Switching to a Private Affiliate Network
Jan Bischoff, May 24, 2016
Are you considering switching to a private affiliate network with your affiliates? There are plenty of good reasons to do so. Beyond the advantages of a direct contract, you gain full access to your affiliates' master data and can communicate with them directly across all online and offline channels. Partnerships become more intensive.
Working with a software provider, you can develop custom tracking, reporting, and whitelabel solutions that no other merchant uses. From a strategic perspective, many merchants prefer working directly with their top sales partners: closer contact leads to better results, and affiliates are better protected from poaching by competing merchants than in a classic affiliate network.
The savings on network fees – typically 30% of commission in the industry – also create a valuable competitive advantage. You can differentiate through higher payouts and better integrations. Many merchants first reach top positions in their affiliate programs after making this switch.
Private programs also enable closer integration with internal databases, allowing automated order reconciliation in real time – a major time saver for affiliate managers.
Checklist for a successful switch:
- Choose a software provider with proven experience
- Clarify technical requirements upfront (tracking integration, API, data export)
- Communicate the switch transparently with your top affiliates
- Offer a transition period with parallel operation of both systems
- Secure all master data and commission histories before migrating
Questions about switching: info@qualityclick.com | Request a demo