Cost-per-action (CPA) affiliate marketing differs from a typical affiliate marketing approach. Affiliate marketing is based on earning a commission for each sale generated. However, for online businesses, sales may not be the only goal they have.
While the action can end in a sale (and that is what everyone hopes for), there are other important aspects of a customer’s flow you can influence. These actions may include:
- Watching a specific video
- Filling out a form
- Clicking on a link
- Liking or following a specific page
So when choosing a CPA Affiliate Network, here are some key items to consider:
1. Experience – The affiliate space has a constant flow of startups and is flooded with competitor networks. A good place to start is to evaluate the experience of the owners and employees of a network. Are most members of the company commission based? How long have they been working in the marketing, affiliate, and advertising space? Remember, the collective experience of each member of a CPA Affiliate Network benefits you!
2. Timely Payments – There is nothing worse than putting in hard work, then having to wait for payments that are not done in a timely manner. Timely payments are a key feature of a reliable CPA network. Take the time to read reviews and check on the reputation for payments of any network you are considering.
3. Reporting – A CPA Affiliate network should provide and be backed by sophisticated tools, reporting capabilities, analytics, and a suite of tools. This will help you evaluate your progress and track your successes. The more you understand your performance the better you can optimize your strategies.
4. Support – When evaluating a CPA Affiliate Network, keep an eye on how quickly you get answers to emails, questions, and support tickets. This is especially important when you sign up for your account. Prompt responses to your questions, and getting you started are key.
Your CPA network should connect you with a dedicated affiliate manager, this person will be your first point of contact for any issues or questions. When a dedicated person is there to support your account, you will likely get quick assistance when you need it most.
5. Good relationships with your account Managers – Along with support a key point is to keep in mind is to have a personal relationship with your account manager. Befriending your account manager can be beneficial in getting: top offers, useful and insightful knowledge, and better conditions. You can build a personal relationship by attending industry events and meeting with your CPA network. Getting on a more personal level with them allows you to show them that you are a more professional affiliate who keeps up with the latest trends.
