CPC for short
◦ Clicks on ad
◦ Google AdSense
◦ Usually fixed payout
13.
14. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Sites
◦ MailOrderShoppe.com
PPC (Pay Per Click) Sites
Coupon Sites
◦ Shopping-Bargains.com
Lead Generation Sites
◦ InsureMe.com
Incentive Sites
◦ Hard Incentive – Memolink.com
◦ Soft Incentive – FatWallet.com
15. Network/Affiliate Manager Review
Requirements
◦ Active URL
◦ Site Description
◦ Category
Children, Home & Garden, Gifts
◦ Unique Visitors/month
Quantcast.com
◦ Business Tax ID number or SSN
16. Site topic
Promotion method
BrightestCandles.com is a one-stop online
candle store, offering a wide selection of
products including scented candles,
decorative candles, soy candles, and candle
holders. Site promotion is primarily SEO
though PPC may be used in the future.
17. About Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Footer
Overall design
No typo’s
18.
19. Niche Merchant – only offers one product line
or category of products.
Broad merchant – Amazon, eBay, Wal-mart,
Target – can find various types of products
Trial & Error – part of the process.
20. Search by Keyword
Use PPC results
Google search “___ affiliate programs”
Check footer of favorite merchants for
affiliate program link
Study competitor’s sites
Search affiliate networks
Use PopShops.com
21. Easy way to find merchants with your desired
products.
Fast way to build a datafeed for your site,
without technical knowledge.
Free to join – 4 free “shops”
Find the design that best fits your site.
Review the copy
Not “set it and forget it”
22. Guaranteed payment
Merchants have been vetted
Merchants know affiliates have been vetted
Apply to Merchant’s program through
network; Merchant has right to accept or
reject your application.
Standard banner selection process
23. Run by Affiliate Manager or OPM
Payment direct from Merchant
Affiliate Forums may have info about
programs
Ease of application process
Interface
Creative selection
24. Products
Site design – would you shop there?
Quantcast.com – evaluate traffic
Shopping process – easy or hard
Creative available
25.
26. www.cj.com
Known as CJ for short
Largest network
Merchant list hidden
Commission minimum requirement
No affiliate support
Keyword search tool
Charges for datafeed
Uses EPC ranking
27. www.LinkShare.com
2nd of Big 3 Affiliate Networks
Requires Merchant exclusivity
Hidden merchant list
Low acceptance rates
No affiliate support
28. www.google.com/ads/affiliatenetwork
Formerly Performics
3rd of Big 3 Affiliate Networks
Merchants hidden
No affiliate support
High acceptance rate
Only shows merchant one URL
Hard to search for merchants
29. www.ShareASale.com
Largest of smaller networks
Some affiliate support
Smaller, specialized merchants
Decent interface
Keyword search tools
30. www.Buy.at
Newer Network, growing fast
Some good exclusives; Ticketmaster,
Discount Tire
Quirky interface – requires practice
Good affiliate support
31. Digital Downloads
◦ Digital River
Name Brand Software products – Norton, Hallmark
Cards
◦ Clickbank
Lesser known software products, ebooks
Primarily promoted through PPC
32. Primarily promote health & beauty products,
insurance leads, Dish Network, etc.
Smaller, newer networks
Dozens of them!
33. Good for blogs with many entries on variety
of topics.
Searches site copy to turn into links to
merchants.
Matches can be questionable.
Epicenter.net
34.
35. 1. Identify the merchant programs appropriate
for your site.
1. Use PopShops OR
2. Visit merchant sites and determine the network
they use.
2. Visit the network’s website and go through
the application process.
36. Related site, well designed
Promotion description
Reputation within network
Good EPC
Traffic sources
Incentive vs. non-incentive
No Typo’s
37. Consider them a resource
◦ Recommend keywords
◦ Restricted keyword list
◦ Best selling items, seasonal sellers
◦ Special links
◦ Customized banner ads
Okay to call, but don’t be a pain
Super Affiliate – when ready, special deals.
39. Events
Affiliate Summit
◦ Affiliate Summit.com
◦ Twice each year, 4000 attendees
◦ Follow @AffiliateTip, can win free Gold pass
Commission Junction University
◦ CJU
◦ Open Attendance
40. LinkShare Symposium
◦ Open to all LS affiliates
ShareASale Think Tank
◦ By invitation only
Affiliate Convention
◦ AffiliateConvention.com
◦ In Denver
