The online marketplace is strewn with affiliate networks serving as platforms for merchants and affiliates. You can join most of these networks free of cost and earn handsome revenues through various promotional activities. However, with so many options available, you have to be very sure while choosing a network for operations.

Listed below are a few crucial points that can help advertisers in taking a decision:

• The network should allow targeting on the basis of geographical location, language and demographics. This will help you create better campaigns and reach out your niche audience.

• It should provide different kinds of commission structures, the important ones being Pay per Click, Pay per Lead and Pay per Sale. This will ensure that you pay your affiliates as per your business plan.

• The affiliate marketing network should facilitate communication between you and your affiliates. If it is too self-imposing, there is a likelihood of fraudulent activities creeping in somewhere. It should not make you dependent, and instead give you a free reign for all sort of operations.

• It should take care of activities that can negatively impact the growth of your business. Frauds like URL hijacking, automated clicks, etc. should be well-monitored and controlled by the network.

• Being a network, it should provide you with comprehensive, collated details of your marketing campaigns. It should also present a true and clear picture of your affiliates' efforts and their results. This will help you decide on the continuity of your association with a particular affiliate or the network itself.

• Interference from the affiliate network should be as less as possible. Even when scrutinising affiliates for online association, you should always have the upper hand in taking the decisions.

As a merchant, you should not be contractually bound by the network you work with. Your trading transactions should be hassle-free and dedicatedly handled by managers assigned to your account.