How are you managing your affiliate accounts?

[blackjoker]

I still have only 10 or less affiliates, so I check them individually.
I'm very interested in this thread as I think it will be a hassle if there are more in the future.

[casinoFM]

I was very happy with the service voonix provided. Allowed me to monitor more than 100 programs, and the support was always fast, friendly and competent.

[MichaelCorfman]

Casinomentor, I think this is an interesting topic that I decided made sense to feature as our weekly poll. So, I have augmented you post with a poll so folks can summarize how frequently they look at the performance of affiliate programs and whether they do it manually or with a tool that monitors how affiliate programs are doing.

And, for folks that do use a tool, I encourage you to share the tool you use and what you think of it.

Michael

[Casinomentor]

I'm looking for a tool with as much security as possible. There have been topics sharing some pretty good tools. However, I need time to test the effectiveness of managing affiliate programs.

[PokCas]

Something else. Use certain affiliate networks, this has many advantages such as:

- Access to multiple brands, all stats in one place
- Access to special/exclusive promotions (network can get more than you on your own or they can offer something themselves)
- It is less likely that you will have your commission paused or will have other weird issues like an account closure for a BS reason. Since brands
usually treat networks better.
- Very often you can get better deals than you would get on your own.
- Networks can offer payout methods certain brands may not have.
- Networks communicate with a brand for you, help you with banners, information about the brand etc.
- No need to waste time with negotiation, application etc (I only do that with less popular brands which are not on any network).

Just to name a few.
If somebody needs more info - PM, will tell you about the networks I have been working with for years.

[Ozpoker]

Here's my take on these things.

1. Most automated tools are expensive
2. Most are glitchy at best and broken at worst
3. They are often developed by affiliates out of necessity for their own needs. This also means that by using those tools all your data is getting mined by your competition - other affiliates.

Manual might be a pain in the ass but at least your only getting data mined by your AM and the brand.

[promotiontailor]

Something else. Use certain affiliate networks, this has many advantages such as:

- Access to multiple brands, all stats in one place
- Access to special/exclusive promotions (network can get more than you on your own or they can offer something themselves)
- It is less likely that you will have your commission paused or will have other weird issues like an account closure for a BS reason. Since brands
usually treat networks better.
- Very often you can get better deals than you would get on your own.
- Networks can offer payout methods certain brands may not have.
- Networks communicate with a brand for you, help you with banners, information about the brand etc.
- No need to waste time with negotiation, application etc (I only do that with less popular brands which are not on any network).

Just to name a few.
If somebody needs more info - PM, will tell you about the networks I have been working with for years.

network has it's benefits, but..

Not all brands work with networks

With network you are no one. To get a better deal you need to rebuild your reputation

Most network do not provide hybrid / revshare deal

Once you stop working with network you stop getting late conversions

[gm2891]

Networks maybe OK, when you're just starting, because very likely you'll get a better deal with them that being on a default revshare with an operator directly. But when you start getting more traffic, you'll certainly think you don't need this 3rd party shite (if you're sane enough).

[universal4]

Yes, going through third party networks can have MANY pitfalls. As others have said, most of the affiliate operators will not treat you as an individual affiliate, but are just an affiliate with the third party and the third party is who they will deal with.

If an operator has trouble with traffic from one of the affiliates with the third party, they might stop or suspend the entire third party due to issues with some other affiliate that has nothing to do with you.

This then can become an issue between the 3rd party and the parent affiliate program, so much so that they refuse to pay the third party. This usually leads the third party not to pay any of their affiliates for traffic for that particular parent program.

What this means is that even though you held up your part of the bargain, and drove traffic and players, you don't get paid.

IMO, this risk is not worth it. Sure this can happen when dealing directly with the program, if an issue arises between you and them. But in the above scenario, your income from that particular group is now in the hands of the third party,as well as possibly the entire list of other affiliates the third party has.

In many cases where issues have arisen between between the third parties and operators over the years, affiliates are always the ones to lose out, and it has almost always been "Casino X did not pay us, therefore we can not pay all the affiliates for casino x, even though casino x got the players".

Dealing directly with the affiliate program reduces the extra layers of potential issues that can arise.

Rick
Universal4

[MMM]

Fully agree.
Going with networks just to save time on checking stats is like warming a house with grenades.

As far as i know, in Nifty for example they do not have access to your stats.

[PokCas]

All major networks I work with have revenue share. In fact, that is available for most brands.

Late conversions? It is literally the same affiliate links.

Networks work with most major brands. And for those that are not on any network, you simply sign up your affiliate account. That's not a problem when you don't have to do it too often.

I only work with decent networks which care about their reputation and would compensate you if something wrong has happened because of their fault.

The number one issue is affiliate programs kicking affiliates for no reason, ask for a certain amount of new depositors within a short period of time etc.
While this doesn't happen with networks.

Of course, you should do your research, test it out, talk to others (like we are doing right now) etc. But you do that with everything in life, it is common sense.