One of the best affiliate networks by want and use case

Affiliate networks aren’t one-size-fits-all. 

Between evolving monitoring legal guidelines, new tech capabilities, and shifting charge buildings, your best option depends upon your enterprise mannequin and targets. 

This information breaks down prime affiliate networks by use case, so you can also make a better, extra strategic resolution.

The information-driven strategy to selecting an affiliate community

In case you’re able to launch an associates program – a advertising channel the place others promote you on a revenue-sharing or efficiency foundation – however aren’t certain which affiliate community to decide on, I’ve bought you lined.

Over the past 20+ years, I’ve labored as an affiliate, an in-house affiliate supervisor, managed a community, and now run an company that provides affiliate administration companies and program audits throughout a number of platforms.

A couple of of our purchasers have been curious whether or not they need to change networks, given the substantial know-how updates over the previous couple of years, new monitoring legal guidelines at each the state and nation ranges, and more and more aggressive pricing.

I spent hours speaking to platforms on their behalf and used greater than 70 information factors – together with options, software program performance, pricing, and even bedside method – to establish the most effective affiliate networks for his or her distinctive wants throughout totally different industries.

Our purchasers vary from lead-gen applications and service-based companies to ecommerce retailers. 

Some networks are designed particularly for apps or area of interest markets, specializing in instruments for these areas. 

Others are extra all-encompassing and supply broader capabilities with out the enterprise-level price ticket.

As an alternative of a prime 10 checklist, I’m sharing my prime picks primarily based on particular enterprise wants – together with an total greatest. 

That was the toughest one to decide on, as a couple of community may’ve earned the spot.

Dig deeper: Affiliate managers – It’s time to shift your focus past media

What to know earlier than selecting an affiliate community

There are some things to know earlier than deciding on an affiliate community. 

These are among the most typical questions or myths we get from purchasers – or that I’m requested about at commerce exhibits and conferences the place I converse. 

Realizing this data forward of time will help you keep away from making the incorrect resolution, particularly because you’re doubtlessly caught for a minimum of a yr should you select the incorrect system.

• An affiliate community’s objective is to supply a monitoring and cost platform that additionally retains you knowledgeable and compliant with native, nationwide, and worldwide promoting legal guidelines.
• It’s your job as a model or affiliate supervisor to carry associates to your program. If the community has associates and a market, that may be a bonus, nevertheless it isn’t their job.
• Affiliate networks which have marketplaces additionally imply the companions you recruit can be uncovered to your opponents who’re additionally on the identical community.
  • Many networks will attain out and introduce the companions you recruited to your opponents. You can not cease this from occurring, so the work you place into recruitment advantages your opponents.
• All affiliate networks give dangerous recommendation on who it is best to approve into your program. It’s your job to verify your organization or your purchasers’ targets are being met.
  • Affiliate networks make their cash off the variety of transactions that undergo the platform.
  • This incentivizes them to encourage you to work with low-value and zero-value companions. In some circumstances, they offer these companions awards at business occasions so as to add credibility – inflicting confusion when your information doesn’t line up and also you notice the accomplice really hurts your backside line.
  • It’s your job because the model to patrol, take away, and make sure the companions add worth if you’d like a revenue-generating program vs. one which simply exhibits numbers.
• You must all the time negotiate an out clause into the community contract and settlement.
• If you’re sufficiently big, you possibly can negotiate most well-liked charges, software program upgrades with out extra charges, and lock in pricing for exclusivity on the platform or for being featured in community case research.

Now let’s go into who I’ve chosen for the highest affiliate networks and why. 

This doesn’t imply others aren’t good – so discuss to extra and decide primarily based in your firm’s wants.

Finest total affiliate community

This one was not simple as a result of each community has professionals and cons, however when it got here to the main points that matter, AWIN World takes the cake as the most effective affiliate community. They:

• Launch model new toolsets continually.
• Create software program partnerships to make sure you have the newest and biggest instruments.
• Persistently construct new software program if no partnership is critical.

In contrast to different affiliate networks, AWIN doesn’t cost upsells on new options or have hidden charges to entry software program after you signal the dotted line. 

They’re extremely versatile while you’re a bigger model on override charges, so you possibly can negotiate down from the business requirements of 20% and 25%. 

I get extremely quick responses from each the company and the service provider help staff once I attain out as a model, and the responses are typically correct.

Prior to now, once we wanted to contemplate different platforms as a result of the consumer was procuring, AWIN didn’t prefer to see a program depart, however they allowed for flexibility of their contracts. 

Different networks get authorized and attempt to scare you. AWIN is there for you as a model, and that goes far in my e book.

They’re one of many few affiliate platforms that again off while you allow them to know they’re being too aggressive sales-wise, which could be very good. 

It doesn’t imply they don’t overstep a boundary, however they’re extra respectful than different enterprise-level and huge networks.

Execs

• Elite software program capabilities and monitoring, together with server-based.
• Presents multi-channel monitoring and attribution.
• Transparency in pricing.
• The power to broaden globally vs. needing a brand new platform within the EU, APAC, LATAM, and so on., makes it interesting should you ship worldwide.
• Simply tag and group associates in limitless methods for higher communications, stronger commissioning and attribution choices, and to make it simpler to see efficiency by kind of writer, prime performers, and content material niches or promotional methods (social, weblog, e-newsletter, YouTube, and so on.).

Cons

• The in-house administration and writer groups suggest low- and no-value publishers.
• The in-house administration staff lacks the flexibility to get top-funnel companions going (primarily based on my expertise auditing when the in-house staff was co-managing with an in-house affiliate supervisor).
• They favor huge manufacturers vs. smaller firms, so that you gained’t get the eye you need except you pay.
• No area to maintain detailed notes about particular companions on the accomplice’s web page for different staff members to reference – making it laborious to know why selections have been made.
• Can not depart public suggestions or scores on companions, making it more durable to detect fraud within the software course of.
• There isn’t any PPC and trademark bidding monitoring software, however there was on ShareASale.
• In contrast to a majority of different networks, AWIN doesn’t allow you to mix a number of shops into the identical program account – it’s important to maintain them separate. I used to be stunned by this as a result of it was accessible on the platforms they bought like Purchase.at and ShareASale.

Finest enterprise-level community

Affect is the go-to for enterprise and international manufacturers. 

It comes at a value, as all the things is an upsell – and it isn’t low-cost. 

Nonetheless, while you’re an enterprise-level model, their tiered-down fee construction can really make extra monetary sense than a standard community with a flat override charge. 

(The override is the sum of money the community takes on prime of the affiliate fee.)

Affect was the primary to make use of this mannequin – and it’s sensible. 

With regards to innovation, Affect is all the time first to market. 

They have been the unique community with cross-channel reporting within the affiliate area and constructed it into an easy-to-absorb report. 

With Affect, you possibly can see if PPC referred a sale, then website positioning had a click on, and an affiliate got here in on the final second to take credit score. 

You may as well automate not commissioning that accomplice or bounce the fee again as much as a high-value touchpoint.

My favourite characteristic in Affect is the by-URL commissions. 

If you wish to be featured on a selected web page – like a listicle in a media firm – you can also make gross sales from that listicle price 20% and the remainder of the area 10%. 

If that very same publication additionally builds a web page that ranks in your model + coupons, you possibly can set commissions from that coupon web page to 0% whereas holding the remainder lively. Affect was the primary affiliate community I labored on that provided this stage of flexibility.

Affect additionally acquired an influencer software program system. 

Though I haven’t heard nice issues but, I’ve heard it’s all the time enhancing. 

And if there’s one factor I do know for sure, it’s that Affect invests closely in software program. 

They gained’t simply get it proper – they’ll take it to the subsequent stage and past. 

That dedication to tech is why they’re thought-about a top-tier, high-caliber affiliate community.

Execs

• Huge manufacturers carry on tons of publishers, supplying you with extra publicity as you develop.
  • Smaller manufacturers profit from associates introduced in by the bigger manufacturers.
• Heavy investments into know-how and steady development.
• Very fast response instances and wonderful bedside method when fixing points.
• You may maintain notes on particular publishers for different staff members to reference.
• Features a PPC trademark bidding monitoring software.

Cons

• The value – all the things is an upsell, and new software program all the time comes at a value (the place different networks could embrace it).
• It’s extraordinarily troublesome to interrupt your contract or depart if issues aren’t understanding.
• The gross sales staff could possibly be overly aggressive, typically failing to respect boundaries.
• You could get all the things in writing to guard your model – or be ready to leap via hoops and take care of extra crimson tape than different platforms.
• It’s vital to have a lawyer evaluate your contract and make sure all phrases – together with promised software program, pricing, out clauses, and anything that issues to you.

Finest B2B and SaaS platform

PartnerStack got here out of nowhere and constructed one of many coolest methods for B2B, lead gen, and SaaS affiliate applications. 

You get all of the transparency provided by different networks, together with highly effective logic methods that help customized monitoring, commissioning, and reporting options tailor-made to your program’s targets.

Very similar to Affect, the place you possibly can assign commissions primarily based on a selected referring URL, PartnerStack takes this ten steps additional. 

You may assign commissions primarily based on just about any trackable or reportable occasion – and it’s all extremely user-friendly.

Right here’s an instance: one configuration can fee 20% provided that the sale is an annual or quarterly buy, whereas excluding all different sale varieties. 

You are able to do this with just some easy alternatives – no IT help or superior coding required.

PartnerStack’s simplicity is a factor of magnificence. 

You don’t should second-guess something, because the instruments are clearly labeled and intuitive. 

Their help staff is very responsive and affords simple, easy-to-follow steering on use the platform successfully.

Execs

• Very simple to make use of with instruments named for precisely what they do.
• Versatile reporting with digestible charts and graphs.
• Superior commissioning choices.
• Constructed particularly for SaaS, lead gen, and B2B applications – instruments and options are optimized for these use circumstances.
• Features a clear, easy-to-use e mail software to speak with the total program or segmented accomplice teams.

Cons

• No datafeed help – makes it a poor match for ecommerce, which generally is a downside for software program firms that additionally promote guides, ebooks, manuals, and so on.
• Not all help reps are absolutely conversant in all options – you might must escalate to get the fitting assist.
• The platform isn’t designed for ecommerce. Whilst you can run an ecommerce program on it, it gained’t be simple or intuitive.
• You may’t depart public suggestions on companions – this could be useful for figuring out or flagging violations of phrases of service.
• There’s no plugin for server-to-server monitoring – solely cookie-based monitoring, which is now thought-about out of date. You’ll want somebody with technical experience to get round this.

Finest CPA community

Everflow wins the most effective CPA community – arms down!

CPA networks are totally different from affiliate networks in {that a} CPA community has services or products as a single supply, whereas an affiliate community lists an organization with a number of SKUs. 

CPA networks are perfect for monetary affords like bank cards, insurance coverage leads, or subscriptions to platforms like internet hosting.

Some niches are appropriate for both a CPA community or affiliate community, corresponding to internet hosting, however CPA networks are the fitting alternative for bundles, lead gen, affords, dietary supplements, or playing. 

There are just a few explanation why Everflow stands out.

The primary cause is that your program is self-managed versus network-managed, supplying you with management over who has entry to your affords, not like networks that conceal them from view. 

This lets you guarantee your model is cared for, promotions observe firm tips, and you’ll take away violators from this system.

With Everflow, it’s also possible to see referring URLs from companions and switch them off if they’re hiding what they’re really doing. 

Commissioning tiers are easy to arrange, and you’ll create personal or public affords, in addition to time-stamp commissions to forestall end-of-sale interceptions.

Execs

• Arms-on buyer help that works with you to search out options.
• Detects parameters from the URL when utilizing server-side monitoring, so if an affiliate forgets to make use of the proper affiliate hyperlink, gross sales should still monitor.
• Capability to private-label their system to make it seem in-house.
• Entry to all affiliate contact data inside your program.
• Constructed-in e mail template creator for newsletters and program-wide communications.
• No annual charges on prime of different charges.

Cons

• Solely two ranges of commissioning for a number of companions with a click on (in comparison with different networks that supply 5 or extra).
• No promoting choices inside the platform to carry consciousness to new publishers.
• Lacks instruments for monitoring TOS violators, like PPC bidding and monitoring.
• Six-month minimal contract size (which isn’t a foul unfavorable, contemplating most applications take a yr to get going).
• There’s a setup charge if you don’t signal an annual contract (nevertheless it’s minimal).

Dig deeper: Why are so many affiliate websites dropping natural site visitors?

Two different networks price mentioning

I didn’t know precisely the place to position these two, however CJ and MobIdea deserve a point out.

Revitalizing a legacy platform with trendy instruments

I wasn’t certain the place to position CJ. It’s been years since I thought-about them, however just a few purchasers are utilizing the platform, and I’ve been impressed by what they’ve accomplished. 

I had assumed CJ was a legacy, outdated platform, however I used to be incorrect. 

Very similar to the networks talked about above, they’ve invested of their know-how and now supply the instruments wanted for contemporary affiliate applications and administration.

The staff is extremely responsive, which is essential for affiliate applications. This has been my expertise with them for roughly 20 years. 

I’ll not all the time like their solutions, however they supply fast and environment friendly responses. Their community present, CJU, is high-end, and also you actually really feel like royalty. 

Whereas it might not appear vital, having a relaxed and welcoming ambiance at networking occasions makes a major distinction. 

It lowers the boundaries for introverts like me and encourages significant connections. 

Cell-first CPA community with verification instruments

MobIdea additionally took me without warning. They’re a CPA community that sometimes retains associates in a hidden field, so that you don’t have visibility into what’s occurring.

That is commonplace for all CPA networks, which is why our purchasers typically don’t work with them. 

However MobIdea has a serious distinction. 

It’s the one CPA community I do know of (exterior of Everflow) that permits an advertiser to require a referring URL to be handed again to ensure that a sale to be commissionable.

You may then confirm if the referred web site really drove the sale by checking social sharing and seeing how nicely the web page performs for website positioning. 

You may as well test if PPC key phrases are driving guests to the web page. If the knowledge doesn’t take a look at, you possibly can flip off that writer and void their commissions.

MobIdea can also be one of many few networks that focuses on cellular apps and app monitoring. 

After a personal demo with their staff, I beloved the protections and know-how they’ve constructed to make the method run easily.

When you have an app and don’t desire a conventional affiliate community, they’ve created a CPA community tailor-made for you.

Whilst you gained’t get the transparency of a standard community or as many protections, their staff will assist get your supply in entrance of prime companions.

Everybody I met at MobIdea was pleasant, useful, and responsive. They gained me over!

Closing ideas

Choosing the proper affiliate community isn’t about choosing the most important identify – it’s about aligning options, pricing, and help with your enterprise mannequin. 

Whether or not you’re working a lead-gen marketing campaign, scaling a SaaS program, or rising international ecommerce gross sales, there’s a platform constructed to help your targets. 

With the fitting match, your associates program gained’t simply run – it’ll thrive.