Affiliate programs can be categorized into three main classes, namely networks, specialized networks and individual affiliate programs.
Affiliates may choose to sign up with affiliate programs in any of these categories for several reasons.
First, let’s define these categories.
Affiliate networks is where merchants and the merchants’ products are listed in a database according to their categories, and affiliates go to these networks to select the affiliate programs which they want to promote.
Affiliate programs in such a network use network infrastructure for promotion and managing their affiliates.
Examples of major affiliate networks are ClickBank, Commission Junction and LinkShare among several others.
Specialized affiliate networks are networks that list affiliate programs and products in a specific niche or sub-niche.
One specialized affiliate network may have many affiliate programs that are in sub-niches that complement each other.
Individual affiliate programs are those programs owned by individual merchants or internet marketers, who use their own reporting and management systems.
These affiliate programs do not involve any third parties, and the individual merchant directly manages and pays his own affiliates.
Affiliates have various expectations from the affiliate programs they sign up with, and this influences the category of affiliate programs they choose.
While some affiliates want to join affiliate programs that belong to a network, other prefer being affiliates for individual affiliate program while others are indifferent – as long as they are paid their commission!
Affiliate programs networks offer many benefits to the member affiliate programs as well as affiliates.
For various reasons, there are some affiliates who don’t like to deal with programs outside major networks.
However, any individual affiliate program can be well planned and managed in such as way it provides high quality services, tools and commissions to its affiliates.
So, what are the main reasons why affiliates prefer to join affiliate programs that are part of an established network?
Can an individual merchant offer a competitive affiliate program that has first-class features without being part of a network?
1. Affiliates networks provide a wide range of affiliate programs and merchants all in one place so that affiliates can pick and choose what they want.
Affiliates who focus on several niches aim to promote several related and complementary products in one single niche, and affiliate networks are the best places to find the best.
The main advantage is that even if the affiliates are promoting many affiliate programs in many niches on numerous websites, they have a single network that manages their reporting and process their payment.
Established individual merchants that sell many related products in one or several niches can however offer multiple products to its affiliates.
2. Regardless of the different payment structures which individual programs may have, affiliates have one main merchant to deal with, namely the affiliate network.
The affiliate does not deal with each individual merchant, and solely deals with the affiliate merchant network who tracks all the sales and processing of all the payments for the various products being promoted by the affiliate.
An individual affiliate program owner with affiliate programs for several products can provide consolidated payment and reporting for those affiliates that are members of several of his affiliate program.
3. High quality real time tracking and reporting that allows affiliates to see their progress and performance.
Most affiliate networks provide the best tracking software and tools that allows affiliates to get all the information they want.
Such software may be pricey and some individual affiliate program owners can’t provide it.
This is an important investment for any internet marker who would like to recruit affiliates and provide them with good reporting and payment processing.
An individual merchant must look for the best sales and tracking and reporting tool that will make sure that affiliates can see their progress.
4. No risks of any payments.
Affiliate networks normally work professionally and will pay the affiliate correct commissions.
An affiliate therefore gets guaranteed payment of the accurate commissions processed by a third party, the affiliate network.
Some individual merchants don’t use top-notch payment processors, resulting in under-payment of the affiliates or delays in payments.
Affiliates are also very hesitant to deal with companies or merchants who may refuse to pay them or withhold their commission for some reason.
An individual merchant can still recruit affiliates by using a reliable payment processing system and making sure that affiliates are paid their correct commission and on time.
To easily recruit and maintain affiliates, an individual merchant must have an affiliate program that has features and solutions that match what is provided by affiliate networks.
Offer higher commission rates, provide personal attention to your affiliates to keep them motivated, and ask your affiliates what they want and provide that and more!
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