Sarah Prater
New Member
When I first started this position the instruction were - approve anyone who does not have adult content, promote a religion or morale, or compete directly with us.
Today - I look at business model, type of site (shopping, rewards community, etc.) size of company/experience of webmaster, professionality (graphics quality, grammar in text, how content-rich the site is), then network ranking, promotion type...
All of these things I basically try to figure out just from navigating through their site. If I'm satisfied that enough of my qualifiers are met - they're in, if not, they get declined. In most cases the applicants I decline go away and never bat an eyelash at being turned down. In a few cases they mail me back asking why and giving reasons why their site is a perfect match or telling me what their next steps are in growing their business. When this happens I always give them a chance.
However, I have read some stuff from other affiliate managers that some companies do a very extensive background check on website owners who apply for their program.
We're talking WHOIS lookups, phone calls to make sure they know who they are working with, checking with the Better Business Bureau....I think one source even said they did criminal background checks....!
Is this all really neccessary?
The DMA BPs for Affiliate Marketing says,"Onlie marketers using advertising and affiliate networks should: (1) Obtain assurances that the online advertising affiliate network is in full compliance with state law, federal law and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice."
Is there some similiar sort of documentation that affiliate managers should follow when deciding what affiliates they should partner with?
Today - I look at business model, type of site (shopping, rewards community, etc.) size of company/experience of webmaster, professionality (graphics quality, grammar in text, how content-rich the site is), then network ranking, promotion type...
All of these things I basically try to figure out just from navigating through their site. If I'm satisfied that enough of my qualifiers are met - they're in, if not, they get declined. In most cases the applicants I decline go away and never bat an eyelash at being turned down. In a few cases they mail me back asking why and giving reasons why their site is a perfect match or telling me what their next steps are in growing their business. When this happens I always give them a chance.
However, I have read some stuff from other affiliate managers that some companies do a very extensive background check on website owners who apply for their program.
We're talking WHOIS lookups, phone calls to make sure they know who they are working with, checking with the Better Business Bureau....I think one source even said they did criminal background checks....!
Is this all really neccessary?
The DMA BPs for Affiliate Marketing says,"Onlie marketers using advertising and affiliate networks should: (1) Obtain assurances that the online advertising affiliate network is in full compliance with state law, federal law and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice."
Is there some similiar sort of documentation that affiliate managers should follow when deciding what affiliates they should partner with?