An alternative to Commission Junction?
Question:
Commission Junction is so big and so bureaucratic that I don't want to use them. Anybody got a good affiliate manager?
Answers:
Don't use a third-party affiliate manager, they can be costly and have a lot of bureaucratic garbage hidden in the fine-print. What I suggest, seeing as this is how I run my programming business, is you line out a set of base percentages. For example:
Mr. A decides to become an affiliate with your business, so you offer him a basic 5% of every sale that he can assist in making, then over him an additional $50 for every fifth sale. You really don't spend that much, but it is something Mr. A can get involved in without the ties of a pyramid scheme, so he will likely continue to affilate with you.
Your accountant(s) can review your expendatures as well as profits to best decide the percentages and bonuses of becoming an active affiliate. They can also look into third-part site advertising at a low cost, or you may just consider going to something like www.sitemeter.com and finding what the most hit sites are and paying a bit more, but for a wider market.
Hope this helps.
Join affiliate programs directly through the site whos product you are selling! Manage your own. Commission junction takes a cut of your profits! If you look over the sites, you will find an affiliate link usually at the bottom of their page.
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