Affiliate Program Success Or Failure Starts Here
There are thousands of Programs, each one vying for the support and loyalty of Affiliates. If at any time an Affiliate is unhappy with your Program they will quite simply walk away, welcomed with open arms by your competitors.
Remember, Affiliate Marketing is about performance. If your Affiliates are successful then so are you.
Take delight in issuing your Affiliate checks. Every cent, dollar or pound earned by your Affiliate represents a profit generated for you.
Measure the success of your Program in direct proportion to the earnings of your Affiliate Partners.
If you plan and operate your Program with the philosophy that Affiliate Marketing is a great way to get free or cheap advertising then I’m afraid ultimately…you will fail.
Operate your Program in a manner that provides a fair partnership for your Affiliates. Rewarding a generous income in proportion to effort will result in a powerful, active network of happy and loyal Affiliates.
There is a myth to dispel before you start planning your Program.
“Recruit a Sales-Force of Hundreds of Thousands of Affiliates Selling your Product”, scream the headlines of some of the Affiliate tracking software sites.
Over a period of time and with persistent Marketing efforts yes you will.
However, the raw numbers are not important.
Be aware that the vast majority of your Affiliates will not be active. They may join and not post your links or they may not have the levels of traffic to make any noticeable impact on your sales.
Often quoted is the ’80:20’ rule:
80 percent of sales are generated by the top 20 percent of Affiliates.
You will find that it’s the quality affiliates in the right demographic that produce. How do you know? Look at their keywords in the source code, check the affiliate’s Alexa ranking, and review the sites’ eye appeal.
One very important step is an affiliate directory submission, there are over 100 of these and each has their own submission rules and qualifications. Thousands of affiliates visit these each day to review current programs and confirm the validity of programs they are considering. Submitting to the directories is essential to your success and fundamental to keeping a competitive advantage.
Useful Tips –
The long-term success of your Affiliate Program will depend on the on-going support and loyalty of key partners.
If you create a Program that is profitable for Affiliates then it follows that you too shall profit.
Your Program’s success should be measured by the success of your Affiliates; ultimately it is the same thing.
Planning your Program’s strategy with this in mind will set the foundation of success for your Program.
At times when planning your Program you will need to make decisions that seem at odds with your needs. Wondering if your Affiliates will ‘really notice’ or if it ‘really makes a difference’?
Take a step back and put yourself in their shoes.
It really does help to remind yourself of your overall objectives and provide a balanced decision.
Recommended Websites –
Alexa Ranking – http://www.alexa.com
Link Popularity – http://www.linkpopularity.com
Affiliate Directory Submission – http://www.Affiliate-Announce.com
