What's the difference between an Affiliate Networks and Programs?

I've been trying to figure out what is the difference between an affiliate network and an affiliate program.

Can someone explain this in plain english to me?!?

 

the different is low and simple, when you sign up in affiliate network you're going to find much affiliate program, but we use or join an affiliate program you're going to work with just one program, for exemple:
aff network like cj or clickbooth have many offers in any niche!
aff program like etoro or keywordspy: you work with just etoro or keywordspy.
the best is aff network because it has much offer in one niche!
good luck

 

Cheers, thanks for the explaination...

 

That's very true that with affiliate network you will find many affiliate programs and choice of products so if one does not work for you, you can switch to other. But the disadvantage of working with affiliate network is that you are going to compete with many affiliates and few among them would be super affiliates, they will also be promoting same product which you are promoting and earning same commission which you will be. Hence you need to work very hard to compete with all those.

Usually in house affiliate program are focused to targeted segment and are usually niche. Thus there you may find competition but will be certainly less and if you are focused interested in one categories of products in house affiliate programs are best choice. For ex.. if you are fond of laptops in house affiliate program selling laptops and gadgets are the best compared to networks selling mobiles, laptops, electronic items, etc.

Being a new one should start with in house learn as much as possible and later once start performing good can switch to networks if they are not satisfied.

 

Affiliate Network is better since it's more like a one stop thing. You'll have a lot of affiliate programs under an affiliate network.

 

An affiliate program refers to a single merchant's affiliate marketing department.
An affiliate network refers to a platform like CJ, where all the different programs register to recruit affiliates.

 

An affiliate network is a network of affiliate programs. If your a company that want's to offer an affiliate program on your website, you may purchase your own software and host it on your server or you may join up as a merchant on an affiliate network and have it managed with that affiliate network. The good thing about an affiliate network is that getting an affiliate program started is just like getting a website started. You have to get affiliates, promote it, etc. With having it listed with an affiliate network, they already have an affiliate base that are already using them, so it's likely that you will get some good affiliates join your affiliate program straight away compared to having your own hosted affiliate program. Therefore the results may be better having your affiliate program managed by an affiliate network rather than having it hosted by yourself, although it would be more costly with an affiliate network, but if it results it much more business, an affiliate network is more likely to be more beneficial. Hope that helps.