Outsource Affiliate Management?

[kevkos]

Hi!

I'm just about to implement a new shopping cart (X-cart) on my website (www.triswimcoach.com), and it comes with a really cool multi-tiered affiliate program.

Now, I'd like to start adding affiliates and getting them selling my products, but I don't want to manage any of this, nor do I want to spend my days sending out emails to recruit affiliates. So I have 2 questions:

1) What would be the best type of person to manage (answer any affiliate questions, make sure affiliates are getting paid on time, etc.) my affiliate program? A VA, a marketing-type, or someone else? I have a VA who does my customer service, and she's fantastic but I pay her $20/hour...don't think I can afford to give her more hours to do this too.

2) Does it make sense to find someone else to recruit affiliates for me, or should I hire an all-in-one type who can both recruit the affiliates and manage the program?

Thanks in advance!

Kevin

[storm33229]

Hi!

I'm just about to implement a new shopping cart (X-cart) on my website (www.triswimcoach.com), and it comes with a really cool multi-tiered affiliate program.

Now, I'd like to start adding affiliates and getting them selling my products, but I don't want to manage any of this, nor do I want to spend my days sending out emails to recruit affiliates. So I have 2 questions:

1) What would be the best type of person to manage (answer any affiliate questions, make sure affiliates are getting paid on time, etc.) my affiliate program? A VA, a marketing-type, or someone else? I have a VA who does my customer service, and she's fantastic but I pay her $20/hour...don't think I can afford to give her more hours to do this too.

2) Does it make sense to find someone else to recruit affiliates for me, or should I hire an all-in-one type who can both recruit the affiliates and manage the program?

Thanks in advance!

Kevin
I'd say do them separate and do them with VA's. Teams of VA's.

[dking]

Why not hire a VA to modify the software to do it all for you?

Break it down into simple tasks, then outsource each one to a different VA..

[shanerbock]

Most true affiliate software does all the
hard part for you. I'm not sure about the
one you are getting... but you may be
better off to use something like
http://www.idevdirect.com/
and have someone install it for you.
Its really easy after that.

Then, you'd just be looking at paying someone
a very little amount of money considering the
amount of time spent would be minimal... and
probably most of it used just to recruit affiliates.

Either way, also look at a company called
Agents of Value (http://agentsofvalue.com)...
Their prices are good because they are based
in the Philippines and the value for work like
this is very good.

Make it a great day!
shane