Affiliate Revenue Information

Pros and Cons of Third Party Online Affiliate Networks


Online affiliate marketing has taken the internet by storm and has proven to be a highly effective way of maximizing website revenue. Why limit yourself to selling your own products when you can profit by selling somebody else's too?

There are thousands of individual affiliate programs offered on the internet, many being through third party affiliate program networks such as OffersQuest, Commission Junction and Linkshare. These companies connect a large number of advertisers and publishers together via their own network. Advertisers sign up through their network to have publishers promote their products and publishers sign up to access a large network of advertisers all at one location. In the process, the affiliate network makes a profit via advertiser set-up fees, monthly account maintenance fees, commissions, etc.

The question is, as a publisher, is it worth using these large affiliate networks or is it better to form direct partnerships with advertisers?

The Good
The primary selling point of third party affiliate networks is convenience. As a publisher, one registration gives you access to tens, even hundreds of advertisers simultaneously. Tracking partner performance is easy, there is only one technical support contact, things are easier and simpler to manage, and best yet, payment is received as one convenient monthly lump sum.

The Bad
Because as a publisher you're utilizing a service, advertisers who also offer a direct affiliate partnership will typically offer a lower commission for publishers who choose to partner with them through a third party network. This is because it costs advertisers money to use the services of a third party. Also, without naming names, some affiliate networks have been known for not tracking sales and leads properly as honestly as they could be (which means money from your pocket). Payment thresholds can often be fairly high - a $50 US minimum is common for international publishers. Finally, a payment delay of two months or more from the date of a sale/lead generation can occur, as the third-party affiliate network waits until the advertiser pays them, before they pay you (the publisher).

Conclusion
In many (if not most cases), having both options of partnering directly with an advertiser or through an affiliate network is not a choice - it's usually one or the other. If an advertiser you like only offers their affiliate program through a third party, you're limited to the advertiser network they've partnered with, or not partnering at all. Affiliate networks are not bad programs to use, just keep in mind the issues outlined above, and you'll be making money in no time!

Veronica Dubak is the owner of the successful SurveyBounty.com, http://www.surveybounty.com free online paid surveys directory. With a comprehensive listing of market research companies classified by region, and background information on the online survey industry, SurveyBounty.com is the legitimate source for online survey information.


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

Following The Twitter Hack Trail To DigitalGangster
Washington Post, United States - Jan 5, 2009
But other Twitter accounts had links to sites to generate affiliate revenue. Facebook's Twitter account had a message pointing to getlaid.info (now shut ...
Hackers Target Famous Twitterers IT Business Edge
all 380 news articles


Time Warner Post Net Operating Loss for 2008
MEDIAWEEK - 42 minutes ago
Along with the advertising gains, network revenue was goosed by 10 percent year-to-year growth in subscription/affiliate revenue. Along with the Time Warner ...


Viacom threatens removal of Time Warner's Spongebob Squarepants
Register, UK - Dec 31, 2008
But affiliate revenue leapt 12 per cent. "TWC has so greatly undervalued our channels for so long," Viacom's statement reads. "Throughout the country ...


Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung)

Become a bingo affiliate and start making some real money
Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Dec 13, 2008
(live-PR.com) - More and more online bingo networks are launching affiliate schemes which are very, very profitable for third parties that make an effort to ...


Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas
Raising Kids, UK - Jan 1, 2009
... customizable as you need with options for adding other affiliate revenue streams, and you could create such a website with the click of a button?


TechFlash | Foodista, a wiki for food lovers
TechFlash, WA - Dec 17, 2008
Because the company features cooking tools, it also could grab some affiliate revenue by passing leads on to retailers like Amazon.com. ...


Our Picks for Top eBay Alternatives for 2008
ECommerce-Guide, United States - Dec 17, 2008
They can earn affiliate revenue by referring new members to the Wigix site or by recommending products from Wigix members on their Web spaces. ...


Boost Your Online Revenue With a Niche Blog
PWO, France - Dec 21, 2008
Lastly, consider using the blog to generate pay-per-click and or affiliate revenue. Niche blog readers probably have a hard time finding items in their area ...


Fitch Touts Grim '09 Outlook for Media, Entertainment
Marketing Vox News - Dec 12, 2008
In particular, the automotive category (which can represent over 20% of a broadcast affiliate's revenue) will present big challenges. ...

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