comparing affiliate networks
TRANSCRIPT
Affiliate Summit East 2012
Comparing Affiliate Networks: Tips and Tricks
Tricia Meyer, MeyerTech, LLC, @SunshineTricia
Who Am I? How Do I Know This Stuff?
• Attorney-Turned-Affiliate Marketer• Content Sites, Coupons and Cash Back• Speaker, Writer, Podcaster and Consultant• @sunshinetricia• [email protected]• www.tricia.me
Which is the best affiliate network?
Other Person Tricia
What’s the Prize Pig of Affiliate Networks?
What This Presentation Will Be
• Opinions based on my experience with CJ, GAN, SAS, and LS
• Bonus opinions about a few other networks• Factual comparison of technologies and features that
are useful to the majority of affiliates• Insight for merchants and networks into what affiliates
actually look for and use• A Guide
What This Presentation Will Not Be
• My opportunity to vent and complain or embarrass networks
• A witch hunt• All encompassing• Pinning a ribbon on a Prize Pig
RT: @sunshinetricia “Each affiliate network has pros & cons. The best network is the one that fits your site’s needs/objectives.”
Agenda
• Ethical Issues• Merchants on the Network• Interface/Ease of Use• Feeds• Reporting• Payments• Support and Education• Tricia’s Gold Stars
Ethical Issues
• Toolbars and cookie stuffing• Rakuten’s toolbar (Onecause/FreeCause)• Affiliates that the network prefers• GAN’s reliance on AdSense• GAN’s Safari Tracking (hopefully temporary)• Will you get kicked out if you criticize anything?
Merchants on the Network
• Recognizable Household Brand Names• Niche, Small Business Merchants• Internet Retailer Top 100
Interface/Ease of Use
• Finding merchants (category, keyword, top)• EPC• Reversal rates• Pulling creatives• Deep linking
Feeds
• Product feeds• Coupon feeds• Daily v. Anytime• Naming conventions• Fees
Reporting
• Real-Time v. Delayed• Click tracking for subids• Transaction disputes• Cancellations• Product level reports
Payments
• Monthly v. Weekly• Net 20, Net 30, Net Infinity?• Check, Direct Deposit, AdSense
Support and Education
• Webinars• Conferences• Documentation on site• Customer support
Tricia’s Gold Stars
• SAS License Plate Links• Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger• Linkshare Bento Box
