Affiliate Programs

What are Affiliate Programs? Affiliate programs are where an affiliate site has a particular location on the Internet where affiliates (website associates or partners) have their links listed. Mostly featured on merchant websites, affiliate programs are an innovative venue for marketing and selling products and/or services via performance-based or commission earnings.

Once an agreement has been reached, an affiliate program owners selectively display products and/or services on their site(s). Affiliate programs often promote merchant items by using advertisements such as ad banners, graphics and/or text links. In doing so, affiliate sites earn sales portions via click through leads or through purchases made onsite at affiliate site links.

Generally, affiliate programs commonly use pay per click advertising (also called CPC -- Cost per Click). Affiliate sites may receive a revenue stream based on site patrons who click on affiliate site links. This pay per click mode simply leads potential customers to the merchant's affiliate site.

Affiliate programs may also incorporate 'auto-merchandiser links.' These specific links are targeted marketing tools that enable merchants with the ability to advertise particular products and/or services on an affiliate site. Auto-merchandiser links are often user-friendly. They allow associates to choose specially designed links that are compatible with individual affiliate program categories, browser types and even individual operating systems.

Another option for affiliate program marketing includes CPL (Cost per Lead). This particular platform generates revenue based on leads generated by links on these partner websites. Additionally, affiliate program sites may opt to earn sales percentages via CPS (Cost per Sale). This income is earned each time a sales transaction is completed through the originating website.

There are multiple formats from which affiliate program sites may choose. Once all sides have been agreed upon, affiliate program sites are issued a Site ID (a unique number which identifies affiliate site from originating click through); and a Tag Generator (Specific HTML tag which creates links to specified areas of an affiliate site).

Once partner sites have been set up to be affiliates there are optional sales formats that may also be utilized to further enhance affiliate program sales. E-commerce (electronic exchange) may be set up so that affiliate partners may make merchant merchandise or service available onsite.

Seeking ways to earn extra revenue, or are you in the process of setting up your own affiliate program? We can help. Contact SEOAdept today.