Why doesn't anyone talk about the Google Affiliate Network?

by daviddifranco

Posted: 11 years ago 7 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Perhaps I am missing something, but is the Google Affiliate Network worth looking into? The majority of network talk I see on here usually has to do with either ClickBank or Commission Junction. I'm looking to expand my knowledge into different networks, so I thought why not give Google a shot? They obviously have a very reputable brand.

#affiliate #affiliate marketing #google #google affiliates #network #talk

kindsvater 11 years ago

As a GAN member I would say it is because:

- The affiliate area is not as easy to work with, or as informative, as places like CJ.

- Many merchants have accounts elsewhere, like CJ, and their offered commission rates can be higher elsewhere. There is little reason to use GAN.

- After losing money to non-paying merchants, GAN's affiliate support was pathetic.

- Most importantly, IMHO, no one wants to give more of their private information to Google. In light of Panda and other search updates, many today are not in the business of letting Google know which of their sites are affiliate sites, their traffic, and referrals leading to conversions.

- Here is an incident from a few years ago that says a lot about Google: I promoted a GAN merchant for over a year direct linking on AdWords without any problem. The merchant decided to close their GAN account and just use another network. Within a month the merchant's site was no longer acceptable to send AdWords traffic to. That was an eye opener for me about Google's use of information.

Google has a reputable brand to the public engaged in searches to find information. I do not know too many marketers or small website owners who think Google is reputable at all. Big difference.

Finally, overall, there isn't that much discussion about CJ, Linkshare, or other physical product affiliate networks anyway. Just Amazon. One might wander into the forum and think having a WordPress site selling Amazon products is the only type of site to have.

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khooster1 11 years ago

GAN sucks on Commissions.
Too low for paid traffic marketing.
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- jasondinner 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by khooster1
  
  GAN sucks on Commissions.
  Too low for paid traffic marketing.
  
  It's more along the lines of CJ, LinkShare, and ShareASale
  
  And you can still be profitable promoting stuff in there
  
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ronrule 11 years ago

The real answer is probably because Google wouldn't approve of what most of the people here are doing...
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daviddifranco 11 years ago

Thanks for the information, everyone! I was exploring the GAN last night and I've gotta say... the interface needs a lot of work. After having used CB and CJ for a little while, the GAN feels like it hasn't been updated in quite a while — at least in terms of design and navigation.
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- Lloyd Buchinski 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by daviddifranco
  
  Thanks for the information, everyone! I was exploring the GAN last night and I've gotta say... the interface needs a lot of work.
  
  It is clumsy and complicated. There is a support forum but that wasn't much help when I used it.
  
  It is also tied to adsense and if you lose your adsense account, gan goes with it. Some people avoid it for that reason.
  
  Also there is a strong feeling here that people don't want to let Google know about their site details.
  
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CDawson Banned 11 years ago

I've always looked it like amazon or more of like an Adsense sort of marketing.
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