Advice on free affiliate programmes

[clairemackaness]

Hi,

I have read all about 'free or low cost affiliate program tracking scripts that can reward people who bring you sales with a commission % on any sales?' (stolen above text from another post!)

Can you explain what this is, how it works and how I do it please.

I AM NOT TECHY so plain english please.

Many thanks

Claire

[TechFox]

I am thinking of implementing Post Affiliate Pro - http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Affiliate_Programs/ - Its neither free nor cheap but it looks worth the cost

[c2webdesign]

Many of them work by tracking a visitor, sometimes by cookie (which is a small file placed on the visitors PC that simply enables your website to 'identify' them and know where they have come from) - or by tracking ID through the website address e.g www.yoursite.co.uk/products.php?referer=xxxx . When this visitors makes a purchase you will have software you can log on to which you be able to see who sent them to you.

There are a variety of free or low priced software out there that all do a probably do a reasonable job - but one of the things you will need to bear in mind is how you will promote your own affiliate program and get websites to start advising your site.

Many websites chose the affiliate companies because:

1. It gives them the chance to advertise many sites in one go - and get paid a consolidated amount

2. Some websites promoting their own affiliate software (particuarly in the US) failed to make payments and gave it a bit of a bad name.

I have to admit I haven't installed any affiliate software on any of my clients sites - but I have had a browse around the internet and many will require a website developer to install this for you.

It is basically adding the variety of scripts to call to the database through the checkout process which checks the refer of the visitor so you know who to pay commission to.

Hope I've not been too techincal :)

Dean
C2 Web Design
http://www.c2webdesign.co.uk

Web Design | Online Marketing | Search Engine Optimisation

[SillyJokes]

Something to ask yourself is ,"Will an affiliate genuinely make any money from promoting my site?"

It will be hard to get good affiliates to promote you if you do not ake any commission for them.

[MichaelG]

I am thinking of implementing Post Affiliate Pro - http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Affiliate_Programs/ - Its neither free nor cheap but it looks worth the cost

Hi TechFox,

Running your own affiliate is great but like most affiliates - its about trust - do I trust you to pay me for leads and or sales. This is why most affiliates go through the websites like commission junction and affiliate windows.

[Chris Martin]

We run an affiliate scheme for our free switchboard product and it's never had a sigle complaint but that because we let the affiliate see exactly what they are doing by giving them access to their own stats.

With our product we pay resellers a percentage based on the amount of minutes their clients accumulate using the switchboard. Obviously with telecoms affiliate programs, you will get companies that just send out cheques to affiliate & resellers that don't have any stats attached to prove what they have earned, it's a sad fact but there are people out there that are happy to rob others instead of work.

We provide our affiliates/resellers with realtime stats so that they can view what they are making revenue wise. That way we are all happy and have no desputes.

[JHallam]

Hi Claire,

c2webdesign post was a perfect description of and how the affiliate programs work.

There are a few low cost, or even free programs out there, if you need any advice which to use, Im sure everyone here will help you decied.

If you would like help installing, give me a shout - I have read your news on your site, It would be a pleasure to help, and to help beat bullying :)


jhallam AT jhallamedia.com