Own Affiliate Programs

[Aminka Ozmun]

Attention: Smart People!

Does anyone have experience running their own affiliate program?

I don't mean through Commission Junction or ClickBank (are they better somehow?), I mean running your own software (I'm currently evaluating iDevAffiliate and Affiliate Royale -- any opinions on them?)...I'm especially curious about things like taxes (do I mail out a bunch of Forms 1099??) and fraud (is there any way to prevent people using the affiliate program to give themselves discounts on products???)....

But maybe first things first: does an affiliate program, self-run (or whatever the term is) or not make any sense at all for fiction eBooks??

THANKS!!

[mainstreetcm]

I have set up programs for the company I work for with both ShareASale and CJ. I like these platforms. After using these programs I would actually hate to start my own with licensed software.

With CJ and SaS I don't have to worry about paying the affiliates. That is handled by them. Things like taxes, fraud, and actually paying the affiliates is all done behind the scenes.

This allows us to run our program in a more creative way. I don't have to worry about those small details, so I can focus on creating compelling campaigns, etc.

In regard to your last question... Just ask Amazon if an affiliate program (self run or not) is beneficial to ebook sales both fictional and non-fictional. You'll quickly find your answer. A resounding YES!

[Aminka Ozmun]

Hi, mainstreetcm!

I guess I'm reluctant to out-source things initially since I really don't expect much to happen at first so it would seem like a waste of money for them to get a cut of what few sales I'd have in the beginning.

There's also the sheer curiosity of what it'd be like, dealing directly with my affiliates, who I expect to be readers as well! Going through my own site and on others through a personal appeal instead of using some impersonal marketplace where I'm just another list item somehow seems more "right" for now, recruiting from among folks who like my stuff, might help prevent fraud, too.

Not to mention maybe affiliate who may be more dedicated to the product!

Oh, one last thing...I also don't plan on offering 50-100% commission the way most affiliate programs do. Fiction eBooks just seem an entirely different business model to me. Offering fans the chance to make some money seems like the way to go, as opposed to strangers who could care less what they're selling as long as it's easy and highly profitable!

[mainstreetcm]

Originally Posted by Aminka Ozmun

Hi, mainstreetcm!

I guess I'm reluctant to out-source things initially since I really don't expect much to happen at first so it would seem like a waste of money for them to get a cut of what few sales I'd have in the beginning.

There's also the sheer curiosity of what it'd be like, dealing directly with my affiliates, who I expect to be readers as well! Going through my own site and on others through a personal appeal instead of using some impersonal marketplace where I'm just another list item somehow seems more "right" for now, recruiting from among folks who like my stuff, might help prevent fraud, too.

Not to mention maybe affiliate who may be more dedicated to the product!

Oh, one last thing...I also don't plan on offering 50-100% commission the way most affiliate programs do. Fiction eBooks just seem an entirely different business model to me. Offering fans the chance to make some money seems like the way to go, as opposed to strangers who could care less what they're selling as long as it's easy and highly profitable!

In terms of those commissions you generally don't see those for many products that aren't sold through Clickbank. That said, I think you can find a sweet spot of 20% with digital ebooks and still do quite well for yourself.

If looking for promotion, try contacting some websites that could promote your book(s) for you. Instead of paying an upfront cost for advertising just tell them that they get a piece of the pie anytime someone buys.

[Aminka Ozmun]

Originally Posted by mainstreetcm

In terms of those commissions you generally don't see those for many products that aren't sold through Clickbank.

Right, so I figured that if I'm using something like ClickBank, I'd have to offer those mega-sized commissions, which I'm not willing to do (again, fiction just seems a whole different business model to me, not something amenable to 50-100% commissions).

Originally Posted by mainstreetcm

If looking for promotion, try contacting some websites that could promote your book(s) for you. Instead of paying an upfront cost for advertising just tell them that they get a piece of the pie anytime someone buys.

Yes, and I'd enroll them in my own affiliate program using software I purchased!