Finding Affiliates

"Commission Junction appears much to expensive. Are there any other programs with low start-up fees that offer an existing network of affiliates?" -- Sergei Veinberg, Biz-Tech Software

I don't know of any low-cost ways to get a ready-made network of affiliates. But don't be too impressed with huge affiliate networks. 98% of affiliates are worth nothing at all to a merchant. It's the 1% or 2% that bring you any sales or click-throughs. The rest have little or no traffic to their sites.

To attract the attention of potential affiliates, you can:

1. Recruit them when they visit your website as I do,
2. List your program on free affiliate program directory sites that make their money through second tier affiliate commissions,
3. Advertise in e-zines focused on affiliate marketers, or
4. Engage a firm (such as KowaBunga! Technologies consulting services) to recruit affiliates for you.

Some resources you should consider:

Neil Durrant's Affiliate Announce service to get the word out to 40 directories and potential affiliates (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/affil_announce.htm)

Allan Gardyne's AssociatePrograms.com offers an excellent directory, newsletter, and affiliate marketing resource section (www.associateprograms.com).

Associate/Affiliate Programs section of my E-Commerce Research Room, focused mainly on the needs of affiliate programs from the merchant's standpoint. (www.wilsonweb.com/cat/cat.cfm?subcat=em_Associate)