Help with Afffiliate Program for a Client

[rockergrrl]

Hey Guys,

I thought I'd ask you guys, and get your opinion/thoughts/insite. Granted it doesn't have anything to do with web hosting persay.

I'm working on a website for a client (not only do I have a web hosting company, I'm also a web designer <- the last almost 9 years consisted of that).

He's looking to have an affiliate program on this site. And I don't have the slightest clue in how to go about doing it. It would almost have to be MLM kinda - but not really. But more so like site replication (automatic after signup to be an affiliate). And then if someone signs up under their affiliate site, then it keeps tabs of $$ they made and then he can send checks/paypal, whatever out each month.

Do you guys know of anything like that script wise that will do that ? I haven't really looked much into it (as I was doing other stuff for him). And he's not looking to spent any money on it (since he's already paying me $$$ for it all).

Any suggestions?

Gracias! ;)

[101sales]

Yes, there are scripts like that - i'm on the look-out for a couple myself.

They involve putting a banner on the affiliate's site - anytime someone clicks on it the affiliate script keeps a record of the visit and creates a cookie on the potential customer's machine. Everytime he visits the website that cookie will create a tag in the URL "www.hostingcomapny.com/?affiliate23445" which will display their number, or the order number etc.. depending on what script you get.
Findmyhosting.com has created that kind of a system, however i've never seen a script that can do everything it can.
Chances are you'll be paying for a script like that - it is very involved.

[rockergrrl]

Yeah, I know...
Unfortunately... my client seems to be very cheap when it comes to stuff like that. I don't think he really understands that normal html, et al can not do that. It takes programming (something I don't have time to really get into right now).

Last week, I tried to get him to look into a script that will automate stuff for him, payments, downloads, etc and he wouldn't budge. And it was only a $50 script! hehe I told him, it would make things SOOOO much easier... nope.. wouldn't budge.... So I need to hunt down something that's preferably free.

*sigh*

Gotta love total newbie clients.

[101sales]

Ya - when you're a web developer and you can change text or the colour of a background for clients in seconds they believe everything is that easy....

Little do they know:D

If I do manage to dig something up in my quest thats relatively cheap or (The Holy Grail) Free, i'll be sure to share it with you.

[rockergrrl]

I know...
I swear, this guy thinks I'm *God*.

I can edit pre-existing graphics in a matter of seconds for him, and he's like, "OMG! You did it that fast?"
err... yeah... ;)

If I had time to sit down and program something like an custom affiliate program, I would.. but I can barely get an peace and quiet in this house to do simple graphic work half the time! lol Its bad enough that I'm using Dreamweaver to do the design as it is LOL I can't even get enough quiet to do simple html coding !

Many thanks to you! :D (I'll do the same to you if I find anything myself)

[interactive]

Originally posted by rockergrrl:

Yeah, I know...
Unfortunately... my client seems to be very cheap when it comes to stuff like that. I don't think he really understands that normal html, et al can not do that. It takes programming (something I don't have time to really get into right now).

Last week, I tried to get him to look into a script that will automate stuff for him, payments, downloads, etc and he wouldn't budge. And it was only a $50 script! hehe I told him, it would make things SOOOO much easier... nope.. wouldn't budge.... So I need to hunt down something that's preferably free.

*sigh*

Gotta love total newbie clients.

I've built and maintain quiet a few affiliate based sites. From my stand point (as a coder) I find it just as easy to write something from scratch. Won't take too much time, and one more thing you can brag to the client about. Non the less take a look at hotscripts.com.

[rockergrrl]

If you only knew what it was like in my house ;) The only time its quiet, and that I have remote time to myself is when everyone else is sleeping. But if I stay up to do stuff like that, I'll totally be dead in the morning (since I work from home and have to put up with my bratty 3 year old son, and a 2 month old ;) ).

I've searched over at hotscripts... I'll search some more tonight. Trying to find the right script to do the right kind of stuff that I'm in need of it to do, that's the problem. Lots of affiliate scripts over at HS -- but none that really meet the requirements, unfortunately.

Thanks though :)