Hey everyone, today I’m going to discuss the difference between private affiliate programs and affiliate networks. Many people have no idea where to find these and today I’m going to show you where to find them, and how to apply for them. I will also be showing you the many benefits that they have to offer vs an affiliate network.
What exactly is a private affiliate program?
A private affiliate program also know as a PAP is where you deal directly with the company. There’s no 3rd party merchant that you would need to go through like Clickbank, commission junction, or share a sale. You would get paid directly from the merchant and everything would be handled in house.
This means that they have software setup on their own website, and they handle all of the support, training, resources, tools and payouts. I personally always have preferred PAP’s over an affiliate network for many reasons, and I will elaborate on this below.
What are some of the benefits of a PAP vs an affiliate network?
There are many benefits to signing up with one and I will list them below:
- Smaller in size and less competition
- The payouts are usually larger
- Better quality help and support
- Higher quality training
- Awesome incentives
- They have a lot more resources and affiliate tools
- Usually they are a lot less confusing then an affiliate network
Whenever you are a member of a huge network, you are just a number to them. You won’t get the level of support,training or incentives that you receive with a PAP.
You can usually deal directly with the affiliate manager and get your issues solved within a few hours. Compare this to a few days if you were a part of a huge affiliate network.
I also want to point out to everyone that you will have a lot more control over your campaigns and your commissions tend to be up to 50% higher. It’s definitely something to keep in mind when you are searching for the best program out there.
What should you be looking for when you start your search for a PAP?
Once you start searching for these type of programs you don’t just want to sign up for the first one you find. You need to do your due diligence and do some research on the company first.
These are a few things you should be looking for:
- What requirements do they have in place?
- Are you required to make so many sales before you are issued a payout?
- How are you going to get paid?
- How is their support team?
- What are other people saying about them?
- How’s their reputation? Do they actually payout when they say they will?
- Do they provide you with a good amount of resources and tools to promote their products?
You need to keep all of these things in mind before you sign up with any affiliate program. Let’s go over these key points here and discuss them in further detail. You should always read over their terms and conditions page so that you know what you are getting into before you join.
Many programs require you to make at least 5 sales or reach a payment threshold before they issue a payout. This is just another layer of security for them and it protects them against fraud. It’s very important to understand how you are going to get paid.
You don’t want to start generating sales and not be clear on how the company will issue payouts. Take your research one step further by checking out what other people are saying about them.
Is there any reviews about this particular company? Do they actually payout on time and when they say that they will? You need to get these questions answered before you join up with them.
There is one more thing you need to keep in mind
Once you have researched all of the things I listed above and you have found a company you want to be affiliated with, there’s one more thing I want to inform you about.
Cookies- No these aren’t the ones you eat LOL. A cookie is something that is stored on a person’s computer after they visit your website and click on one of your affiliate links.
Think of it like your computer telling the merchant that you referred these people to their website and to give you the credit for the sale.
The main thing you want to find out is the length of their cookie. This varies from company to company and here are a few examples of cookie lengths
- 24 hour
- 30 day
- 1 year
- Lifetime
What this means is that these cookies will remain active through this time. Once these cookies expire you will no longer receive a commission if they come back and make a purchase.
How and where can you find these programs you might ask?
Finding a PAP isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. You will need to do your research and know what to look for. The first thing you could do is do a search in Google for them. Simply type in “Private affiliate programs” This is going to give you a good idea of what’s out there and how to find them.
Some of these are invitation only and these usually pay really good if you can find them.
Another great way to find these programs is to go to popular forums within your niche and ask about where to find these PAP’s. There’s usually lots of people who are already a member and they would be more then happy to answer your questions and lead you in the right direction.
The process for signing up for them is the same as any other affiliate program.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular ones below:
Amazon- The #1 retailer online has their very own affiliate program called Amazon associates. They handle all of the payments, support and they have all the resources and tools for you to promote their products successfully.
Length of Cookie- 24 hours. If added to shopping cart within 24 hours the cookie will remain active until either they purchase the item or until the shopping cart expires.
Commission rate- You start out at 4% and you can work your way up to 10% Not the greatest but there are lots of high ticket items on Amazon so this can add up fast.
However, their program does have many flaws in it and it’s not available to everyone. This is just an example of one of the many that’s available to you.
Aweber- Known as being one of the most popular email marketing auto responder’s around. They have their own affiliate program, and they handle any issues you have. They also design all of their banners and promotional tools themselves.
Length of Cookie- 1 year.
Commission rate- You will receive a 30% commission for all traffic you send to their website who makes a purchase. This is also a recurring commission so you will continue to get paid for the life of the customer.
Here’s an example of an awesome PAP that meets all of the standards listed above and that I’m currently making money with
Not all affiliate programs are fair and some of them aren’t even worth your time. In the 2 years that I have been in business for myself I have found that Wealthy Affiliate’s PAP is the best one.
Check out some of the benefits you will receive when you sign up:
- Sign up as a free member and get paid huge commissions- Up to 87.50 per sale for free members and $175 per sale for premium members
- Dedicated help and support-The owners Kyle and Carson will personally work with you one on one and deal with any issues you have as well as answer your questions and help you get started.
- Easy to follow step by step training- Simple and interactive training that walks you through the proper way to promote their services successfully
- 2 sources of income from promoting 1 product- Grow your residual income faster by earning credits and commissions from simply following their training courses
- Rewards for hard work- If you can make 300 sales within 1 year you will be on your way to Las Vegas. You will receive an all expenses paid trip for you and another guest to hang out in Vegas. This is less then 1 sale a day. Think you have what it takes to achieve this goal? Get all the details here
- Length of cookies- Lifetime
Get your exclusive invitation to join this amazing affiliate program here
I really hope this has helped everyone out and that you have gained a better understanding of what a PAP is. When you compare this with an affiliate network I think it’s clear which one comes out on top. What PAP’s are you currently making money with? I would love to hear about it and I’m sure everyone else would too. Feel free to share it with everyone below in the comments.
Was there something that I covered above that you still don’t quite understand or that you still have questions about? Leave them for me below and I will get back to you right away(Within 24 hrs or less) Also if you enjoyed this article why not share it with a friend or family member?
You will be helping them out as well as helping me spread the word to others.
Your Friend, Scott
Thiha Min
Hi Scott,
Thanks so much for breaking this down for everyone here and showing us the difference in a PAP and an affiliate network. I never knew there was that much of a difference between the 2. This post has really helped me out and I am looking forward to reading more posts like this in the near future. I have also bookmarked your site. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the great work you are doing here Scott.
Many Thanks
Thiha Min
Scott Newkirk
Hey there,
I’m so glad that this post has helped clear things up for you and gave you a better understanding of what a private affiliate program is. You always want to try and find an affiliate program that offers the most benefits and that has a high commission rate. I have outlined the most important features that a affiliate program should have in order for you to have the most success promoting it.
I think that the 1 thing you need to have is help and support. That’s usually where most programs fall short but you will see that I only recommend the programs that I feel you will have the most success with. Wealthy Affiliate is my #1 recommendation for this as you can tell they want to see you succeed because when you make money they make money as well.
It’s a win-win situation here and I really do want to thank you for stopping by and letting me know how much this has helped you out. If you need a hand with anything going forward please let me know.
Your Friend, Scott
Neil
Hey, Scott
To be honest, this subject had never really crossed my mind but thank you for sharing the differences between private affiliate programs and affiliate networks.
I’ve been an affiliate marketer for some time now and have had success with eBay, Amazon and CJ affiliate programs. So can’t grumble 😀
There are some solid tips here and private affiliate programs are difintiely what I want to start looking in to for extra revenue streams.
I enjoyed reading this post so much that it’s being shared with my friends across the social networks.
Thanks.
Neil
Scott Newkirk
Hey Neil,
There are many, many people who don’t know about these PAP’s or where to find them. The more light that I shine on this subject the more people will know where to find these programs and how to get involved with them. If you can find a program that has higher commissions, and overall better support and training then why wouldn’t you make the switch?
This is an excellent way to add another source to your income stream. Thank you so much for sharing this information with all of your friends. It will help them as well as help me get the word out.
Cheers
Your Friend, Scott
Dr Susie Dillon
This is one of the best explanations I have ever read on the difference between a PAP and an Affiliate Network. I often wondered what the distinction was and I just never really researched it. Now I don’t have to.
All of it is explained here in a precise, easy to understand manner.
Thanks for taking the time to put this article together.
I do also agree with your assessment of Wealthy Affiliate as the best PAP I have ever seen or been a part of.
Scott Newkirk
Hi Susie,
I’m glad that this post has helped you out and that I was able to clear up any confusion you had about a PAP vs an affiliate network. I have been a member of WA’s PAP for almost 2 years now and they have been the absolute best when it comes to their training, support and large commissions.
I really do appreciate you stopping by Susie and chiming in on this discussion. If I can help you out in any way please let me know. Your Friend, Scott
Leo Emery
Hey Scott,
I’ve been involved with both PAP programs a Affiliate Networks – and I have to say I’m no longer a big fan of affiliate networks.
The support in many cases is very weak not to mention the low commissions, Amazon being the worst for commissions. Including the fact you can’t live in many states to even become an affiliate.
I use Aweber and I’m an affiliate – their support is fantastic and so is their commission structure.
I just want to touch on Click Bank. Even though it is a affiliate network, which I have been both an affiliate and a vendor they do offer great commission.
Usually over 50% – you just need to do your due diligence with the products in Click Bank as some can be pretty bad. And doing your due diligence goes for any affiliate network not just Click Bank.
To me the biggest factor with any affiliate program is support – if you have little or no support in my opinion the program has no value and it’s not worth getting involved in.
Because you’ll need support at some point while you are promoting the product and if it’s not there – it’s very frustrating.
For example I was checking out a new affiliate program, I joined and then a few days later I sent in a support ticket to test their support.
Well I never heard back from them, so I dropped the program and found another one.
The best support I have ever come across in my years as an affiliate is the Wealthy Affiliate. Having direct access to the owners/affiliate managers Kyle and Carson is priceless.
They have helped me on more than one occasion – I can’t say that for the other affiliate programs I have been with.
Great info Scott, keep it up.
Scott Newkirk
Hi Leo,
I have got to agree with you that being involved in a PAP is definitely the way to go. When you compare it to the support, training and commissions of an affiliate network there is NO comparison. I think that Amazon has got to have the lowest commissions that I have seen since I have been involved with affiliate marketing.
Yea Click Bank’s commissions are on the high end but as you mentioned you have got to do thorough research on them due to the fact that many of their products are of low quality.If you don’t have the right amount of support when you need it you will find yourself having a hard time promoting their products.
If they aren’t willing to help you out or answer your questions then you are better off finding another program, that will be there for you when you need them to be.
That’s what I love about the PAP that Wealthy Affiliate has. You can stay in direct contact with your affiliate manager at all times and even chat with him live several times a day. That tells me that they really do believe in their program and they want to see you be successful in promoting it.
Thanks so much for stopping by Leo and sharing this information with everyone here. I hope this will help them out when deciding on what kind of affiliate program they should go with.
Your Friend, Scott