How to Review an Affiliate Program
So you've decided to write a review of an affiliate program.
What should your review include? The focus of your writing
should be information that will help readers decide whether or
not to participate in the affiliate program. Everyone has a
different opinion on the key indicators of a quality program,
but there are a few questions that almost anyone will ask when
investigating an affiliate opportunity.
Will I make money with this program? A truly valuable review
will give the reader an accurate impression of what a
participant would have to do to experience success with an
affiliate program. If the product only appeals to a small, hard
to reach market and will require extensive time and money
invested into advertising, a potential affiliate will want to
know. Does the company rely strictly on their network of
affiliates to attract customers, or will someone who joins the
program have to find ways to compete against a large
company-sponsored advertising campaign in addition to other
affiliates?
How much money will I make? Several factors determine the amount
of income an affiliate can earn with a program. Are you selling
a subscription service (such as website membership) or a
consumable product (such as disposable contact lenses) that
means repeat purchases and a more reliable income source? Does
the company track repeat customers by storing your affiliate
referral id with the customer's record in the database, or do
they use the less reliable method of placing a cookie on the
customer's computer?
Is this a fly-by-night operation? Another concern of affiliates
is how long the program will be around. There's nothing more
discouraging than investing the necessary time to build a
customer base and downline just to have the company go belly-up.
If you have noticed indicators of a program's long-term success
or failure, people who read your review would benefit from your
insight. Even if you aren't 100% sure that a company will
succeed or fail, it's appropriate to include educated guesses as
long as you explain your reasoning.
Why should I choose this opportunity over that one? It can also
be helpful to discuss how this opportunity matches up against
similar programs. In this case "similar programs" refers to
programs that provide comparable products or services as opposed
to programs with comparable compensation plans.
A final consideration of your review may be length. Some people
prefer to read detailed reviews that delve into every aspect of
a company. Others prefer to read short reviews that highlight
only the most noteworthy pros and cons. Both style have
supporters and can result in quality reviews. The important
thing is to share information that you found helpful when you
were evaluating the program.