Yesterday David discussed his 5 best indicators to decide if a Merchant is ready to start an Affiliate Program. Assuming all five indicators fit you to a tee, you are now at the point where you have decided to start your own Affiliate Program – yea you!
I have listed out some tips that will help you secure a seamless launch for your new program!
1. Research and ask questions.
This is an important aspect, especially if you are just starting out and are new to this whole world of Affiliate Marketing. Explore your competitors – we all have one! What are they offering in terms of payouts? Do they have an “Affiliate Page” listed on their web site? If so, what type of information are they including? What kind of creatives do they available?
Forums are another useful resource, and may bring up questions you might not have thought to ask about originally.
If you have already settled on the network of your choice, make sure you have all the facts before moving forward. That is what your point of contact is there for – to provide you with as much information as possible.
Meeting others in this realm of marketing can be helpful, as it is important to build and establish relationships… and not just with your Affiliates. Affiliate Summit Meetups take place monthly in various US cities as well as Canada. Each month there is a different speaker sharing information about their experience in the industry or discussing areas of online marketing. They are free to attend and welcome everyone from newbies to veterans on both sides of the industry, both Merchants and Affiliates.
- Set goals… but be realistic.
- Think about what type(s) of Affiliates you want to work with, i.e. who you feel may add more value and contribute to the success of your program.
- Refer to your budget, and determine how you would be able to reward Affiliates – default rate, bonuses, etc.
Affiliate Marketing can be a little intimidating, especially if this is your first venture through this type of marketing channel. Following these quick tips will help you gain an abundance of information to launch your program like a pro!
Illah Oyakhiome says
August 1, 2013 at 4:49 pmi am just starrting out in affiliate marketing. i need a memtor. pls can you help me.
I know i need a website but i dont have money to design one. what can i do.
Thank you.