MaxBounty 2.0 allows merchants to run their own affiliate program in an open marketplace format similar to the current big 3 networks

MaxBounty 2.0 allows merchants to run their own affiliate program in an open
marketplace format similar to the current big 3 networks, only at a much
more affordable price… namely no fees at all for 2005. We offer a couple
one-ups on the competition beyond pricing. First we’re keeping our
existing managed CPA campaigns as a separate arm of the new network, so for
affiliates, they can run campaigns through us just like the old MaxBounty,
or can choose to work directly with merchants via their self-run affiliate
programs. Another one-up is that we allow merchants to run multiple
campaigns under a global affiliate program. So if a merchant had 2
different websites and wanted to promote them both via an affiliate program,
it wouldn’t have to be two separate affiliate programs. He’d have his one
global affiliate program, and 2 campaigns under it. Benefits are that you
don’t have to pay a second set up fee, and your existing affiliate base for
your first campaign can advertise your second without having to re-recruit
them.


We’ve been on both sides of the affiliate/merchant relationship for some
time, and sensed a growing dissatisfaction from both affiliates and
merchants with the existing big networks. Basically the time was right for
a new ultra-low fee network alternative. Facing the larger networks, it’s
kind of a David vs Goliath situation for us, but we’re confident in our
product and are sure that merchants will feel the same way. We decided to
offer our services to merchants initially at no fee for two reasons. We
hope it convinces them to give MaxBounty.com a chance and realize they
aren’t stuck with the high-fee monopolies that exist right now, and I’m
certain that lower fees will equate to higher payouts to affiliates in the
long term.


Our system is very customizable. A merchant has settings to allow or
disallow email traffic, or incentive traffic, or international traffic.
With the multiple campaigns option, a merchant can approve an affiliate for
one campaign, but remove them from another, or pay different rates to
different affiliates. We can handle CPA and CPS affiliate programs, and
for per-sales affiliate programs, a merchant could either payout as a flat
rate per sale or a percentage of the sale.


New for affiliates, we’re also including Affiliate Rewards points that
unlike other networks will be not be exclusive for big affiliates. These
would be points affiliates accumulate based on their earnings, which can be
cashed in for prizes.


Our rates are a $250 set up fee, with a 20% network fee which is dropped to
15% for merchants bringing over an existing program with an affiliate
payroll of over $10,000 per month. Both these rates are being waived for
the remainder of 2005. Extra campaigns are $100 per.



We launched the site for pre-registration to merchants so that we can have
at least a short list of programs for our affiliates to partner with once we
switch to the open marketplace. We’re hoping for a least a dozen
merchants in the next week so, and plan to launch completely, making these
merchant programs available to affiliates, shortly thereafter. Affiliates
can sign up too of course, but they will see the older existing maxbounty
interface for the next week or so.