What are my options for starting an affiliate program. I looked into Commission Junction, but they have so many fees and minimum business levels to maintain each month. Is there software that can be used or other companies like COmmission Junction?

Thanks

other companies like COmmission Junction?Sure - Linkshare, Shareasale, AvantLink, and more small ones popping up on a regular basis lately. Costs for setting up and monthlies vary big-time.

I have found that really the Big Fish Affiliates work in RegNow or ShareIt or ESellerate. These Affiliate networks are run mostly by Digital River and provide software (more than services) If you want to start up an affiliate network I would suggest that you look at how they do it and replicate it.

I was paying my best affiliates anywhere from 20-40% in commission depending on what they agreed to take on in marketing (if they went after branded keywords they got lower - competitive keywords got Higher)

I have found that my CJ affiliates were capable but my RegNow affiliates were like a SWAT team

- Make sure that if you do set up an Affiliate campaign (or looking at joining one) that you look at these variables

CJ- relies on cookies (at least it did when I did it) and cookies can be flushed or timed out - hence even though you supply the link to the product it wont necessarily guarantee a sale - You will find the Big Fish will avoid cookie based affiliate campaigns.

CPC advertising - Google will only allow 1 add in Google Adwords per URL so make sure if you have affiliates that you create multiple landing pages / URLs for each so you can all play and dominate the marketplace.

If you can try to distribute software that has your Affiliate ID actually added to the installer so at the time of purchase your Affiliate ID gets credit (this is like the RegNow + eSellerate systems)

I kind of like the idea of using software for our affiliate program, so that we have more control over and can avoid the various fees. However I do see the benefit of being in these networks. I have been looking at a software called iDevAffiliate. Based on the information I read it looks like it does everything we need it to. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Take a look at Affiliate Wiz (http://www.affiliatewiz.com/) - I have heard some good thigns about them. There system and cost are low compared with costs for other packages.

I signed up for idevaffiliates over a month ago thinking I would save money and now I'm regretting it. Their support is non-existent, they have no way to contact via phone, and they take their time (days) responding to trouble tickets. You can't respond to THEIR responses because the tickets are closed as soon as they respond to you, even if the issue isn't resolved. You have open a new ticket. Solving what should be simple problems for them takes weeks to resolve. I signed up in early April and STILL am not working and can't get a response from them.

I kind of like the idea of using software for our affiliate program, so that we have more control over and can avoid the various fees. However I do see the benefit of being in these networks. I have been looking at a software called iDevAffiliate. Based on the information I read it looks like it does everything we need it to. Does anyone have any experience with this?