affiliate marketing - any opinions from merchants

[samn01]

Hi,

I am interested in hearing any opinions / stories from anyone who currently runs an affiliate marketing campaign.

What are the things to watch out for and what are the key points that will make the campaign a success of failure.

I am particularly interested to hear (merchants)opinions on any of the following companies: Affiliate Future / Affiliate Window / Trade Doubler / Paid on Results.

Thanks
Sam

[rpguk]

Haven't worked with a 3rd party affiliate scheme but run one in house before.

You have to be careful that the affiliate isn't damaging your brand. Therefore make it clear in the T's & C's how you will allow them to promote you. For example you may not want them to use pop unders or framed forwards.

Depending on how much flexibiliy you are giving them (i.e just banner adverts or any old link to you) it is also important to make sure that they don't mis sell your product just to get a sale and their comission.

[samn01]

Thats good advise. Thanks

[shadowninja]

How it affects the brand was my instant reaction. Also I'm sure you'd want to specify the sort of sites you would not appreciate your business being associated with... look at the T&Cs for amazon's affiliate scheme... should give you a good idea of how to do things. In fact, set up a fake site and sign up to amazon.