Affiliate programs present a good opportunity to create a profitable business on the Internet. Most of the big corporations operate affiliate programs, Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc.

Until now, setting up a fully functional self-hosted affiliate program for your business has been expensive, time consuming and very complicated, certainly enough so to deter most people from even attempting it.

The main problem is one of integration. The heart of any affiliate program is the affiliate tracking software. To function properly this software must be compatible with your web site host servers, your shopping cart software and your merchant account real-time processing Gateway. Establishing compatibility is important, equally so is having the skills and experience to actually configure the various software packages and make it all work together. Visit our latest web site and see how seamless integration makes a successful site - Visit here

Once the Affiliate program is operational, the logistical issues begin. Affiliate member management, order fulfillment and integration with your existing accounts and inventory systems - these can immobilize your new program very quickly.

There are service companies who host the software and basically lease it to you. Many years ago I setup an affiliate program for a client using 'Kowabunga' affiliate services. After a year or so we had a good affiliate base of around 2500 members, things were moving along quite well, then out of the blue Kowabunga's rates went through the roof. I terminated the agreement with them, exported my affiliate database and went the 'go it alone' route, utilizing software that we owned and operated on our servers.

This is the only way to do it in my opinion, assuming that you are confident of being able to find affiliates.

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