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Best Specialty Affiliate Networks
Best Specialty Affiliate Networks
15 of the Best Specialty Networks
by Kathy Jackson
Traditional affiliate networks have something for everybody. You might think of the traditional affiliate networks as a large department store like Wal-Mart. You can buy toothpaste and/or a lawn mower under the same roof at Wal-Mart, and traditional affiliate networks offer affiliate programs for products that are just as diverse. There are dozens of categories and subcategories. Some of the traditional affiliate networks that are the largest and the best known are Commission Junction,ShareASale, Performics, and LinkShare, but there are many, many others
Then there are affiliate networks that specialize. You might think of the specialty affiliate networks as stores in the mall that specialize in a single type of product. Electronic stores sell electronic products, shoe stores sell shoes, and so on. In the world of affiliate networks, there are also specialties.
While traditional affiliate networks have many sections or many groups of products and/or services dedicated to many different markets and marketing techniques, a specialty affiliate network is intended to serve a definite locale, regional group, special interest, or particular market.
Whether an affiliate network is a traditional one or a specialty one, it is vital to both merchants and affiliate marketers that the network offers transparency. High commissions, on-time payments, and good tracking are important, but not nearly as important as it is for both merchants and affiliate marketers to believe that they are being treated fairly.
The following are descriptions and assessments of 15 specialty networks that generate the highest degree of interest from affiliates.
ClickBank
http://www.clickbank.com
ClickBank is an affiliate network that specializes in digital downloads. Software in downloadable form is offered, but ClickBank is known mostly as the affiliate network that specializes in delivering ebooks, reports, and white papers on a wide variety of topics.
The products on the ClickBank site are divided into nine different general categories, with subcategories under most. This makes navigation simple for both merchants and affiliates. ClickBank is known for making affiliate marketing easy, and this is often the network where affiliate marketers “get their affiliate marketing feet wet.”
RegNow
http://www.regnow.com
RegNow is an affiliate network that specializes in software. Software merchants are matched with affiliates who wish to represent software that is topic-specific. On the RegNow website, the companies and the products that they offer are divided into 11 categories, making it easy for affiliate marketers to quickly find merchants and products that will serve their customer’s needs.
RegNow runs smoothly and practically never goes down. Its reliability is an enormous benefit to merchants and affiliate marketers who fell secure in knowing that everything is secure and that it will be running in the morning.
PayDotCom
http://www.paydotcom.com
PayDotCom is an affiliate network that specializes in products and services that are related to home-based businesses and work-at-home individuals. The products and services offered by the merchants are diverse, but most all of them are designed and directed toward those affiliate marketers who market to work-at-home businesses or those who have work-at-home jobs or those who would like to have either. Physical products are offered as well as digital downloads and software.
Unlike most networks, PayDotCom doesn’t make affiliates wait 30 days to get paid. Commissions are deposited immediately into the affiliate’s payment processor like PayPal.
Commission Soup
http://www.commissionsoup.com
Commission Soup is an affiliate network that specializes in credit-related products. Commission Soup is a division of Credit Soup, Inc., established in 2000 to connect consumers with lenders. Commission Soup was a natural evolvement for Credit Soup to be able to offer a larger customer base to the merchant programs that they represent.
Commission Soup is known for its comprehensive quality control and well-above-average customer service. Affiliates can find the credit-related programs and options at CommissionSoup to make their marketing efforts a success. Affiliate marketers as well as merchants will find outstanding service at Commission Soup.
iCommissions
http://www.icommissions.com
iCommissions is an affiliate network that specializes in pay-per-lead offers for financial and legal products such as credit cards, credit reports, debt assistance, home and auto loans, health insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance, and other insurance. iCommissions is a CPA network. Affiliates are paid when their visitors click through and complete an action (fill out a form, make an application, provide contact information, etc.) on the merchant’s website. Commissions are not dependent on a sale being made, but only on an action by a potential customer being completed.
iCommissions is a trusted network with accurate reporting and timely payments with a proven track record of quality actions. Their up-to-the-minute technology enhances performance, and iCommissions features quality offers that consistently convert.
Market Health
http://www.markethealth.com
Established as Joebucks.com in 1998, Market Health bills itself as the “Health and Beauty Affiliate Network.” The Market Health merchants are all involved in the health and beauty industry and all of the products offered are health and beauty products. Offers are divided into nine categories, and there are subcategories under most of those. Market Health has been around for quite a while, and it has an excellent online reputation and provides awesome affiliate support.
CollegeBound Network
http://www.collegebound.net/corporate/affiliate-form.html
The CollegeBound Network specializes in marketing retention and recruitment lead generation solutions for colleges, universities, and career schools. This is a CPA program. Commissions are paid when a potential customer completes as action such as filling out an application or a form or providing contact information.
Distance Learning, as it is sometimes called, is a wide-open industry on the Internet with lots of niche markets. The CollegeBound Network is a well-established affiliate network that serves the educational community as well as the affiliate marketing community well.
Affiliate Fuel
http://www.affiliatefuel.com
Affiliate Fuel is one of the world’s largest specialty affiliate networks on the Internet today. It specializes in online education and degrees. Primarily a CPA network, Affiliate Fuel has an outstanding online reputation for dealing fairly with both educational institutions and affiliate marketers.
The principles of fairness, balance, and quality of Affiliate Fuel are illustrated in their stated premise:Unless everybody wins, nobody wins. Affiliate Fuel is an excellent specialty network.
ReferBack
http://www.referback.com
ReferBack is an affiliate network that specializes in just two types of products: bingo and casino games.ReferBack is the most well-established casino/bingo networks on the Internet today. The network has an excellent reputation with both merchants and affiliate marketers.
ReferBack is the leader in the casino affiliate program industry on the Internet. It provides affiliates with a problem-free way of generating an amazing level of income. The high commission structure makes ReferBack an especially attractive affiliate network. There is high player retention at all the partner casinos, as well.
Bridaluxe
http://www.bridaluxe.com
Bridaluxe is a niche affiliate network exclusively for the wedding industry. Although Bridaluxe is actually an excellent niche affiliate network, the website is a bit off center and difficult to navigate.Hopefully these shortcomings will be rectified shortly.
Bridaluxe has a total of only 24 merchants, but those 24 merchants do cover the wedding industry well and Bridaluxe does pay their affiliates on time.
Holiday Affiliates
http://www.holidayaffiliates.com
Holiday Affiliates is the only affiliate network (that we know of) that specializes in the travel industry. The only sites that are accepted as affiliates for Holiday Affiliates are those that are only travel-related. The only merchants accepted as Holiday Affiliates suppliers are those who sell products and services that relate to the travel industry.
Holiday Affiliates is not accepting new merchants or new affiliates at this time, but they will be in the future.
Canadian Sponsors
http://www.canadiansponsors.com
Canadian Sponsors is an affiliate network that focuses on the Canadian market. Canadian Sponsors is a cost-per-action (CPA) network. The stated goal of Canadian Sponsors is “to make online marketing in Canada simple, cost effective and measurable.”
The merchants listing on Canadian Sponsors offer a full range of products and services that they want to promote to Canadians. It is not a requirement that merchants or affiliates be based in Canada.
Search4Clicks
http://www.search4clicks.com
Search4Clicks is a pay-for-performance affiliate network that specializes in education-based affiliate marketing. Search4Clicks.com is one of the top college affiliate providers. Over 700 campuses are represented. Website approval is required for affiliates, and only family-oriented sites are accepted.
SellShareware
http://www.sellshareware.com
SellShareware is an affiliate network that specializes in software downloads. There is usually a free trial period for customers before they purchase the shareware, so when a sale is made, it is final
Management at SellShareware recognizes the need for improved promotion and sales of shareware and have developed comprehensive and effective programs that have been enthusiastically received by merchants and affiliates.
LevelClick
http://www.levelclick.com
LevelClick is an affiliate network that specializes in personal finance. Auto loans, cash advances and personal insurance are some of the types of products and services that LevelClick merchants promote. Exceptional service, the highest ethical standards and an unwavering commitment to technological advancement is what helps to insure merchants and affiliates of success according to LevelClick.
About the Author
Kathy Jackson is a Texas Rancher and freelance writer. She is also a contributing author for several farm and ranch publications. Internet marketing is one of Kathy’s burning interests and she is just “tickled pink” to write for AC Magazine and Anik Singal, her marketing hero. On the Affiliate Classroom Blog (http://blog.affiliateclassroom.com/ ), you will find several articles by Kathy on various aspects of affiliate marketing.
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