Is There Value in Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing continues to be an effective practice for advertisers/merchants, but how much value is really brought by performance-based marketers (affiliates)? 

A recent survey from the Rakuten-Linkshare affiliate network indicates that despite the well publicized challenges, affiliate marketing spend is on the rise and is forecasted to keep pace with other areas of digital spend through 2016.

According to the study the affiliate channel is best for producing "new-to-file" or previously unknown customers and generating incremental customer acquisition. The customers acquired through performance marketing also tend to spend more than the average online shopper and are ultimately profitable for advertisers. Perhaps the most important revelation was that promotions in the affiliate channel have a positive impact on an advertiser’s brand reputation and loyalty.

Forrester, which conducted the study, forecasts U.S. affiliate marketing spending will increase by a compounded annual growth rate of nearly 17 percent between 2011 and 2016, growing to $4.5 billion.

There are several marketing affiliate network to choose from, however, the ones I have the most success with or seem to work well with others are Commission Junction, Empyre Media and Revenue Ads..
___________________________________________________________________________________.

Useful Links for Small Businesses

Western Union Business Solutions is a global leader in foreign exchange and a trusted payments provider to clients operating in international markets.

YouSendIt - Easily send and receive content with the comfort of email without the hassle of inbox limits.Get business done online. Sign documents online with your keyboard, mouse or mobile touchscreen.

ZipRecruiter - enables companies to post to all the major free job boards with a single submission and vet all applicants through simple-to-setup online question and answer.