I have been running shareware download sites in one form or another for over 3 years and during that time I have become intimately familiar with many of the various shareware affiliate programs out there. Also in those 3 years I have also been able to formulate an opinion related to most of these programs and some, by no means all, of the vendors that choose to “participate” in these programs.
Out of the big 3 or 4 programs out there, RegNow, Share-It!, Plimus, and to a lesser extent eSellerate and RegSoft, only one really has a program in place to help affiliates make the most out of the program. That affiliate program is RegNow with their certification program. This program was put in place to help affiliates identify vendors that properly participate in the program by making it possible for affiliates to choose the vendors that use RegNow in a way that allows affiliates to earn commissions for their referrals.
Considering the fact that I have also used other affiliate programs like Commission Junction, Share-A-Sale and Clickbank, the question needs to be asked as to why any kind of certification program would even be necessary. With these programs...