an additional expense--an expense they "didn't expect." One merchant (with whom I was negotiating while discussing the possibility of taking on the management of his affili- ate program) even called this commission increase idea "hidden charges." That was the last time we talked. Be forewarned, you may need to open the merchant's eyes to the fact that any marketing is always an investment, not just an expense article on their balance sheet. Be ready to show the advantages of running a flexible, performance-rewarding affiliate program, one that respects its affiliates and knows how to show it. Bonus Weeks Besides offering performance bonuses to affiliates who reach particular goals within one month, one quarter, or one year, remember to run bonus weeks. They work well, but the conditions of bonus weeks have to look extremely attractive. Affiliates must be motivated enough to set everything else aside and start putting up the links to your program and your coupons or start setting up PPC campaigns, leading traffic to you. If you can afford to give away $100 for $499.99+ in weekly sales, this would be a very nice incentive. If you can't, see whether you can afford to live with a $50 bonus for $399.99+ in weekly sales or $100 bonus for $699.99+ in sales or something similar. Talk to the merchant, and try to make the bonus as attractive for the "end user" (your affiliate) as possible, yet do not undercut the merchant's profit so much that it turns the affiliate program into an unprofitable venture. 380 M O T I O N I D E A S