How to Review an Affiliate Program

By Clay Mabbitt
Posted Tuesday, August 10, 2004

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.

About the Author
None