Affiliate Networks, Private or Parallel Programs?

[5starAffiliatePrograms]

There is a pretty good article in imediaconnection about the pros & cons of Affiliate Networks vs private programs or running parallel on both a network and private.

New Options for Affiliate Marketing
Thursday, November 11, 2004
By Rob Key, Converseon

"Many merchants are evaluating private options to supplement their affiliate programs.

They may not be quite chanting “igualdad, fraternidad y libertad” in the streets or dumping tea in Boston Harbor, but nonetheless a small rebellion of sorts is brewing in the affiliate marketing world that is transforming the industry’s landscape and offering savvy merchants a broader range of opportunities."

Read the rest then come back to discuss:
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/4568.asp

As often as possible, we try to offer parallel programs to give affiliates a choice between CJ for ease & consolidated checks or a private solution which can offer super affiliates a little more money and more importantly IMHO, provide protection from some of the ad blockers, firewalls and other apps that block network links and eat network cookies.

How to affiliates feel about this issue? Thumbs up for networks or private programs or do you like to have a choice? Why???

Linda

[Marcia]

Hi Linda - very timely. This has definitely not been the week for a growing fondness toward the networks. ;)

What I do like about CJ is the consolidated payments and $25 payout; some are just very small but if they're consistent, that's fine. And with the networks, altogether it makes it easy to be able to browse and find the merchants needed. There's also a comfort zone factor of their being a "big" company behind it, though I'd have to say that so far Sharesale is fast winning my affection for ease of use and having a fast site.

One downside is that, with CJ for example, the site was so low this week that it was totally impossible to get any links - and they were badly needed for a site update on a site that's literally booming. I joined up with the merchant's indie program - and never heard back even after several days. Thumbs down on that merchant, I wouldn't ever go individually with them at this point.

Linkshare is also slow, very slow at times. And when hand-rolling pages time can be of the essence when there's a limited amount available. At least with them you can generally contact the merchant if needed - though there's one that performs consistently (actually a few sales a day now on a tiny site) who does not have the links available I need right now, Sent the merchant an email - no response yet. With another of theirs that's needed for the holiday season the site is pulling out of the frames so you can't get links - again, no email response from the affiliate manager.

Performics is a living nightmare. I've got a site sitting at #1 for the main keyword phrase for a certain much_in_demand line, and am signed up with one of their merchants - whose products I totally need, they're right on for the site and the traffic is already there. I absolutely cannot retrieve my password; it's been a few weeks of writing. No links, no sales for the merchant. I actually called the company to try to get help - no luck.

The lack of communication ability is the bad part about the networks. IMHO a good affiliate manager who communicates can make it or break it for me. I'm not at it long, and it isn't really a steep learning curve - it''s actually pretty quick. But I'm stuck with traffic and not having the products I need because of lack of communication right now - so I'd say the indies have it in that respect, with at least being able to contact the necessary person, which is not always possible through the networks.