How to earn true love from your affiliates… By The IMC Team | Posted February 16th, 2009
Affiliate marketing is a VERY successful strategy for many online businesses — but if you don’t put in the effort to ensure your affiliates feel motivated to promote your products, you might just be wasting your time!
So how do you motivate them?
Well, it’s actually pretty simple! Give them the tools and information they need to share you with their visitors and subscribers, and then make sure they know you appreciate their time and effort.
Unfortunately, many folks who start affiliate programs think their job ends when they sign up a group of marketers… when really, they’re just getting started! It doesn’t take a lot of effort to provide your affiliates with great resources, but if you skip this “prep step”, you’ll find that no one will be too excited to spread the word.
So if you’ve got an affiliate program, or you’re thinking about starting one — OR you’re looking to assess how good an affiliate program is BEFORE you join it — here’s a quick list of the Top Seven Things Your Affiliates WISH You’d Give Them…
- Fair commissions: We put it first because it’s SO important — if you’re not giving your affiliates a significant portion of the business they refer to you, it’s simply not worth their while to promote you to their list and their visitors. After all — the credibility of their recommendation is on the line! We recommend you offer 20% to 50% commission on every sale. It might seem like a lot, but you wouldn’t have had that sale otherwise… OR any of the revenue you’ll generate when that customer buys again, straight from you!
- Salescopy: What’s so special about your product? Why can’t your customer do without it? You have the answers to these questions — so make sure your affiliates do, too! Give them plenty of benefit-rich copy to get your message across effectively to guarantee better conversions — which will make both you AND your affiliate happy!
- Graphics and photos: What good is it to have your product promoted on another website if the ad or image doesn’t do it justice? Provide quality images and graphics for your affiliates so they can put YOUR best foot forward! That includes any banner or sidebar ads you provide, or photos for reviews. The best way to provide both copy AND graphics is to set up an Affiliate Resource Center on your website where affiliates can sign in to get everything they need.
- Special deals or offers: Do your customers rush to take advantage of special offers and sales? Well, so will your affiliates! If you’re offering discounts or deals of any kind, make sure to let them know so they can use that angle to promote your products. Make sure to think up a few special deals for JUST your affiliates to offer, too!
- Product updates: If you change any of your products in any way, let your affiliates know right away. It could create serious hassles for them if they’re misrepresenting what you offer (in terms of product features, pricing, etc.)
- Timely payments: The BEST way to make your affiliates feel loved? Pay them commissions on time! Many people who run affiliate programs find this to be the biggest argument for using an affiliate management program or system — the payments are automatic and reliable. But f you can’t remember to pay people… don’t expect them to remember to talk about your product!
- Timely response: The second best way to make your affiliates feel loved is to provide great customer service. If they’re having trouble with some element of your program, make sure to follow up right away and get things sorted out. Not only will you ensure that your affiliates stay active, but you’ll also avoid the potential flip side of great affiliate marketing — a bad public review of your program!
We’d love to hear about your experiences with affiliate programs, and any tips or suggestions you’ve got on running a great affiliate program.
Give us a shout in the comments!
Comments (12 Comment)
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This is very true! I’ve joined many affiliate programs where the product has been superb but the tools and information you have been provided with to promote it has been apalling!
Precisely the details all of us is in research of. Should certainly interrupt my expenses soon.
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