Finding Affiliate Programs In Your Industry

There was a simple but often overlooked question in our Affiliate Forum over the last week that I thought deserved a post to help others out with their searching as well.

Hopefully the forum poster doesn’t mind me answering the question regarding Affiliate Merchants here;

I just joined the affiliate program forum a couple of days ago and I am completely new to this whole business. I am very interested and would be very grateful for any help regarding this concept. I am in the process of developing a web site related to the Travel sector in NZ. (Accomodation, Tours, Attractions, Rentals etc.).
Please forgive my ignorance in all this (as evident in the next couple of questions), but there is a saying in Spanish which translates to : “It is better to be really red with embarrassment only once than to be bright pink a hundred times”.

I know which merchants I would like to have an affiliate relationship with, (their seriousness, reliability, reputation, solid business practice etc.) but when I go to their web page I don’t find any link to affiliate programs. Does this automatically mean that they don’t have one? Or there is one but it’s not advertised and one must contact them personally? If I want to include a link on my site about “campervan rentals” I can understand if “Joe’s Rent-a Dent Camper Hire” doesn’t have an affiliate program but the major players?

Is there a site which gives me a list of affiliate programs in my particular field? Have contacted NZ Tourism but no joy there so far. As I mentioned before, very grateful for any sort of assistance.

Most websites or businesses that have an affiliate program will have an “Affiliate Program” link somewhere on their homepage. As it sounds like you’ve done, that’s the first place to look.

If they don’t have that link but you’re sure they a program, your next option is to do a search on the affiliate programs that have joined a few of the different networks that provide for the NZ affiliate market.

The obvious examples are clixgalore.co.nz, commissionmonster.co.nz and dgmpro.com. You could also have a look at the US networks like CJ.com which often have the larger international brands and may allow promotion to the New Zealand market. There are other networks that are limited regarding which affiliates can join as well e.g. tpn.co.nz.

Last option is to send the branded website you’re looking to promote an email through their standard contact form although this can have varying responses. Where you can, try and email a marketing contact at the branded site as often a general support team will not know what an affiliate program is…

Good luck finding the affiliate program you’re looking for!

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The community grows … slowly.. :)

Thanks to everyone for their support as we’re building a community forum here at AffiliatePrograms.co.nz.

So far we’ve had some interesting posts from people looking for for the best affiliate networks, reviews on NZ programs that have worked well for some local affiliates and program managers looking for feedback on launching their new program.

It’ll take us a while to get the community up and running but with a bit of input, we’ll end up with a strong voice for bringing affiliate issues to the forefront of the people managing the programs locally as well as joining managers with affiliates who are looking for the right product to publish.

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New Zealand Affiliate Programs Forum launches

AffiliatePrograms.co.nz has been live and kicking for well over a year now and I’ve had enough feedback and questions that it’s time to setup the New Zealand Affiliate Programs Forum where people can ask questions and discuss their own experiences about affiliate programs and other internet marketing thoughts with a true New Zealand focus.

The forums have been a while coming and I’m sure it’ll take time for them to build a solid resource of affiliate questions, answers and insights but there has been enough positive feedback about the blog that I believe it will be well used.

New Zealand has been behind the rest of the world when it comes to online marketing and online advertising so it’s marketing forums like these that are going to bring us into play with the rest of the world.

You’ll find forum discussion topics relating specifically to NZ affiliate programs and marketing as well as International affiliate programs that ship to NZ, general internet discussions and there will of course be a place where you can promote your affiliate program to your hearts content.

I’ll be available on the forum to answer your questions as well as to discuss the issues that we currently face in the NZ online affiliate market. Even if you haven’t been involved in an affiliate marketing forum like this one before, you’ll find it a useful tool to learn from others who have already made their mistakes and are willing to share their knowledge.

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One year on … Affiliate Forums next?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays :)

AffiliatePrograms.co.nz has now been running for one full year and I have to say that the responses have been quite positive. On a semi-regularly basis, I receive emails with further questions about affiliate marketing as well as thanks for the content on the site.

This has prompted looking into launching an Affiliate Forum for the New Zealand market on which I will post answers to questions as well as try to get the affiliate programs themselves involved.

If anyone has any ideas on what they would like to see in an Affiliate Forum for New Zealand Webmasters, drop me a note to gary[at]affiliateprograms.co.nz.

This is a pretty quiet period (Christmas and New Year) in the New Zealand Internet scene as traffic dips down while everyone is relaxing outside next to the BBQ or the beach, away from their desks at work. So it’s a good time for things like site development and thinking about the ‘big picture’ or ‘where to in 2008′.

Interestingly, this is also one of the busiest times of year in the northern hemisphere Internet world (particularly in entertainment), right when people are at home, wrapped up from the cold outside and looking for something to entertain themsleves. If you’re an affiliate targeting northern hemisphere clients (e.g. the US market) you’ll hopefully be as busy as you can be.

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