'Net Features : ebay affiliates

Power Up with the eBay Partner Network

Michael Garrity — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:15:00 GMT

Everyone who has heard of the Internet is probably aware of eBay. The company is important because it is really responsible for uncovering the moneymaking potential of the Internet. And, like every successful Internet company, eBay also happens to be a great place for affiliates to bolster their personal moneymaking endeavors.

The eBay Partner Network (ePN) is among the most valuable and secure networks available to affiliates because of the uniquely specific niche ads they are able to render (as opposed to the sometimes irrelevant advertisements served by Google AdSense), and the profitability of eBay itself.

However, eBay is also very particular about the partners it selects for the ePN. On the network's registration form, it explains that to apply to be a network member you have a functioning website “relevant for promoting eBay” that “has unique or value-added content of functionality that will drive incremental purchases on eBay.”

The Essentials
Although getting involved with the ePN can be a process, the stringent requirements are actually a good thing, for you and eBay. By being picky about who can run its ads, eBay is ensuring a worthwhile investment for itself and promising that you’ll make some money in return.

ePN gives affiliates “all the tools” they need to run successful campaigns. These include link generators, customizable banners with filtered search results, an RSS feed generator, a product feed, mobile SDKs for iOS and Android, an editor kit to add “relevant, real-time eBay listings” to a site or blog, access to eBay’s API for developers and various “creatives,” including colorful graphics and interactive ads.

eBay only asks that affiliates make sure that all of their traffic is tracked, but to simplify the process, tracking is automatically integrated into all of the tools provided. eBay will monitor all of the traffic that comes to the site after a visitor clicks on one of an affiliate’s links, where it will be determined if the traffic qualifies for a commission payout; so again, this requirement is meant to make sure transactions are beneficial to both parties.

Acquire Currency
Payouts are based on a “Quality Click Pricing” system, which, if it isn’t self-explanatory enough, means that “the amount paid per click (EPC) on a daily basis depends on the traffic’s quality.”

Quality is based on a number of factors such as revenue of sales, a visitor's long-term value, eBay advertising and PayPal revenue and a number of other user behavior factors. According to the ePN site, “the more incremental revenue your traffic generates for eBay, the more you’ll be paid per click.”

Basically, the quality of all traffic you drive to the site will be evaluated and then eBay will determine your EPC amount. The benefits of such a system include decent payouts for “good” publishers referring quality traffic, regardless of the amount of traffic they drive, rewards based on multiple sources of value (such as PayPal transactions) and a more stable day-to-day EPC.

eBay provides affiliates with helpful information on how to improve traffic quality on the ePN site here.

Gaining Acceptance
Of course, the first step is just getting accepted into the network. Some affiliates have said that it can take up to four weeks for their applications to be approved by eBay, so obviously the company takes choosing the right partners seriously. However, there are a few things you can do to help improve the likelihood that your site will be accepted, and hopefully expedite the application process.

Be Established
It’s not worth it to try to sign up for the ePN right after registering a domain and building a website. Remember, eBay wants quality traffic with long-term potential, which is much more likely to come from regular visitors of a proven site or blog. Establish your authoritative role in your niche first to prove to eBay that you’re going to be worth an investment.

Follow the Rules
Be aware of the terms and conditions that eBay has established for its affiliate partners, and make sure that your site meets them even before applying. And this means maintaining your site to follow the rules if and when you’re accepted as a partner, because the company is known to completely shut off accounts found violating the terms.

In the end, eBay is looking to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with quality affiliates, and it is willing to compensate them for the value they bring. The exclusivity and stringent requirements of the ePN not only help to ensure that eBay’s investment is solid, but also that its partners are in a position to make a lot of money, as well.

Quality Click Pricing Introduced for eBay Partners

Mike Phillips — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:49:00 GMT

eBay's partner network has undergone some changes recently, starting with severing ties with Comission Junction in April, 2008. That effectively moved all their affiliate data in-house, and now they've put it to good use.

Today eBay announced "Quality Click Pricing" - a new payout structure for all eBay partners, with the exception of Half.com. Earnings will now be calculated incrementally as a factor of earnings-per-click (EPC) on a daily basis. Instead of focusing solely on sales, eBay now looks to reward affiliates who are driving quality traffic.

In the past, earnings were based on sales and new active confirmed registered users (ACRU). So, affiliates were paid on a final sale basis and for those new users who signed up to eBay. Now, these factors are rolled into one system, EPC.

For example: Publisher "A" generates 10 clicks to eBay resulting in two new registered users and one sale. Publisher "B" generates 50 clicks to eBay resulting in 20 new registered users and 12 sales. Publisher "B" now has a higher EPC (including final sale, ACRU and a few other factors) and will be paid a higher percentage than Publisher "A". However, as this is all calculated on a daily basis, Publisher "A" could have a better day tomorrow and increase his EPC.

According to the press release, "Instead of paying you along two compensation schedules (ACRU and revshare), we will now begin paying you under one unified pay structure that collectively incorporates both sales/revenue generated and ACRU activity (and a few other things). Quality traffic that drives incremental sales and user engagement will play large roles in [your ultimate payout.]“

The factors to determine "quality" for eBay include some of those listed below.

• Short term incremental value
• Traffic that drives sales and revenue for eBay in the first few days after a click
• Purchases that are likely a direct result of the publisher’s marketing efforts
• Includes revenue generated by purchases, can extend to PayPal and onsite advertising
• Engagement of those users on eBay
• Long term incremental value
• Revenue generated by traffic directed to eBay beyond first few days after click
• Long-term value of ACRUs

For affiliates and publishers there are several benefits to this new systems, as well as a needed philosophy shift. First, the benefits.

• EPC will usually be visible next day – won’t have to wait up to 30 days for clicks to convert to ACRUs
• Payout more closely aligned with traffic quality – we’ll pay more to publishers who drive incremental activity, regardless of their size
• EPC now visible at campaign level to allow for campaign-level optimization

Considering this new system, publishers and affiliates now need to consider the quality of traffic sent to eBay, not just the quantity. It would, for example, benefit the publisher to refer those users who have the best chance to continue to visit eBay on a long-term basis (through your site, of course) which would, in turn, boost the long-term incremental value of the traffic you refer. This places much value on building a consistent brand experience for users, rather than trying to sell a few "hot" items regardless if it matches your brand's mission.

eBay's new Quality Click Pricing is a good development. Those publishers who truly work at their craft will be rewarded in a way more consistent with their overall marketing and branding efforts. It's not only long-term incremental value for eBay but forces you, the publisher, to think about lifetime customer value.

Besides that its commission structure was complicated and needed to be simplifed, eBay needed to create a commission structure that can "grow with us as eBay expands into classifieds, advertising, and non-transaction sources of revenue," according to the release. Interesting choice of words and a hint that publishers should be thinking about long-term partnerships with eBay, not just quick sales.

Ebay Affiliates; Commission Junction Dumped

Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:36:00 GMT

Ebay has shocked many in the affiliate community by dumping Commission Junction and ValueClick - opting instead to promote their affiliate program independently through the eBay Partner Network. For many this signifies that CJ and other affiliate networks may over time be much less relevant, although small merchants may still opt for these solutions as it is often cost prohibitive to recruit affiliates directly.

The new in-house program will allow eBay to more closely align the program with the needs of its publishers and the eBay Community, and will eventually engage all of eBay’s assets to create one of the most robust affiliate networks in existence. The eBay Affiliate Program has more than 100,000 members globally and continues to be one of the most successful tools for driving buyers to eBay. Coupling access to the unparalleled scope of eBay’s global marketplace with industry-leading tools and a dedicated support staff, eBay ensures all types of Web site publishers, from the casual blogger to the experienced Internet entrepreneur, are able find success through profitable affiliate marketing.

Affected eBay and Half.com affiliates will be required to move their affiliate links over to the eBay Partner Network by May 1st, 2008. eBay will continue its valued partnership with ValueClick’s technology division, Mediaplex, for ad serving, tracking and other custom projects. More information on the transition process for eBay affiliates, as well as the eBay programs affected, can be found at http://affiliates.ebay.com.