Guest post by Dush Ramachandran, Vice President Business Development and Marketing, ClickBank
As new entrepreneurs look to make a livelihood on the Internet, affiliate marketing always seems like a good starting point. Working with an affiliate network appears like the way to go. But which one? The choices are many and bewildering.
Here are the Top 5 reasons why ClickBank is your best choice for an affiliate network:
5. Low Barrier to entry: ClickBank is free for affiliates to join, and unlike other affiliate networks, vendors do not have to approve you before you can promote their products. As an affiliate your contract is with ClickBank. All you need to do is sign up with ClickBank, pick a product to promote from the ClickBank Marketplace, make a Hoplink - and you’re ready to do business. That’s pretty much all there is to it.
4. Sophisticated fraud control: ClickBank’s industry-leading fraud detection and control technology minimizes fraudulent charges that result in charge-backs and refunds. Also, ClickBank tracks chronic or repeat refunders and “blacklists” them so that they can’t continue to buy products and demand refunds, making it safer and more profitable to promote ClickBank products.
3. Large and varied selection of products: The ClickBank Marketplace has over 35,000 products from more than 12,000 vendors in topic areas ranging from dog training to body building and from search engine optimization to guitar or language lessons. No matter what your passion, you’re likely to find a ClickBank product to promote. All these products are equally available to all affiliates to promote.
2. Reliable on-time payments: Since its inception, ClickBank has issued more than 1.0 million checks and paid out more than $1.0 Billion (that’s right – billion with a ‘B’) to clients. We have never missed a payment. Our clients tell us that one of the most attractive things about ClickBank is that, as an affiliate you never have to wonder if you’re going to get paid for the sales you promote.
And the #1 reason ClickBank is your best choice for an affiliate network is:
ClickBank processes the transaction: Since the transaction is processed by ClickBank, a trusted 3rd party, and not the vendor, you as an affiliate do not have to worry about the ethics of the vendors whose products you choose to promote. Unlike other networks, you do not have to rely on the merchant reporting their sales accurately or the systems of the affiliate network and the vendor working efficiently together. The affiliate tracking, transaction processing, commission payout and affiliate management are all handled safely and securely by ClickBank. No slip-ups. No lost sales and commissions.
So what are you waiting for?
Do you currently use ClickBank? What is your most preferred feature?
Mark Dulisse • 16 years ago
Bryan Hee • 16 years ago
To Your Success
Bryan Hee
Malcolm Hornsby • 16 years ago
Ann Lewis • 16 years ago
Valentin • 16 years ago
Mike Beletro • 16 years ago
agreed ClickBank is neat, but most affiliates are not aware that it might get a little tough to actually get their commissions because of this Clickbank policy:
"Unless an account contains sales from made with 5 or more different credit card numbers, including at least one Visa card, and one MasterCard, our system will not generate a check for that account (even if the balance has met or exceeded the payment preference). PayPal purchases do not count toward the minimum."
Many people prefer to use Paypal these days instead of paying with their credit cards.
So it might take some time until you've referred sales from 5 different credit cards and see some moolah.
This imho is at least one major flaw of ClickBank.
Saying that "ClickBank is your best choice for an affiliate network" is just a biased self-promotion of a ClickBank Official.
I'd expected a little bit more objectivity at this blog.
Because there are other Affiliiate Networks out there that might suit Affiliate needs much better. Because i offer the same benefits as ClickBank AND don't insist on you having referred a certain number of credit card sales first before they pay out your commission ....
I will do a reply post on this topic on the Marketing TNT blog today ...
Affiliate Marketing • 16 years ago
However since they started direct deposit into international bank accounts it has made things so much easier! Love it.
Tracey
Megan McDonald • 16 years ago
Alex Newell • 16 years ago
(1) their product search facility is crap
(2) products come up under incorrect categories
(3) no info on CTR and "Gravity" is a poor indicator
AND they're still the best!
Alex
Vanessa Clare Gill • 16 years ago
Lisa • 16 years ago
Franck Silvestre • 16 years ago
Franck
Saul • 16 years ago
I know I know, you have direct deposit option for a handful of countries, but I couldn't care less if I'm not in one of those countries.
How come 99% of companies out there can pay via bank transfer or PayPal to almost any country in the world (including mine) besides the checks? Just shows there are no technical or financial issues, rather just "human factor" (i.e. laziness). Keep up guys, don't get stuck in the 90's like Amazon or the likes.
Now I have to wait 2 months for the money to reach me (after the payment is issued!)... a messenger on a horse in the mid-ages would deliver you the money faster than that...
I would pay anything you wished just so I can get my money faster than that!
Keep up, please!
Cheers
peter mcgrath • 16 years ago
affiliate is going to pay you also its got a lot of creadability in the market place
interesting article
thanks
peter mcgrath
Claudia Apfelthaler • 16 years ago
Dan Boulton • 16 years ago
I hope you we come back soon with more information and the latest developments at Clickbank.
Maybe you could tell us if there is any thing in the pipeline, coming up soon for affiliates?
You know give us some insider information that may help an affiliate, improvements and the like that will affect or improve our business.
Again thank you.
Regards
Dan
Pat • 16 years ago
Yes, there are some good products that do well but many affiliates jump on those like white on rice and as a result the competition is fierce for about 2-3 dozen products. I would like to see more stringent guidelines from Clickbank as to what it will allow. I want to be comfortable telling my family what I am actually promoting online.
mark PTOLEMY • 16 years ago
I enjoyed Mr Ramachandran's contribution but I hope he looks at the replies and takes on board some of the comments made.
Nigel • 16 years ago
cheers Nigel
Zoelka Ryadi • 16 years ago
One other thing that I want to add is that some countries did not included in the list of countries. For example Indonesia where I came from. Up until now, it is still not being listed there. Some of us who know the trick did well indeed by registering their address to other countries that on Clickbank list such as Singapore or US. The reason that I got from Clickbank is because the high potential of financial fraudulent matters. Interestingly enough to see the by Google Trends that Indonesia is number three region where daily unique visitors to Clickbank coming from. So, there must be many of Indonesian that would like to know more about Clickbank. But they will disappointed that they are not allowed to participate in Clickbank unless they change their address.
Clickbank promised to review their list of country by time to time. But certainly Indonesia still being one of "black list" countries. I agree that many Indonesian do some unethical or fraudulent financial activities. But I also aware that many more Indonesian that willingly to do honest business with Clickbank. How can these people get a chance? As in the other hand, as Mr. Ramachandran said Clickbank has a sophisticated fraudulent control. Wow.. I don't know.. do not include these "black list" countries may be one of their sophisticated control..
Anyway.. that's my thought.. Just wanna share you guys my early frustation with Clickbank..
But.. I survive..
Owen • 16 years ago
Apart from that, great company, especially for newcomers
Troy Todd • 16 years ago
"Unless an account contains sales from made with 5 or more different credit card numbers, including at least one Visa card, and one MasterCard, our system will not generate a check for that account (even if the balance has met or exceeded the payment preference). PayPal purchases do not count toward the minimum."
But having said that, do you think Mark Ling would even be thinking about it?
Nope, he just gets on with what he needs to do..
and where is he now..lol
Lillea • 16 years ago
Mervin P Antonio • 16 years ago
Thanks
Curtis and Tawania Buggs • 16 years ago
hillon • 16 years ago
Glenn Nichols • 16 years ago
Joshua G Muniandy • 16 years ago
Also, with regards to all the objective remarks, will Clickbank take back these ideas for the benefit of the affiliates? I hope at leas Mark and gang can somewhat pressure Clickbank to look into these concerns.
Regards,
Josh
Simon Slade • 16 years ago
(removed link as it no longer exists)
Troy Todd • 16 years ago
Also Most Forums have a URL button or CODE button at the top of the editing block.
You simply click the button you want and enter your code or URL.
Some of the URL buttons have a text line that they ask you what text you want
to have instead of seeing the URL address.
If you need help after reading the above post from Simon, let me know if you are still stuck.
Regards
Troy
Linda Baker • 16 years ago
McP • 16 years ago
kurnia • 16 years ago
I agree that cb must seriously lifted the ban. Paypal has approved the country,
And they worked with local banks for direct payment to affiliates.
Google also work with western union to pay the adsense with no fee.
If cb is persistent with the regulation, I believe cb will be left on competition.
This is especially also with check payment that need 1 month collection n enormous bank's fees.
Jason Dodd • 16 years ago
Julie • 16 years ago
They also have a very poor search facility in their marketplace and why do they have to send out checks/cheques - that is okay if you live in the U.S. but quite expensive if you live overseas.
I am just waiting for the Clickbank alternatives to get more vendors and hopefully will never have to use them again.
Bill • 16 years ago
mastercands • 15 years ago
John • 15 years ago
I made about $1175 in my first two weeks as an affiliate and then bam. They terminated because of "fraudulent credit card transactions". Funny part about that is that I was able to get in touch with about half of the customers via phone (after some extensive research) and they did indeed pay for the products.
I sent them all of this information to prove the transactions were definitely legit. But they never responded after many phone calls and emails.
Clickbank closed my account on payment day with no explanation, no warning. I lost a ton of money from PPC marketing.
I'd recommend you stick with AdSense or a CPA network and tell Clickbank to kiss your ass.
Kate • 15 years ago
shad0wcrew • 15 years ago
Hi, I'm also new, and also from a "blacklisted country" South Africa. If Clickbank would use Pay pal, that would be great. They do really need to "keep up" with the pack.
tim • 13 years ago
momochii • 13 years ago