Setting Up An Affiliate Program

I would like to setup an Affiliate program for my website business (I sell cellular paging services to businesses) but I'm not sure how to structure it. For example, should I offer a flat sales fee for every sale an affiliate makes? Should I pay a percentage of the monthly revenue? And if so, how much of a percentage and for how long?

Thanks for any comments and idea's.

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Ralph F
Business Text Messaging Service
www.MobileTextingService.com

Hi Ralph, welcome to the USABF

Haven't set up an affiliate program, but have participated in plenty, including telecoms.

Personally, I think the easiest route is flat fee per sale, makes it easier for the affiliate to earn some money and is easier for you to manage.

But monthly revenue share can be attractive, and we are part of a similar program. But this can be a slow way to earn any commission, and can put a lot of people off, especially if they are unlikely to get many conversions. Long term, and with plenty of conversions, this model can be lucrative.

A lot will be down to your core audience. If they are going to be low conversions, ie low traffic/niche websites then go for flat fee. Potential high conversions, big traffic sites, then go for the monthly commission.

Percentage wise is down to you and your margins. The more generous, the more sign ups, the more chance for conversions. Volume versus quick buck

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cheers
Steve

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Have to go with the flat fee here, more chance of me signing up with a flat fee, easy to work out projected clicks and profits.

As a employee I have always worked with a decent basic wage with a healthy commission, now that I work for myself I am not the biggest fan of commissions/percentage chances, I much prefer being able to say ok so if i get 100 clicks from it and sell 10 I will get $x.

I know this is still possible with comms and percentages, I just prefer easy figures, the wife is an accountant and she would probably say the same (depends what mood she is in )

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Web Design Portfolio | Social Media beats SEO

we have an affiliate scheme which we operate through shareit.com and we pay 20% commission on sales which works well.

Tom

CRM Software, Contact Management Software, Quotes, Invoicing and Billing, Contact Database for Small Business