Choosing the right affiliate program

[mjm1905]

Some of the information that I gathered here is interesting. I have been thinking of developing an affiliate based program for my website. I can see there are more rewards to this than just the referrals and sales generated from other websites.

I took notice that some affiliate based programs generate a simple referral code, while others generate a code that pulls banners from my domain using javascript. Addtionally they use some sort of redirect, I believe to count the referring url.

It would seem important to store referral information and allowing for future credits. However, I am curious how Google would analyze these links, when viewing other webpages.

[awall19]

www.mysite.com
www.mysite.com?source=bla
are two different links

usually the ones with referal codes are filtered out as duplicate content and do not add to the total site pagerank

[mjm1905]

With that being the case, an affiliate based program that passes the variables without using the link would add considerable value. For example one that uses Cookies.

Or are third party cookies something that would also through up a flag?

[awall19]

the problem is that some people have cookies disabled and it requires a ton of trust for people to want to allow variables such as http referer to control affiliate payout since sometimes things like that are blocked.

affiliate programs can get you distribution, but generally are not good for link builing in the eyes of search engines. they still build trust though with consumers because if people see you over and over and over again then they are more likely to buy. its the same reason some people buy pay per click ads even when they have top rankings.

[mjm1905]

I see, thank you awall19. I was hoping to get the best of both worlds from an affiliate program. I guess that would be hard to do. I greatly appreciate the feedback.

[clasione]

www.new-affiliates.com :wink:

[awall19]

I think new affiliates would be a much more useful site if you made it a searchable directory of affiliate programs by category and promoted it via that angle

[Fruit & Veg]

Cookies can be an issue, but it's rare that people even know how to disable them, let alone, actually delete them on a regular basis. I suppose one main issue is that I could find a good site form work, but then go home and actually buy the product - this wouldn't get tracked as I'm using two different computers.

There is affiliate software that can allow direct linking using your own domain so it does help with SEO, plus they can also allow the merchant to set the cookie, not a third party network.....**subtle cough, cough**

[awall19]

why the subtle cough?

I wonder if anyone knows where one could get such software...

[clasione]

Originally Posted by awall19

I think new affiliates would be a much more useful site if you made it a searchable directory of affiliate programs by category and promoted it via that angle

I agree - never had the time or scripting experience to make it searchable... But I do agree...

[awall19]

you can get a free directory script
http://www.directory-search.org/directory_script.php
http://www.cable-modems.org/phphoo/

[clasione]

Interesting....

Saved in Favorites...

I'll take a good look at that soon as I get some free time...

Thanks...

[mjm1905]

Is that one of your projects clasione?

I'll look it over. Doing a lot of changes since I found this forum. Getting desperate. I turned to paid advertising for the moment.

[clasione]

Yes - I own it....

[mjm1905]

Thats a nice resource Clasione. Once I get this area up and running, I will submit my program.

Has anyone just offered a flat rate per click affiliate program?
It don't seem like this would be hard to do. counter stats and server logs, just the reporting end would be a bit complex.

I am uncertain of how appealing this type of program is though.

I noticed most of the programs on your site (Clasione) are on a commission structure. I would guess this the route most affiliate administrators take to eliminate fraudulant click through's.

There has to be a way to do this.....

[awall19]

flat rate will probably get you ate up by automated clicking bots and other fraud. from a sellers standpoint commision is the best way to go so you know exactly what you are spending. (and the buyer knows what a sale is worth)