Affiliate Communication

Communication is Key!

When building an affiliate network communicating with
affiliates is important for merchants to maintain a good
relationship. An affiliate`s web site targets visitors, who
may not necessarily view a merchant`s web site, and therefore
expands a merchants market. An affiliate may not be able to
actively keep up with the merchants product, it is important
for a merchant to keep affiliate`s informed about new product
information, sales, new releases, links, graphics, promotions
and special offers.

Keep in mind, not all affiliates are going to produce a high
volume of traffic, and importantly, visitors who want to
purchase a merchant`s products or services. The occasional gem
makes the time taken well worth your effort. Talk with
successful affiliates, find out what they are doing to
effectively promote your software, and use that information to
assist those affiliates who are not as successful.

Assist affiliates in understanding your product; no one knows
your products like you do. For affiliates to drive traffic
that will convert to sales, they need to understand the
benefits of the product they are marketing. Once an affiliate
knows the product, they will be better able to act as an
extended sales force. In order for the affiliate to make the
effort, you simply must support them!

Make Communication Easy

Many 3rd party affiliate-tracking programs notify both the
affiliate and merchant of a sale. This can often be automated
and will create positive communication between merchants and
affiliates. Making an affiliate`s role easier will help them
increase earnings and further promote a merchants site.

Provide affiliates with great looking graphics and sample text.
Graphics that work best are those that highlight your web
site, yet fit the look of an affiliate`s web site.

Newsletters are another great way to get information to
affiliates. Include tips and specific for affiliates, along
with general marketing advice that helps with site promotion.
If you are looking for software to manage newsletters, I
highly recommend Group Mail -. http://tinyurl.com/23ljy (http:/
/tinyurl.com/23ljy)

Affiliate Taboos

An affiliate generates a sale for a product and the merchant
promptly decreases the commission. This sends a very negative
message to the affiliate, in many cases they`ve taken a lot of
time to place links, promote products and because they`ve
driven effective traffic their commission is decreased. If its
necessary to decrease a commission for whatever reason, be
sure to include a personal note detailing the reason and
letting the affiliate know that you still support their
efforts.

A Cheat?

An affiliate sale occurs, you go to their website and don`t
find any links you decide they must be cheating you! This
conclusion is simply a based on poor communication and
reporting. Many, many affiliates have multiple sites, very few
affiliate tracking programs allow affiliates to list multiple
sites, and in many cases the number of sites listed do not
accurately reflect the number of sites owned and managed by
the affiliate. Additionally many affiliates manage opt-in
newsletters that may result in sales, but links are not
visible on a website. An example of a popular ezine often
promoting affiliates is Lockergnome!

Links, Links, Links

Keep your links valid! If you update a section of the site or
remove an offer provide a redirect or retain the link saying
that such and such offer has expired and a new one has
replaced it. It seems a waste to discard targeted traffic
because a special has expired. Be sure to communicate with
your affiliates, and if a link will only be good for a
specified length of time tell them up front. When an offer
expires notify affiliates a week prior to the expiration with
a reminder. This will give them ample time to make any needed
updates.

Added Incentives!

Affiliates love added bonuses for reaching goals or specified
levels of sales. Many of the 3rd party affiliate vendors run
contests and provide large incentives for their top performing
ones. Reward and praise successful affiliates.

Affiliates tend to be experts in other areas, which relate to a
merchants business; therefore, by communicating useful
information, and helping affiliates increase their earnings,
they will give added exposure and increase your sales.
Communicating with affiliates will ultimately benefit visitors
of both sites. A little effort in the beginning can mean big
rewards in the long run.

Written by Gian Luigi Ruggeri © 2001 - All rights reserved
To find other tips, advices, as well as articles, tools and
resources to help your net marketing activity
MARKETERS ONLY, The Netmarketers Help Centre
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