Q: I represent a Scandinavian web hosting company that recently launched in the U.S. The way that you do affiliate marketing in the U.S. seems rather different from Europe. Therefore, I am considering outsourcing the affiliate management for the U.S., but how do I find a perfect match?
A: There are tons of vendors out there who offer outsourced affiliate program management (OPM) services.
I created a section on the Affiliate Buyer’s Guide, which is part of Affiliate Summit, and we’ve got dozens of companies listed in the Outsourced Program Manager section.
The services offered and the pricing vary wildly, so I would suggest reaching out to a variety of companies to determine which is the best fit for you.
As far as the pricing, you can find OPM companies in the range of $2,000 to $2,500 a month, but I wouldn’t expect much in the way of service and support at that rate.
If you have the funds to partner up with an agency for $7,500 to $10,000 per month, you can bring on a top tier team for your affiliate program.
Be sure to perform due diligence on the various vendors; ask for references, client lists, team biographies, and case studies, if available.
Just because somebody carries a big price doesn’t mean they know what they are doing.