Choosing an affiliate software for WordPress is really not obvious and you'll understand why. For years I used PostAffiliatePro. But I was looking for a simple to use and I could accommodate myself. Finally, the software must be compatible with my payment solution (not Paypal) and my member zone. In short, let's see how to choose the right affiliate program for your WordPress blog.
Choose according to your conversion goals!
Before choosing an affiliate program, I urge you to make a list of your goals and constraints. Everyone should not use the same affiliate software. As I often say, you need to test every element of your site to improve your conversions. And most of all, you must choose a payment method that converts! And that is the problem. On my sites, I now use Payplug. The problem is that the majority of affiliate software and member area for WordPress work with Paypal and US payment solutions.
If you follow me, you know I do not use Paypal because there is nothing worse in terms of conversion. So my payment solution already limits my choices since 90% of the market affiliate programs are not compatible!
Then, your choice will depend on your affiliate goals. Would you like to make affiliation to a level or multilevel? Again, this will determine your choices.
Finally, do you have a developer at hand or not? If you do not have a developer to customize your software, your choices are more limited!
Compatibility with your member's area
If you are looking for an affiliate program is that you have products to sell and therefore a member's area. And then it gets really complicated. We have to find an affiliate software compatible with your payment solution your member area plugin. I use Optimize Member and I can assured that he gave me a hard wire. All my training using this plugin. It was therefore no question of any switch to something else. So we had to deal with.
Basically, Optimize Member is compatible with Clickbank, Paypal and other US payment solutions. In terms of compatibility with affiliate software is the total vacuum. By default, it is not compatible with anything. But, there is an API.
Here is my setup:
Optimize Member to manage member areas
PayPlug as payment
AffiliateWP as affiliate software
By default they do not work together but all have an API and a PHP library. My developer is able to make them work together. But he spent a lot of time!
Unfortunately, if you want to maximize conversions for your site, you will have to go through it. You can find affiliate software compatible with space WordPress plugins member. However, if you want to use payment solution that convert like PayPlug, Stripe, Hi-Pay or others, you will need the help of a developer.
In any case, I tested many affiliate software for WordPress and my preference is AffiliateWP.
Affiliate software in the cloud
There are lots of tools hosted in the cloud so you have nothing to install on your server. These affiliate software works with subscription offers. But the majority of them are not given because they start at $ 29 per month. However, to take advantage of their power, it will take at least on offers from 49 or $ 99 a month.
PostAffiliatePro: it starts at $ 29 per month but in most cases, the version at $ 49 will be required. This solution is very complete and has all the features a affiliator needs. If you want to work with your form of payment other than Paypal, it will need to contact their team and pay a custom development.
Affilate: This tool is very comprehensive and benefit bine many useful functions as a white label. The problem lies in the rate since the deals start at 49 dollars per month.
GetAmbassador: Comprehensive solution but starts at $ 99 per month for 250 affiliates. That said, the service is very clean and the ergonomics are perfect.
Should we go through an affiliate network?
Many entrepreneurs are turning to affiliate networks. Regardless of the platform, I advise against it. I tested 5 affiliate networks and each time, I met a lot of problems:
Most of these platforms pay to 60 days
they repay customers without asking and without supporting consult you
customers buy your products by signing up as an affiliate to pay the cheapest product
their order converts poorly
you can not create discount coupons
But the worst thing in there is the amount of commission which is typically 10%. Specifically, you do not make more sales with these platforms with a house affiliate program. Then you are a victim of all the small fraudsters passing. Your brand can take a hit. You have to wait 1-3 months to reach your winnings. Finally, your claims are exploding because these platforms repay without flinching.
Before choosing an affiliate program, I urge you to make a list of your goals and constraints. Everyone should not use the same affiliate software. As I often say, you need to test every element of your site to improve your conversions. And most of all, you must choose a payment method that converts! And that is the problem. On my sites, I now use Payplug. The problem is that the majority of affiliate software and member area for WordPress work with Paypal and US payment solutions.
If you follow me, you know I do not use Paypal because there is nothing worse in terms of conversion. So my payment solution already limits my choices since 90% of the market affiliate programs are not compatible!
Then, your choice will depend on your affiliate goals. Would you like to make affiliation to a level or multilevel? Again, this will determine your choices.
Finally, do you have a developer at hand or not? If you do not have a developer to customize your software, your choices are more limited!
Compatibility with your member's area
If you are looking for an affiliate program is that you have products to sell and therefore a member's area. And then it gets really complicated. We have to find an affiliate software compatible with your payment solution your member area plugin. I use Optimize Member and I can assured that he gave me a hard wire. All my training using this plugin. It was therefore no question of any switch to something else. So we had to deal with.
Basically, Optimize Member is compatible with Clickbank, Paypal and other US payment solutions. In terms of compatibility with affiliate software is the total vacuum. By default, it is not compatible with anything. But, there is an API.
Here is my setup:
Optimize Member to manage member areas
PayPlug as payment
AffiliateWP as affiliate software
By default they do not work together but all have an API and a PHP library. My developer is able to make them work together. But he spent a lot of time!
Unfortunately, if you want to maximize conversions for your site, you will have to go through it. You can find affiliate software compatible with space WordPress plugins member. However, if you want to use payment solution that convert like PayPlug, Stripe, Hi-Pay or others, you will need the help of a developer.
In any case, I tested many affiliate software for WordPress and my preference is AffiliateWP.
Affiliate software in the cloud
There are lots of tools hosted in the cloud so you have nothing to install on your server. These affiliate software works with subscription offers. But the majority of them are not given because they start at $ 29 per month. However, to take advantage of their power, it will take at least on offers from 49 or $ 99 a month.
PostAffiliatePro: it starts at $ 29 per month but in most cases, the version at $ 49 will be required. This solution is very complete and has all the features a affiliator needs. If you want to work with your form of payment other than Paypal, it will need to contact their team and pay a custom development.
Affilate: This tool is very comprehensive and benefit bine many useful functions as a white label. The problem lies in the rate since the deals start at 49 dollars per month.
GetAmbassador: Comprehensive solution but starts at $ 99 per month for 250 affiliates. That said, the service is very clean and the ergonomics are perfect.
Should we go through an affiliate network?
Many entrepreneurs are turning to affiliate networks. Regardless of the platform, I advise against it. I tested 5 affiliate networks and each time, I met a lot of problems:
Most of these platforms pay to 60 days
they repay customers without asking and without supporting consult you
customers buy your products by signing up as an affiliate to pay the cheapest product
their order converts poorly
you can not create discount coupons
But the worst thing in there is the amount of commission which is typically 10%. Specifically, you do not make more sales with these platforms with a house affiliate program. Then you are a victim of all the small fraudsters passing. Your brand can take a hit. You have to wait 1-3 months to reach your winnings. Finally, your claims are exploding because these platforms repay without flinching.