Affiliate programs: Could I get your input please?

angienewton · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1629 Location: IL

I posted this in the Super Affiliate Handbook thread:

"As for affiliate programs I am looking to join...it would be anything to do with gifts (flowers, candy, etc), weight loss/fitness (magazines, fitness equiptment, etc). I do have Amazon already but wanted to look into clickbank, shareasale and those types. I have had the hardest time on Commission Junction trying to find what companies they promote (I still can't find it). I also have joined wahm affiliate programs"

Doing some research this morning, I found that at this time Share a Sale doesn't have any merchants I am familiar with so I took a look at Link Share and they do have merchants that I could definitely use for a few of my sites. As for this program, I was reading their TOS but didn't see if there was a certain time frame that you had to make sales. Like on Commission Junction, I saw that if you don't have a sale within a certain amount of time, you are removed from the program?

Which leads me to the question I had on CJ. How in the world do you find what merchants they have available? I get soooo confused on their site Brick wall

And lastly (for now Laughing

) is how you all use Clickbank. I took a quick peek and there is sooo much. I'm thinking if I ever wanted to promote something from here, I would have to purchase the e-book first before I promoted it. Is that what you all normally do?

I do not want to get too overwhelmed and make this harder than it has to be so I *think* my best bet would be to sign up for Link Share out of the others. I am already an Amazon affiliate and have signed up for quite a few wahm aff. programs too.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

THANK YOU all for taking the time to help me understand all of this Wink

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Anita · Posted: April 2, 2007, 6:27 pm Post subject:

Let me see if I can follow you here. For the products that you're looking for, Amazon sounds like a great fit for you. Keep in mind that Clickbank is all digital products. You probably already know that but, some of thing you've mentioned wouldn't be digital. However, with that said ... Clickbank is my favorite.

Have you checked into PayDotCom.com? They are another favorite of mine.

CJ? For me ... I say ICK! LOL! But seriously, that's not a fair judgement at all .. so please don't use it. I tried using CJ a couple of times before and like you, got lost. I honestly didn't take the time to figure it out either. CJ used to be one of Kara's favorite places so I'll give her a heads up so she can share better advice.

Oh, and please don't make it too hard for you ... it's really not that bad at all Wink

Take care,
Anita Razz

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karadawn · Posted: April 2, 2007, 7:01 pm Post subject:

I believe with CJ, it depends on the individual programs TOS. Like what the company decides they want to do with you after so long. I have several companies I'm still approved for that I've never made any sales with them.

The nice part about CJ is you don't have to look just for advertisers in particular, but you can search their database for certain products. It will list every company that has products you can link to. Just click on the "get links" tab and you can search by advertisers, links, or products. Wink

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angienewton · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1629 Location: IL

Thanks ladies!

I am going to start small for sure. I have been an Amazon affiliate for a while and today I just signed up for Link Share although they sent an email to verify my email address and I got an error on the page saying their security certificate was not good or something. I'll have to contact them to check on this but otherwise, it's a start.

I will check out Paydotcom and I think Clickbank would work well for my weight loss/fitness site so that's another possibility.

And that would be enough for now until I get used to all of it.

Thanks for your input Smile

_________________
~Angie~
My Weight Loss Journal/Blog

My personal blog
Angie Rambles

angienewton · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1629 Location: IL

Just wanted to pop back in and say that I am bummed. The first company through Linkshare that I requested to become an affiliate for did not approve me. It was Walmart and boy am I irritated. I know my weight loss/fitness site needs work but I was going to add content with Walmart products in there. I have spent a lot of money with them over the past month or so, mostly on weight loss/fitness items so I could promote them.

Is this going to happen with all the companies within Linkshare? You have to get started somewhere....any tips?

Bummed

_________________
~Angie~
My Weight Loss Journal/Blog

My personal blog
Angie Rambles

Lauren · Posted: April 8, 2007, 9:42 pm Post subject:

Angie-

I had the same problem and still do with some of the Merchants at Link Share. Some of them will automatically approve you and others are looking for your content, vistor stats, etc. Oriental Trading company still will not approve me for MomsOnlineRetreat.com. Though only one area of my site would be the most appropriate for that area-bus me that they won't give me a chance.

Sometimes you need the approval so that you can go ahead and build the content that would be to their liking, but if they won't approve you-what can you do? Sad

Don't give up! Sorting through all of the merchants is time consuming, I know. And I'm the same way-I don't feel comfortable promoting an ebook, or Merchant unless I'm familiar with them. Pick a few and promote as many of their products as you can for content (better your chances for commission).

I'm primarily with PayDotCom.com and LinkShare right now. I like PayDotCom.com because they pay you through PayPal-convenient! Sorry I didn't see your post until now-hope it all goes well, and hang in there! Wink

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karadawn · Posted: April 9, 2007, 2:40 am Post subject:

BusyMomma · Posted: April 9, 2007, 6:27 am Post subject:

Angie, it's hard when you are denied those first few times. But there are so many out there. Don't even think twice about it. There is something better out there for you. Wink

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Anita · Posted: April 9, 2007, 8:07 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry Angie. Don't let it get ya down. Wink

But I have been in your shoes before. I know how it feels and it ... well, it sucks. But you know what I started having the denials do to me? It made me stronger. I was so angry at them for denying me that I built a bigger better section and found someone else. As mentioned .. it's their loss! Use it to your advantage like I did.

Take care,
Anita Razz

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nuwave06 · Posted: April 11, 2007, 5:05 am Post subject:

I'm glad to see some positive feedback on Clickbank. I am considering starting my own affiliate program for a diet plan site I recently launched. I am currently researching the different merchant programs/affiliate software available in my price range. I'll keep you all posted on that...

I agree that Commission Junction is somewhat difficult to navigate, especially when searching for particular merchants. I would join additional affiliate programs managed through their site if I could find related programs more easily. Confused

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Anita · Posted: April 13, 2007, 2:32 am Post subject:

Yes, I'm very happy with Clickbank except they don't have the best stats but ... Another one you might be interested in taking a look at is PayDotCom. We use them with DirectSalesHelpers.com and are very satisfied.

Take care,
Anita Razz

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nuwave06 · Posted: April 13, 2007, 3:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info, Anita. I'll check them out too. Question with Clickbank: If I have 3 separate products to offer from one website, does this mean I would need 3 separate Clickbank accounts and separate setup fees for each?
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nuwave06 · Posted: April 13, 2007, 8:22 am Post subject:

OK, my affiliate program should be up and running on PayDotCom now!

Because I have 3 separate products to offer, I had to create 3 affiliate links to appropriately track sales.

Weight Watchers Diet Guide:
https://paydotcom.com/a.page.php?id=13737&u=nuwave

Atkins Diet Guide:
https://paydotcom.com/a.page.php?id=13738&u=nuwave

South Beach Diet Guide:
https://paydotcom.com/a.page.php?id=13740&u=nuwave
_________________
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Anita · Posted: April 16, 2007, 5:58 am Post subject:

Apparently you got your own answer. And congrats on setting up the affiliate program. I think you'll be pretty happy with PayDotCom.com. I know I am Wink

Take care,
Anita Razz

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BusyMomma · Posted: April 16, 2007, 8:18 am Post subject:

Well I have lots of questions, cause i need to set up my affiliate program NOW!

Do I have to take payments through paydotcom? I just don't understand how it will work. Sad

I have my subscription program already set up, I just want to give my members credit if they pass my site along.

So please walk me through it please. I've never even researched having my own affiliate program. But the fee's were much lower on paydotcom than any where else when I did google it.
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nuwave06 · Posted: April 16, 2007, 8:30 am Post subject:

You can setup PayDotCom to process payments through your existing PayPal account. I did a test run for one of my programs and it worked like a charm.
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BusyMomma · Posted: April 16, 2007, 10:00 am Post subject:

But then I'd have to change from my current subscription program? That is my worry. How to switch it over from the subscription program it is already with. Thanks Ulanda
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Anita · Posted: April 16, 2007, 6:43 pm Post subject:

I don't believe so Val. We didn't have to change any of our payment information. I think you should be fine in that sense.

Take care,
Anita Razz

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BusyMomma · Posted: April 17, 2007, 3:27 am Post subject:

I guess I'm just trying to be too technical. I can't understand how it will track that someone bought a membership unless the payment goes through them. Laughing

Cause I have a subscription service that takes care of the payments for me already and puts their info in my database.

Am I being too technical? Cause I REALLY want to get an affiliate program set up ASAP. Smile

I'll add it to my list for next week. This week is already taken up.
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Val

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Anita · Posted: April 17, 2007, 3:29 am Post subject:

I honestly think you're going to be fine. However, you know what? It doesn't take much at all to set it up. Do a quick set up and run a test Wink

If you need a tester, let me know. Wink

Take care,
Anita Razz

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P.S. You have to check this out:
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