Should a site run it's own affiliate program to get inbound links?

[HunterW]

I've recently signed an ecommerce client who runs their affiliate program through Commission Junction.  If they were to bring their program in-house and eventually get all those affiliate links pointed to their domain, would those links be counted?

[melody-anne]

Affiliate programs are designed to get traffic and sales, not improve search engine ranking. The affiliate generally redirects the link through their own domain with a meta refresh, pretty links or some other method to cloak and protect their affiliate information to ensure they get credit for the referral.

[ChristopherGlaeser]

Yes, if they bring the affiliate program in house, some links may be counted.  If you use a third-party affiliate app, some of them support SEO (perhaps for an additional cost).  Also, keep in mind, the affiliates choice of banners ads vs text ads may affect link juice as well, assuming you decide to make text ads available.

Best,
Christopher

[RikkiD22]

The short answer is yes, it could have an SEO benefit but I would think carefully about the impact on the affiliate campaign.

The major advantage of being on a major affiliate network is the access to thousands of affiliates, some very large ones. If you took this is house you would need to put a lot of resources into recruiting new affiliates and even then you might not find the quality of affiliate you would get on a major network.

If you took it in house there is of course the tracking, admin and payment side of the affiliate setup to consider, implement and apply resource too as well.

If you (or your client) is serious about the affiliate campaign then I doubt you would improve it by taking it in house.

[ChristopherGlaeser]

Agreed.  If your client has an account with Commission Junction, then they likely have a product or service with good volume.  The DIY affiliate programs are good for new or smaller sites that don't have the volume for a service like Commission Junction.

Best,
Christopher