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

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.

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com and http://www.small-business-software.net

---

5 Magical Steps For Creating A Profitably Potent Affiliate Program!

There are a few reasons why your affiliate program isn't... Read More

How To Really Make Money With Datafeed Merchants

I am not going to describe what a product feed... Read More

Three Easy Ways to Become a Super Affiliate and Earn Cash Quickly

If you want extra cash every month, you have to... Read More

Generate More Sales in ANY Affiliate Program ? Part Three

Thinking Outside the square is where we last left off.... Read More

5 Essential Tools of the Successful Affiliate Marketer

In the time I have been running my internet home... Read More

5 Strategies to Boost Your Affiliate Sales

Are you promoting affiliate products?This article will show you 5... Read More

Affiliate Marketing Nightmare - Dont Let This Happen To You!

Everyone knows that affiliates can make or break a company's... Read More

Mining For Gold With The Best Affiliate Programs And Hitting Pay Dirt

Colin McDougall tinkered around with affiliate programs earning a few... Read More

Affiliate Alternative; Google Adsense

The Rise and Fall of Affiliate ProgramsAffiliate programs were once... Read More

Webmaster Plans To Increase Affiliate Earnings

Affiliate programs are a great way to earn an income... Read More

Generate More Sales in ANY Affiliate Program ? Part Two

Incentive Marketing, Incentive Marketing, Incentive Marketing?It doesn't matter that there... Read More

Understanding Affiliate Programs

Years ago before the internet was born, starting your own... Read More

Affiliate Marketing is a Brilliant Way to Begin On-line Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is a brilliant way to begin earning on... Read More

How to Run A Successful Affiliate Program

There are many people who log onto the internet everyday... Read More

8 Reasons Why Affiliate Marketing is the Better Option

Many people are confused when they first become iterested in... Read More

BEST SERVED HOT: A Simple Recipe For Success With Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs have become very popular because of their potential... Read More

Internet Affiliate Business: 5 Ways to Grow It Organically

Growing your internet home business organically means there are similarities... Read More

5 Affiliate Marketing Mistakes To Avoid

Many people with the best intentions fail at affiliate marketing... Read More

Super Affiliate Strategies To Boost Your Click Through Rates

If you are an affiliate I don't need to tell... Read More

Affiliate Marketing Secrets that You Can Use

Affiliate marketing is a very hot topic on the web... Read More

You Have to Spend Money to Earn Money

It surprises me that many people fail to grasp this... Read More

Affiliate Business : Ten Checklists for Your Success

While it can be quite easy to start an online... Read More

Affiliate Revenue For Beginners

Affiliate programs can be a very powerful source of income... Read More

Why Super Affiliates Succeed

Ever wonder why the super affiliates are raking it in... Read More

9 Ways to Catapult Your Affiliate Marketing Career

Affiliate marketing involves the promotion of a website by a... Read More

5 Ways to Start And Promote Your Affiliate Program

"What's the Buzz About?""I made $5,000 in one week""I quit... Read More

Affiliate Web Site Pros, Cons and Getting Traffic

With the web these days growing at a substantial rate,... Read More

Selling Merchandise On Your Website

If you take away poker, dating, and naked ladies, custom... Read More

How To Evaluate An Affiliate Program

Ok so you think you have found a good affiliate... Read More

6 Things to Increase Your Affiliate Income

So you've signed up for affiliate programs, posted links around... Read More

Capitalizing On The Autosurfing Craze

You've heard about it in recent months, and its popularity... Read More

Make Sure Affiliate Programs Pay for every Sale

When joining affiliate programs there are many decisions you have... Read More

Build A High Profit Business With Affiliate Programs

QUESTION: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs,... Read More