Like so many other lists that are out there at the end of the year, it is all based on personal experience. However, I have compiled this list with my personal experience along with the experience of other affiliates. I have both talked with many other affiliates as well as done some reading on popular forums (mostly Wickedfire.com) in order to get this list. So, without further ado, here is my list for the best affiliate networks of 2009. Also, I have only included two referral links for the networks, so it is not about me making money as it is me trying to show off the best networks of the year.
Again, this is not a list of the top ones I have worked with but the ones that I feel were the best and most visible in 2009.
Motive is a great company that has tons of offers in many different verticals. They have lots of exclusives and are always willing to work with you in your campaigns. Also, they will give pay bumps to you if needed in order to get your business. I would say their managers are aggressive in getting new business, which I respect. Finally, one campaign they had this year was a killer one, and any time I run an exclusive like this one, it deserves respect. If you sign up for them, give them a call right away after signing up and ask for Ryan Berger. Good guy to work with and he knows his stuff. For the campaign I am talking about, please refer to this post: Profitable Facebook Campaign
This network is a small, private network run by the wanna be thug Ryan Eagle. People seem to either love or hate Ryan Eagle, but from what I have read and heard from others, he knows his stuff either way. EWA helps their affiliates out all the time, using the theory that if they help others make more money, they of course will make more. It is just a good business model. I like his business model and will get around to applying next year. I admit I was leery at first, but after all the things I have heard from others and read about, I would put 100% trust in his network.
This is a solid network that is fairly new but you have nothing to worry about there. It is run by Ralph Ruckman and Steve Howe, who both are top class guys. One thing I love about this network is the constant communication they send out about their offers and the status of them. I remember when the biz-ops and acai were super hot, I would get plenty of emails daily to Blackberry about what offers were going down and where they were being redirected to and such. I love this, as one of my top complaints about a network is when an offer goes down that I am running without any notice. Plus, they are also very helpful and knowledgeable in helping their affiliates out.
On a side note, if you want to hear some funny shit, make sure you check out this phone interview with a someone trying to get into their network but as you can tell from the interview, this person was just trying to commit fraud. It is simply awesome! Check it out.
2. Ads4Dough
I haven’t used Ads4Dough a whole lot this year, but at the end of last year, this is where I got my jump start in acai offers and finally started making serious cash in affiliate marketing. Payments are fast and on time every week, just like promised. Tracking is great since they moved their platform over and even was good before when they were using DirectTrack.
Jason Akatiff, aka Smaxor, is a former affiliate who opened up this network, and it shows. I love networks that are run by former affiliates, as they always seem to be the best and know what the publishers want. Also, they usually surround themselves with other affiliates as well, so you get a great AM team all around. My only complaint is that they are on the west coast, which is hardly a complaint lol
1. Advaliant (MediaTrust)
MediaTrust was formally known as Advaliant, so you will find many people in the industry that will continue to call it this. Anyways, MediaTrust was recognized recently on a list of 500 of the fastest growing companies at #9. Pretty impressive and shows that they are for real and that they conduct business the right way.
Anyways, I love working with MediaTrust and switched over to them early this year when they had a $60 free trial acai offer. This offer killed and I have been hooked ever since. My AM is cool and only contacts me when needed and doesn’t push a ton of stuff on me. Also, she is available whenever I have a problem or question and is quick to react and solve what is needed.
Also, I love their little bonus structure they have as well. I am not sure how it works, like what volume level you need to be at to qualify, but if you do enough, they start to credit you bonus leads that were credited to them from the advertiser. Basically, they take leads they get credit for that have no aff ID and hand them out to the top performers on certain offers. Pretty sweet seeing a bunch of new sales pop in your account one day.
All in all, they are a top notch network. I am not saying they are the best and no one else is better. Just they are the best to me, and that is all that really matters. Anyways, if you are not a member, give them a shot. They have a bunch of high paying offers in many verticals. Just be prepared to pass a tough screening process. Come to think about it, Convert2Media is tough to get in as well. I have also heard that EWA is tough and not for newbies, but I couldn’t tell you first hand.
That is it! Those are my 5 favorite networks of 2009 and I hope they are my top ones for 2010. Enjoy and I hope that others found some useful info about what networks are the best around from another affiliates point of view.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the shout out!
Any time Steve! Thanks for your all around great network. Hope you keep on growing and also that 2010 is an even better year for you guys!