RevenueWire platform gives marketers, affiliates more insight

When it comes to affiliate marketing, there could be more pain and misunderstanding than high profits and conversions - causing many companies to shut down affiliate marketing platforms and affiliate marketers to skip from one opportunity to another very quickly. Enter the RevenueWire platform which allows both affiliates and marketers to track sales, place consumers in a plush virtual shopping cart and easily process payments.

by Kristina Knight

Affiliate marketing has seen an increase over the last year as consumers and brands alike look for ways to increase their revenue.

"But we're also seeing some hiccups," said Bobbi Leach, Director of Business Development with RevenueWire. "Especially from businesses who have products which aren't in the consumer's best interest, for example the Acaii berries. The affiliate marketing industry takes those blows and it taints the rest of the business. But, Google is implementing structures to ensure that the products offered [through Affiliate Marketing] are a benefit to consumers and are aren't scams; they are shutting down AdWords accounts for those [scam-based] companies. Right now, affiliate marketing is growing at a rate of 20% to 25% each year, and that is expected to continue for the next three years."

The RevenueWire platform is highlighted by its shopping cart system, which is the highest-converting cart in the affiliate industry; the platform also gives affiliates the ability to track revenue which originates from their website, investing the affiliate with the program.

The SafeCart shopping cart helped RevenueWire's affiliate signups increase by 75% in Q1 2009, and there are plans to begin allowing international currencies to the shopping cart, beginning with British pounds and the Euro. One of the biggest benefits to the cart is that it can be co-branded to suit the merchant. Plus, with only a single screen with the payment details, consumers are more likely to finish the purchase than abandon the cart.

SafeCart offers free transaction and metrics for affiliates, who can follow their conversions from search engines through the entire sales route for better understanding of the consumer's behavior.

Ms. Leach has two Best Practices for affiliates and brands looking ahead.

First, no plagery. "[Brands must ensure] that affiliates are using unique content and designing their own campaigns rather than copying other affiliates to drive campaigns," said Ms. Leach.

Second, keep consumer information safe. "[Both affiliates and brands need] automated and manual protections practices so that consumer information is safe and that fraudulent affiliates aren't part of the system."

Tags: affiliate marketing, affiliate sales, ecommerce, online shopping, RevenueWire