Since Amazon.com launched the first affiliate marketing program more than 10 years ago affiliate marketing has evolved in one of the most economical and effective means of reaching customers online. The affiliate marketing program model works as follows. A merchant pays a commission to web site owners for generating web site traffic sales or leads from either banner ads or links on their web site or paid listings at Yahoo Search Marketing and Google AdWords. Commissions are typically paid as either a flat fee or a percentage of the sale. While some merchants only pay a commission when a sale is made, others selling big ticket items like cars, furniture or professional services are paying a flat fee for leads.
Although affiliate marketing programs can work effectively for any company, building an effective program does not happen overnight. It involves a lot more than just putting up a few banners and links. It takes hard work, creativity, dedication and a lot of patient. When executed correctly it can play a key role in the growth of an online business.
While an affiliate tracking software program is certainly an essential component of an affiliate marketing program, the acquisition of new affiliates should have the highest priority.
There any many ways to reach potential affiliates. The most affordable way for merchants to find affiliates is to advertise the program on the web site. Another easy and inexpensive way to recruit new affiliates is to list the business and the affiliate program in several of the many affiliate directories.
Affiliate marketing programs are becoming more and more competitive in the growing e-commerce marketplace, so it is essential to research the competition and pay competitive referral fees. Affiliates will constantly re-evaluate the affiliate marketing programs they are enrolled in and compare the commissions that are paid against other affiliate programs. Some merchants pay their top-producing affiliates higher referral fees to make sure they are not enticed away by other affiliate programs.
Advanced Media Productions offers web site operators a complete integrated, custom solution for affiliate account management, enrollment, communications and performance monitoring.
The affiliate marketing solution is comprised of several modules that allow site operators to independently operate and managing their program, including reviewing and approving new affiliate applications, setting up new affiliate accounts, banner and button administration, editing product links, updating commission fees and account information and issuing commission checks to affiliates.
The affiliate marketing program includes the essential monitoring software required to detect and identify referrals, leads and sales generated by affiliates. To implement performance tracking, the site operator installs a few lines of code, including the affiliate's account number, and the appropriate button or link on the affiliate's web site. When a visitor clicks on the button or link at the affiliate web site, the performance tracking software detects the affiliate's account number and records the visit as a referral. When the visitor submits a lead form the program records this as a lead. For affiliate web sites that perform online transactions the performance tracking software records the actual amount of the sale.
Individuals that do not have a web site will still be able to participate in the affiliate marketing program as an affiliate. They need to enter their affiliate code manually when they access the web site to submit a lead or place an order.
The affiliate compensation program supports pay-per-lead and pay-per-sale options. The pay per lead option allows the site operator to pay a flat fee for prospect information provided through an online form. The pay-per-sale option offers merchants the opportunity to sell goods and services though a network of affiliates, while only paying a commission after a sale is made. In the administration section the site operator can enter the commission each affiliate receives in a flat fee for a lead or in a percentage of the sale for each purchase transaction that is performed.
The affiliate marketing program can pay affiliates monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, once the affiliates have reached a pre-specified balance in their account. The site operator can set a pre-specified payout amount, in the admin section. If an affiliate fails to reach the pay out level, the funds stay in the account until the level is reached.
Affiliates will be provided with a password and user name to access and view the daily account status of their accounts in real-time. The affiliate marketing program provides its affiliates with a variety of read only reports including lead or sales reports by day, week or month, commission they have earned so far and click thru reports that show how the affiliate buttons and links are pulling and which affiliates are generating the most traffic. Affiliates can also view and update the basic account info they provided at sign up through the Affiliate Application form.
The site operator provides affiliate web sites with a hypertext link or buttons, coded with an account number, to track the visitors referred from affiliate web sites. The site operator places these links - which may be in the form of banner advertisements, buttons or text links - in a designated area on the affiliate web site. When a visitor clicks on an affiliate-linked banner, button, or text link, the performance tracking software takes note of the coded link as the new page is served in a new browser window on top of the affiliate web site. If a visitor fulfills a lead or makes a purchase as a result of the referral, the affiliates' account is credited with the appropriate amount.
To promote products and services the site operator will supply an affiliate web site with a variety of pre-designed banners, buttons and links and a few lines of code. The affiliate must place these links in a visible designated section of the web site. Advanced Media Productions can create affiliate banners and buttons in all standard IAB/CASIE sizes at standard pricing for these services (see Banner Ad Program).
The affiliate marketing program includes the implementation of an Affiliate Marketing Program Application Form allowing prospective affiliates to join the affiliate marketing program by putting them directly in a queue for approval. Site operators are notified via email of any affiliates that have applied for the program. They can log onto the administrative section at any time to review affiliate applications and accept or deny affiliate partners.
When an affiliate application is approved the affiliate will be directed to download and complete an Affiliate Program Agreement. After the Affiliate Program Agreement has been received, the affiliate will be notified, via email, that an account has been set up. New affiliates will also receives a password and user name to their account from where they can download advertising buttons and links for installation on their web sites.
Advanced Media Productions customizes the visual design of the affiliate marketing program software to match an existing web site. This includes the creation of a comprehensive design proof with two rounds of design revisions after the initial design discussion.
Learn more about our affiliate marketing program
Page Top | Home
Web Services | Web Site Hosting | Company Profile | Projects | Support
Contact Us | Careers | News & Events | Site Map
Copyright © 1999-2006, Advanced Media Productions, Inc.
QuickBooks Integration for Metrowest Boston, Massachusetts
To find out more about developing and manage an affiliate marketing program for your Web site or becoming an affiliate for another Web site, please contact us for more information:
Our experienced affiliate marketing consultants can help develop an affiliate marketing program that is appropriate for your Web site. We will take into account your pricing structure, payout schedule, and ROI for the entire program to ensure that you're getting the best value for your money spent.
 |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
| If you would like more information about Affiliate Marketing Programs, Please fill out the form below: |
|
