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Newsletter Macros are Not the Enemy

February 18, 2011 by ShareASale Author 3 Comments

At first glance, the macro instructions on the newsletter page may seem rather daunting. But upon a second look, you may realize just how easy these macros are to use and what a world of difference they can make for your affiliates.
What are macros? Simply put it’s a way to personalize your communication. When a macro is used in a newsletter or reply email, it will generate the receiver’s personal information in place of the macro you typed. So you can do things like address your affiliate by first name, list what their monthly commission earnings are with your program, and even provide them with creatives that are already embedded with their own affiliate tracking links. All you need to do is embed your HTML or plain text communication with the macro options listed on the Newsletter Tool page HERE. You will type the entire macro – starting and ending with the two !! and, where necessary, replace the XXXX with the ID number of the creative you are referencing.One thing to remember, some macros generate HTML code. So if you are using the macros to display product, banner, or deal code, the actual link or banner will display. Whereas if you are sending macros in a plain text newsletter the actual affiliate tracking code for that product, banner, or deal will display.Below is an example of what an HTML newsletter would look like using the macros. Remember, since this is an HTML example, the banner, product link, and deal link would be working affiliate tracking links. Your affiliates could view the HTML code and just copy and paste from the newsletter. If you would like to provide affiliates with the actual HTML code of their affiliate link which could be copied and pasted directly from your email, you would send the macros in plain text.

MACRO EXAMPLEIF YOU TYPE……

Hi !!FIRSTNAME!! !!LASTNAME!!,

Congratulations – !!ORGANIZATION!! (UserID !!USERID!!) has generated !!TOTALCOMMISSIONS!! in total commissions off of !!TOTALHITS!! total hits.

MyMerchantWebsite.com has created new coupons, exciting banners, and added new products for 2011.

Great Banners for June:

!!BANNERID1234!!
!!BANNERID4567!!

New Deals for June:

Deal Description: !!DEAL3122DESC!!
Deal Code: !!DEALID3122CODE!!
Valid: !!DEALID3122START!! – !!DEALID3122END!!
Deal Link: !!DEALID3122LINK!!

Top Selling Products for Summer:

– !!PRODUCTID5454LINK!! for !!PRODUCTID5454PRICE!!
– !!PRODUCTID2121LINK!! for !!PRODUCTID2121PRICE!!
– !!PRODUCTID1414LINK!! for !!PRODUCTID1414PRICE!!

Our records indicate your primary email is !!EMAIL!!. If this is incorrect, please email us at myemail@mywebsite.com.

Many Thanks,
My Name
MyEmail@MyEmail.com


YOUR AFFILIATE WILL SEE……

Hi Bob Smith,

Congratulations – Bob’s Fishing Blog (UserID 443311) has generated $44,565 in total commissions off of 100,024 total hits.

MyMerchantWebsite.com has created new coupons, exciting banners, and added new products for 2011.

Great Banners for June:

New Deals for June:

Deal Description: Clearance Sale
Deal Code: SALECLEAR
Valid: 03/23/2010 – 10/29/2011
Deal Link: Clearance Sale

Top Selling Products for Summer:

– Fly Bass Kit for $39.99
– Super Sleek Reel for $159.99
– Special Lure Kit for $56.21

Our records indicate your primary email is bob@bobsfishing.com. If this is incorrect, please email us at myemail@mywebsite.com.

Many Thanks,
My Name
MyEmail@MyEmail.com

Filed Under: Merchants Tagged With: client services, merchant focus, merchant timesavers, merchants

ShareASale Author

ShareASale Author

Comments

  1. Frankie Elmquist says

    July 29, 2016 at 3:18 am

    Hi Sarah,
    Great article! Do you have any articles on best practices for incorporating affiliate marketing into newsletters?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. ShareASale Blog » Blog Archive » Presenting Your Best Self - Part 4 says:
    November 22, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    […] For more information on how macros work, click HERE […]

    Reply
  2. ShareASale Blog » Blog Archive » Presenting Your Best Self - Part 6 says:
    January 31, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    […] Include items that affiliates can put right to use. “Actionable” as in useable. Utilize macros to include the affiliate’s specific tracking code for tools and to personalize your […]

    Reply

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