Rockstar Affiliate: Harvard Homemaker

1.  What is your elevator pitch – briefly stated, who is HarvardHomemaker?

“Harvard Homemaker” is a Harvard graduate and stay-at-home mom to four girls who blogs about ways to make life easier, happier, and more fun. 

2.  How long has HarvardHomemaker been in business?

I have been blogging for just over three years. My site went live in October of 2012.
 

3.  What inspired the launch of the site?

I discovered Pinterest shortly after having my fourth daughter, and I loved all the ideas I came across. And then I thought, “Hey, I have ideas, too!” The title of my blog – Harvard Homemaker – is my way of embracing the fact that I graduated from Harvard and became a homemaker. I have questioned that choice at various points in my life, but I am more confident than ever in the path I’ve chosen now.

4.  In what way does HarvardHomemaker utilize Affiliate Marketing?

I write first and work in affiliate marketing second. I believe I have more success that way because my readers know that my recommendations are sincere – and I’m not just trying to sell them something. I point my readers to sites and products with the best of intentions EVERY SINGLE TIME.

5.  What makes HarvardHomemaker unique from competitor websites – specifically in what is provided to the brand through the Affiliate Partnership?

I am very selective about what I promote and what brands I will work with because my readers’ trust is imperative to me… so if I have a partnership with your company, know that it’s because I believe in it. And I will send readers your way with positivity and enthusiasm! I don’t just throw up a post to add new content to my site. My work is articulate, relatable, thorough, and useful. You will be hard-pressed to find a blogger who cares as much as I do about the quality of her content.

6.  What are the key determining factors when looking for new Affiliate Programs to join – what do you look for in a Merchant partner?

First and foremost, I have to love your site and your products. If I wouldn’t want to shop there myself, I’m certainly not going to encourage my readers to do so. Of course, the commission rate and the cookie length always factor in, too. I also appreciate when merchants are looking out for those who truly direct customers their way – and take measures to make sure we are the ones who get the commission we deserve rather than a “last click” coupon site.

7.  What is the best way that a Merchant can help support their partnership with you? i.e., do you rely on regular newsletters, fresh banners, updated product links, etc.?

I love to use banners to promote my favorite sites. Banners that are beautiful/well-designed and automatically refresh with changing seasons and deals are the best!! They save me so much time and keep my site looking current. I appreciate being informed of special sales as well – especially those with links and code right inside the email that I can just copy and paste. I also often point readers directly to a specific product – being able to create a custom link is very important to me.

8.  Fill in the blank: “I love it when Merchants ___________.”

I love it when merchants make me feel appreciated. I enjoy receiving personal emails and forming relationships with those who run the affiliate programs. I also appreciate when merchants offer products or discounts to me directly so I can see first-hand how great their company is! I have also been given a personalized higher commission rate at times – this is huge in making an affiliate feel important! It benefits both sides because it makes me want to promote your company more – and it leads to more traffic, and ultimately sales, for you, the merchant.

9.  Fill in the blank:  “I don’t love it as much when Merchants ____________.”

I hate it when merchants move their affiliate program to a new company. This creates such a mess for us who may have tons of links and banners all over our website that now need updating. As a hands-on mom with four kids who runs her website by herself, I don’t have the time to fix things like that – it’s hard enough to find the time to post new content! So typically, the partnership I had with that merchant just fizzles. You have to REALLY think it’s worth your while to move your program – that is no small deal to an affiliate. And to be 100% honest, there is no better company to work with than ShareASale anyhow – so just stick with them! :)  As an affiliate, I LOVE their user-friendly interface, their trustworthy real-time links, their reporting system, the companies in their database, how easy it is to create custom links, all of it. I try to work with ShareASale almost exclusively because it just makes my life so much easier. 

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