When you're starting an affiliate programme the first thing you might do is hunt around for some free affiliate software or tracking system to "get you started".

Well just stop and think for a minute.

1.  Do you want lousy affiliates who don't seem to care if you went out and didn't bother to invest in a proper affiliate tracking system? Well that's what you'll get. All the clever super affiliates who rely on accurate reporting, bulletproof parasite free tracking, and special override bonus schemes will not even bother with you when they see you've got a lemon under the hood.
2. Assuming you actually start making some great affiliate sales with whoever is still hanging around after you got the free affiliate tracking software, you now are ready to make the big move and spend $99 or $199 or maybe even $1999 on a better package. There's one little problem - you'll most likely need to tell all your affiliates of the new link they must now use, and the new login panel etc. Bam - you just lost a good chunk of your affiliate base who can't be bothered or never got your email.

Spend a little more time and money to research your options, compare affiliate software products, and get a solution that you'll want to stick with .. and one that your affiliates will be happy with.

--- (Edited on 4/17/2007 7:56 pm [GMT-0500] by Peter) ---