AFFILIATE NETWORKS
An affiliate network is a value added facilitator that provides services such as aggregation for affiliate merchants, distribution of creative materials, tracking technology for campaign performance and reporting, payment processing as well as access to a large database of affiliates.
Most affiliates focus on direct sales which mean joining an affiliate program and marketing their product through their website. This function allows the affiliate to earn a commission for every sale made. Some affiliates adopt the 2nd tier program wherein along with direct sales one can build an affiliate network.
The affiliate network is doubly profitable as it not only gets affiliates to sign up under you but earn commissions on the sales that they are likely to make. The commission earned is typically 25% for direct sales and 10% for indirect sales.
As an affiliate you can earn 25% on any sales you make. In an affiliate network means you can earn 10% on each sale that each affiliate makes which increases proportionately with the increase in affiliates.
These networks are free to join, but are often difficult to locate. They sometimes call themselves names like "marketing solutions provider", "pay-for-performance network", "cost-per-action advertising network", or even "performance-based online marketing services company". Some affiliate networks allow almost anyone to join while others make it a condition that your site must have a certain number of visitors. Some also let you see a directory of the merchants in the network before you join, whereas others show you their list of offers only after you join.
Building an affiliate network for each of your affiliate programs will earn you profits by increasing your affiliate commissions.