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Download Sites And Affiliate Programs
have been running allows affiliates to earn
shareware download sites in commissions for their referrals.
one form or another for
over 3 years and during that time Considering the fact that I have
I have become intimately familiar also used other affiliate
with many of the various programs like Commission
shareware affiliate programs out Junction, Share-A-Sale and
there. Also in those 3 years I Clickbank, the question needs to
have also been able to formulate be asked as to why any kind of
an opinion related to most of certification program would even
these programs and some, by no be necessary. With these programs
means all, of the vendors that and most other larger programs, a
choose to "participate" in these prospective vendor must provide a
programs. way for any of their affiliates
to earn commissions for any
Out of the big 3 or 4 programs referrals, if they don't the
out there, RegNow, Share-It!, affiliate program in question
Plimus, and to a lesser extent does not allow the vendor to join
eSellerate and RegSoft, only one or stay in the program. In the
really has a program in place to case of shareware affiliate
help affiliates make the most out programs, this isn't the case.
of the program. That affiliate
program is RegNow with their Even with RegNow's certification
certification program. This program and in the case with just
program was put in place to help about all shareware affiliate
affiliates identify vendors that programs, vendors are not
properly participate in the required to, and a large number
program by making it possible for of them do not, participate in a
affiliates to choose the vendors way that ensures affiliates get
that use RegNow in a way that credit for referring a sale.
choose not to use that program as
Shareware affiliate programs do their payment provider while
work differently than normal others use that program along
programs as they rely on with other providers allowing the
prospective buyers first trying visitor to choose among several
the product first before payment options. What this does
requiring them to purchase it. is ensure that even with a cookie
What this means is normally an set, the referring affiliate has
affiliate will refer someone to little if any chance of earning a
download the trial version than commission for their efforts.
rely on that visitor later buying
the product. In almost all cases Now the question needs to be
this requires that a cookie set asked is why do affiliate
when the user downloads the trial programs allow this and why do
to be recalled later when the many vendors choose to operate
user returns to the vendor's site this way? In regards to the
to purchase the program. This is affiliate programs, vendors are
where the fatal flaw is in their bread and butter, the more
regards to shareware affiliate vendors they have the more
programs. opportunity they get to receive
fees for their services. Whether
Why is this a problem? Cookies or not an affiliate gets a
are the basis of most affiliate commission or not does not figure
programs and other than the into their bottom line as their
inherent flaw with cookies in money comes out of the vendors
general in regards to some people pocket, so as long as the vendor
not allowing cookies to be set or is happy, they are happy.
those that regularly delete them,
many vendors that participate in That leaves the participating
shareware affiliate programs vendors, why do they choose this
route? As far as I can tell, program thus ensuring the vendor
there is pretty much only 2 doesn't have to pay the
reasons for them not providing an commission to the affiliate.
affiliate friendly program. The
first would be ignorance, in This tactic has been discussed at
theory I suppose a vendor could great length in the Regnow forum
honestly not realize that they as well as other places and it
are making it impossible for still amazes me to hear some of
their affiliates to earn a the excuses brought forward by
commission. They may not realize some of these vendors. One excuse
that the majority of affiliate relates to how these vendors feel
commissions come from trial that RegNow charges too much to
downloads that are later process their payments so they
purchased versus a customer must use other cheaper payment
purchasing directly from buy options and still others complain
links on an affiliate's site. that they feel they shouldn't
have to pay affiliates because
The 2nd and far more sinister they don't feel they earned a
reason in my mind is that the commission. They bring up the
vendors realize this but think fact that many affiliates don't
they can get a larger number of do much to promote their product
sales by duping unsuspecting and hence shouldn't be paid for
affiliates. Affiliates that do this perceived lack of effort.
not know better spend their time
and money doing the marketing for Now even looking at this from an
a vendor's product and get affiliates point of view, I
nothing in return. They refer understand that many of us do not
customers to the vendor's site promote as heavily as we should,
who then use other payment or as some vendors would like,
options outside of the affiliate but those that don't will not
last long anyway and as far as a affiliate programs and if they
vendor is concerned, why would choose not to spend the time and
you care? Even if an affiliate effort weeding out these vendors,
brings you nothing as far as they have no one to blame but
sales, you are not losing themselves. In a perfect world,
anything as you only pay for the affiliate programs would do
sales, plus if an affiliate this for you but that isn't going
happens to bring you a sale, it to happen. And my question for
is 1 more than you would have vendors that join these programs
had. and then choose not to properly
participate, what is your excuse?
New affiliates need to be aware
of the pitfalls of shareware
About the Author:
Download site webmaster with over 3 years experience running shareware download sites. My current site Dakota Downloads has over 8000 shareware and freeware titles as well as a blog related to the shareware industry.
Read more articles by: Dakota Downloads
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