If you are planning to start an affiliate program, this information will be like gold to you. If your are a paid subscriber to Web Marketing Today Premium, you can read these online or download the fully revised Report on Affiliate Management Software 2005.
God bless you,
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Editor
Preface to the Report on Affiliate Management Software
I outline three generations of software and the need for a
thorough study of the alternatives. I introduce the types
software available, the important basic and advance features, and
the detailed information that follows in the report. Read the Preface.
Recommendations and Awards of Merit for Excellence in Affiliate Management Software
After looking at all the software available today, I've summarized my recommendations for merchants with various needs. I've selected for the Web Marketing Today Award of Merit for Excellence in Affiliate Software four programs of the Network model and one of the ASP hosted model. I explain my rationale and point to a few additional programs that should also be considered in your selection process. Read Dr. Wilson's software recommendations.
Appendix 1. Detailed descriptions of Dedicated Affiliate Management Software
I've summarized the website descriptions of 48 affiliate program systems, not including another 50 (mainly minor) programs listed in the CGI Resource Index and another 44 (mainly minor) PHP programs listed in the PHP Resource Index. The programs I've investigated include the major players in this arena. Read the descriptions.
Appendix 2. Detailed descriptions of Affiliate Programs Integrated into Shopping Cart Software
At least 55 shopping cart programs now include an affiliate management module, either
integrated into the software or as an add-on. Here are the descriptions given on the websites. Read the descriptions.
Appendix 3: User Feedback on Affiliate Software
What do merchants and online businesses say about the affiliate management software they are using? How do they rate the software and the level of customer service? Here are more than 200 responses from merchants. Read the user feedback.
New Ecommerce and Web Marketing Articles
Each month our team of link editors scours dozens of online periodicals and resources to find
key information on e-commerce and Web marketing. With so much new literature
available to you, how do you find what you need quickly and painlessly? Here's a selective and searchable database of article and resource links to help your
research and keep you up-to-date in the field. (Links gathered in a given month are usually available during the second week of the following
month.)
You'll find introductory articles about selecting Affiliate Management Software in Issue 88. In this issue I offer:
After looking at all the software available today, I've summarized my recommendations for merchants with various needs. I've selected for the Web Marketing Today Award of Merit for Excellence in Affiliate Software four programs of the Network model and one of the ASP hosted model. I explain my rationale and point to a few additional programs that should also be considered in your selection process. 
