Effective Use of Promo Codes in Affiliate Marketing

One of the most exciting things about being in the affiliate marketing industry is the way it constantly changes. Affiliates are always exploring new methods to promote offers and advertisers are constantly looking for ways in which to help increase conversions. One of the most recent developments in the industry has been the increased use of promotion codes. Advertisers have begun providing affiliates with codes for use in their marketing efforts that they can pass on to the consumer. The code, when submitted, applies a discount in some form, usually lowering the shipping cost or taking a percentage off the product price. This adds value to the offer and ultimately increases conversion rates. Below we will go through implementing promo codes on your landing page and how to effectively take advantage of their added value.

   One of the simplest ways to use a promo code on your landing page is to list it along with a link to the offer. While this does the job of making the customer aware that there is a code they can use on one of the following pages they visit, it does very little in maximizing the potential of the code. As an alternative to just listing the code, consider making the promo a selling point in your landing page copy. Let the customer know that you came across this promo code and you wanted to go out of your way to tell them that it will save them some money if they use it. A small paragraph with the code and a few key pieces of information can make a huge difference in how an offer performs.

   The first thing you will want to do is give details as to what the customer is getting by using the promo code. Typically it is a discount on the shipping cost or a percentage off the price of the product. If you are not completely sure of the details, put the code in yourself and see what it does or ask your affiliate manager. By letting the customer know what to expect when using the code, they are more likely to actually use it and go through with the purchase when they see that the code did what was promised.

   Giving instructions on how and where to use the code is also very important. If a customer is confused on how to properly use a code or where they should input it, it could cause them to not completely fill out the offer. Because each order process is slightly different from one another, familiarize yourself with the order forms of each offer you are promoting and give some explanation in your landing-page copy on what the customer can expect to see. For example, some products may have a place to put a promo code in on the first page, while on others it is the second page where that information is required. In either case, giving an explanation to the customer of how to properly use a promo code can greatly increase their effectiveness.

   To conclude, the new influx of promotion codes for offers can help boost conversion rates if used in an effective manner. When adding them to your site, put yourself in the consumer’s mindset and walk them through how the code benefits them and how to properly use it. If you are not already using your own site to pre-sell the offer you are promoting, and the advertiser now has a promo code for it, now may be the time to consider building out your own site!