I can’t seem to fully shake that apprehensive feeling when encountering a new CPA Affiliate Network.  Of course it is also coupled with interest and curiosity but there is that inevitable twinge of uncertainty.  For those of you who were around back in “the day” of affiliate marketing, then you surely know what I mean.  When Affiliate Managers were more akin to used car salesmen, pushing homegrown reg-path offers instead of jalopies, and scrubbing out affiliate leads was just a means of increasing your networks profit margin.  Oh and the Affiliates, particularly those of the “work out of your garage” tech savvy variety, who quickly learned that by creating little more than a script you could bypass costly user interaction, and still generate leads, clicks, and transactions.  Well the list of offenses could go on and on, but the point is the times have changed!  Laws have become stricter, networks got whole lot better at screening applicants, and big name companies have come in to set their own rules.  So why are so many others living in the past and not taking advantage of guaranteed results?  Perhaps it is the unknown and fear of trying something different or perhaps it is the desired result that is the question mark?  Well here are a few of my suggestions.

·         Establish the desired end result or “action” you want to come from your campaign.

·         Establish how you would like your campaign promoted, what are the typical conversion rates associated with each route and which tends to produce the highest quality of leads.

·         Shop networks.  Anyone can have a nice website, but try meeting some of these people in person and you can find out volumes about an operation.

·         Read the fine print.  Networks are in the business of getting paid, regardless of affiliate activity, so make sure to spell out your terms carefully.

The best thing about taking this leap is that with CPA (cost per action), you dont have to pay if you dont get your end result.  So there are no wasted impressions, or clicks … simply “action”.

Natalie Romero, Account Executive.

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Tags: Advertising Network, Affiliate Network