Independent Affiliate Programmes

[bitsnstuff]

I am considering setting up my own independent affiliate scheme and wondered whether anyone here has any recommendations for software, but also some do's and don'ts?

Kate :lol:

[Srivvy]

A hard scheme to start and even harder to market effectively enough to get a big response.

You would need to compete against big schemes that have been around for years.

If it is to market your own business, have you joined existing affiliate programs?

[DuaneJackson]

We have an independent affiliate scheme for KashFlow.

One dont: Don't do it!

I wish we'd gone with a big affiliate network now, it's something I'm still exploring.

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Kate,

We are currently assessing a script with a view to having our own custom script made once we know exactly what we want.

Another option is to join one of the big affiliate networks and tap into their bank of affiliates.

Mark of Roses by design has done this recently - hopefully he'll comment later :)

Rob

[bitsnstuff]

I was with Affiliate Future but recently cancelled it as despite having gained over 400 affiliates in 3 months, most did next to nothing or nothing at all. The affiliates that were driving traffic were marketing my monthly competition, so the scheme just wasn't paying for itself.

That is why I thought it may be better to set up my own scheme where there would be no monthly standing charge and it would allow me to offer better commission and cash bonuses.

Kate

[SillyJokes]

We have a network and an indy scheme.

Both have hundreds of affiliates, most of whom do not do anything.

to make a success of an affiliate program requires a considerable amount of work whether you are with a network or not. Paying a network is not a magic bullet and an introduction to hundreds of successful affiliates all keen to promote your site.

You will still have to put in the hours to find and keep good affiliates.

Your site is very nice but it competes in the market not only for customers but also for affiliates as many will already be promoting shops very similar to yours and if they are doing well, they will not be looking to change for someone new and untried.

New and Untried is bad to affiliates - you may not convert as well as their existing gift stores AND your store could go bust leaving them out of pocket.

So it is hard to get a new affiliate program off the ground, and it takes months and months.

Backto your original post

We use http://www.groundbreak.com
it is cheap, it works and it makes us sales. We've used it for years.