I currently have an in-house affiliate program that is integrated with our LiteCommerce (litecommerce.com) shopping cart. It hasn't really been advertised yet. I was going to start pushing the affiliate program soon, but wanted feedback: Should I keep an in-house system? I.E. Do affiliate marketers join one-off, in-house programs??? Or should I join someone like ShareASale? Margins would support the 20% fee, but I would rather not pay it if I don't have to and instead give more back to the affiliates. We are not nearly big enough to justify the cost of a CJ or LinkShare. Thanks.
I'll say stay in house and pay better. In the end if you pay better you will get more affiliates and more sales on your end. Also if you pay well your affiliates will help you spread the word of your program.
Thanks. But I wouldn't quite consider Amazon a one-off... I would guess that they alone probably funnel more affiliate sales than everyone but the top two or three network programs. To clarify, we run a small business, so we are very much like many of the other businesses you would find on a ShareASale or similar. Obviously if the return is phenomenal for affiliates, it doesn't matter... word-of-mouth will bring them in and they will sign up. However, since we have yet to push the program we are currently unsure what the conversion/returns will be for our affiliates.... and thus potential affiliates are unsure as well. Is it worth it to sign up and try it, or will they just avoid it altogether in favor of a network program. I think we will continue with the in-house option and see how many affiliates we can sign up and then track returns and make the affiliates willing to take a shot with our one-off program very happy. Thanks for the feedback.
OK, you got me there... Still, I'd agree, keep it in house and give a better commission. WOM will be your friend.