AffiliateBeginnersGuide.com

ClickXchange revisited - review

Overview

Clickxchange (often misspelled as clicxchange) is one of the oldest CPA affiliate networks. Not that popular, due to lack of quality merchants, I dropped them a few years ago. My account is still active there, and checking from time to time, now it is possible to find some offers you can promote. This below is an initial review, more details are following after testing.

Affiliate interface

ClickXchange have something what is lacking on most of other CPA networks. That is the list of merchants on their main (home) page. What means, you do not need to be a member to check what is available for promotion. *.csv format, available for download, too.

Affiliate control panel could be somehow confusing for the first time, until you get familiar with many options. Anyway, small help in pdf format is available for download, where is described how to choose offer and get code, what is very useful for beginner.

List of approved merchants (you are promoting) could be downloaded in csv or xml format.

Default link to merchant landing page could be changed adding "&url=http://advertiser_site/chosen_landing_page" after normal affiliate link.

Choosing offers (CPA, CPS, lead, sale). There is some kind of simple statistic near every offer, like number of affiliates and volume, what shows popularity of that offer. Status is also displayed, offer available or active (accepted). Link for Email creative if that kind of promotion if allowed.
Details about offer (description, link to the landing page) you can get clicking on "overwiev"
You need to apply for every offer. When clicking on "View Ads" link, page with ads (with check boxes) for that offer is displayed. Check those boxes near ads you want to get code.

On bottom of that page is the button, when clicked, you are transferred to approval page. Some offers are auto accepting, on that step you can get affiliate links and check link and landing page. For other offers, you need to wait to be approved. How long, depends of merchant.

Tracking problems

Still under testing.

Statistic

Brief statistic (clicks/leads/sales) is displayed on the main page of affiliate interface. More details are available after clicking on those links.

Spyware problems

BIG, big fat minus here. This is maybe one of the reasons why popularity is low. ZANGO, well known adware and affiliate cookie killer (overwriting your cookie with other affiliate cookie) is on the the list of offers. So, helping spreading that adware, ClickXchange simply kills their reputation in affiliate world.

Although some of the other CPA networks have some adware toolbars on offers list, Zango is the most dangerous for affiliates. Why? Affiliate of the same merchant, using Zango to promote, is allowed to bid even on shopping chart checkout form. So, your visitor, just closing a sale and Zango pops window with an other affiliate link of the same merchant. Now, your cookie is overwritten, and your commission is stolen. If there is no affiliate cookie, commission is stolen from merchant.

AdWare attacks (possible clickxchange cookies overwrites) are not tested yet. It will be.

Expired offers

Expired links (inactive program) are leading to default banner page. That page could be customized.

Restrictions - offers

As you can see above, you need to apply for every offer, and that is all. Some offers are GeoTargeted, it is mentioned on offers list page, and that is something you can find on any other CPA affiliate network today.

Payment

As I can remember, there were no problems with payments in the past. Details about available options and minimum threshold and wil be posted soon.

SignUp guide

Nothing special. Classic conditions, link is here.

Support

Support looks better than before, there is even a forum on eWealth.com forums. It seems that AM is only one who is posting there. There is no complaints, or there is no affiliates? Anyway, AM is posting new offers there, so you can check them and decide is it worth to join or not. Link to forum is displayed on their main page.

ClickXchange could be better. Much better. First step is to kick those affiliate commission bloodsuckers (adware) and bad merchants out from there.

More details soon, after testing...