THE KING OF AFFILIATE

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

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.”