| Almost everybody involved in e-business and | | | | a part of these networks provide a lot of |
| online marketing is aware of the concept of | | | | assistance and convenience to the merchant. |
| affiliate marketing. It has proved to be one | | | | He has easy access to a number of prospective |
| of the most powerful tools of Internet | | | | affiliates who are willing to take up his |
| marketing and has managed to earn a fairly | | | | programme. Merchants are saved from the |
| good reputation as a marketing instrument | | | | trouble of going out and looking for |
| that has been effective in diverting quality | | | | affiliates. Monitoring the progress of the |
| traffic and improving page ranks. It does not | | | | affiliate programme also becomes easy and the |
| require much investment, because it basically | | | | entire campaign becomes simpler and |
| involves marketing products produced by | | | | manageable. |
| others. The immense popularity and growth of | | | | |
| affiliate marketing has led to the inception | | | | The other side of such networks can be that |
| of affiliate networks. | | | | the overall cost of the merchant gets |
| | | | escalated and he is not able to maximise |
| These networks act as a link between the | | | | profits, since he has to pay the affiliate |
| merchants and the affiliates. Along with | | | | network as well as the affiliate. Apart from |
| providing a choice to the merchants as well | | | | this, not all networks behave responsibly and |
| as the affiliates, such networks also offer a | | | | track sales and leads generated from the |
| number of affiliate programmes for affiliates | | | | affiliate programme. |
| to choose from. Despite the popularity and | | | | |
| success of these networks, some merchants | | | | The final choice to choose one of these |
| still are wary about the credibility of the | | | | networks as a medium to promote one's |
| networks and the deals and other services | | | | affiliate programme ultimately depends upon |
| provided by them. They prefer dealing with | | | | the merchant. He has to decide what works |
| the advertiser directly, rather than through | | | | best for him and his website. Even if he |
| a third party. | | | | chooses to use the services of these |
| | | | networks, he should be extremely careful and |
| Like all other things, even these networks | | | | should gain thorough knowledge about the |
| have their own advantages and disadvantages | | | | network's track record and credibility. |
| from the point of view of the merchant. Being | | | | |