Affiliate programs, or affiliate marketing programs, are systems that are set up so that a merchant can offer a commission, usually a percentage of the profits, to anyone who wishes to promote and sell the products that the merchant stocks.
There are distinct advantages for both parties. The merchant does not have to pay or work to get the customers that the affiliate brings in, and the affiliate does not have to stock items, or be concerned about payment processing and order fulfillment.
Affiliate programs are often run by affiliate networks. These are large online companies that manage affiliate programs for merchants or retailers. Typically they will manage many hundreds or even thousands of affiliate programs for many merchants. The affiliate marketer, also sometimes known as the publisher, can sign up with an affiliate network and find affiliate programs that they wish to promote.
This means that there are typically four main stakeholders involved in affiliate marketing: the merchant, the affiliate network, the affiliate marketer and the customer. This set up simplifies the procedure for all parties involved. Both the merchant and the affiliate marketer leave the management of the affiliate program to the affiliate network, and the customer is unaffected at every level.
One of the biggest sources of affiliate programs can be found at Commission Junction . This is one of the best established affiliate networks. Other popular affiliate networks include, but are not limited to:ClickBank , LinkShare , Shareasale , Affiliate Window , Amazon , and LinkConnector .
Most affiliate programs involve promoting a product and earning a commission whenever a sale is made. However, there are other types of affiliate programs. Google has one of the best known pay-per-click programs. Its AdSense program is well known and widely used. The main reason for its popularity lies in the fact that the affiliate marketer gets paid whenever someone clicks on an ad; they don't have to actually buy anything.
Another popular type of affiliate program is the cost-per-lead (CPL) model. With this model the affiliate gets paid when the potential customer takes a certain action. This is usually signing up to receive further information. At this point the merchant takes over and tries to persuade the person to actually become a paying customer.
The CPL affiliate program is very popular as, like AdSense, it does not require the visitor to actually buy anything in order to get paid. Also, CPL affiliate programs usually pay well. They are used by companies, such as those selling mortgages, who stand to gain a considerable lot if someone becomes a customer. For this reason the CPL model can be very lucrative.
Affiliate programs are commonplace all over the Internet today. Merchants who do not run an affiliate program are considered unusual in most cases. Not all programs are run through affiliate networks either, many merchants run their own custom programs, and often these can be very good and well thought out.
There are distinct advantages for both parties. The merchant does not have to pay or work to get the customers that the affiliate brings in, and the affiliate does not have to stock items, or be concerned about payment processing and order fulfillment.
Affiliate programs are often run by affiliate networks. These are large online companies that manage affiliate programs for merchants or retailers. Typically they will manage many hundreds or even thousands of affiliate programs for many merchants. The affiliate marketer, also sometimes known as the publisher, can sign up with an affiliate network and find affiliate programs that they wish to promote.
This means that there are typically four main stakeholders involved in affiliate marketing: the merchant, the affiliate network, the affiliate marketer and the customer. This set up simplifies the procedure for all parties involved. Both the merchant and the affiliate marketer leave the management of the affiliate program to the affiliate network, and the customer is unaffected at every level.
One of the biggest sources of affiliate programs can be found at Commission Junction . This is one of the best established affiliate networks. Other popular affiliate networks include, but are not limited to:ClickBank , LinkShare , Shareasale , Affiliate Window , Amazon , and LinkConnector .
Most affiliate programs involve promoting a product and earning a commission whenever a sale is made. However, there are other types of affiliate programs. Google has one of the best known pay-per-click programs. Its AdSense program is well known and widely used. The main reason for its popularity lies in the fact that the affiliate marketer gets paid whenever someone clicks on an ad; they don't have to actually buy anything.
Another popular type of affiliate program is the cost-per-lead (CPL) model. With this model the affiliate gets paid when the potential customer takes a certain action. This is usually signing up to receive further information. At this point the merchant takes over and tries to persuade the person to actually become a paying customer.
The CPL affiliate program is very popular as, like AdSense, it does not require the visitor to actually buy anything in order to get paid. Also, CPL affiliate programs usually pay well. They are used by companies, such as those selling mortgages, who stand to gain a considerable lot if someone becomes a customer. For this reason the CPL model can be very lucrative.
Affiliate programs are commonplace all over the Internet today. Merchants who do not run an affiliate program are considered unusual in most cases. Not all programs are run through affiliate networks either, many merchants run their own custom programs, and often these can be very good and well thought out.
