For an online business selling pretty much anything, adding an affiliate program is the highest leverage you can get.
More than any other means of promoting your products and services, affiliate programs rule the roost.
For all Multiple Stream Media products and services, we apply the ‘Affiliate Sharing Model’, and it has been very successful.
Here are a few things you can do to energize your affiliates and make more money for them.
1. Give them everything they need to succeed.
Provide your affiliates with all promotional materials that they can use to promote your products. Banners, email text ads, short classified ads, prouct reviews, blog posts, HTML ad copies and most importantly teach them how to promote their affiliate program.
2. Update your Promotional materials often.
Surprisingly, many online programs still carry banners and ads that are two or three years old.
There is no hard and fast rule as to how often you must update your promotional creatives, but when affiliate referrals drop, then it’s time to give them fresh creatives to promote.
Just recently, we updated the creatives for one of our services, and saw a huge spike in affiliate referrals. Take a look.
3. Pay them on time.
You’ll be surprised how many well known companies do not pay their affiliates on time. Some of them don’t even pay up until affiliates ask for it.
If you value your affiliates time and hard work they put in, then you must take special interest in paying them on time. It’s also good for business.
4. Send Them Regular Updates.
Even if you run a one man show, you should put on your ‘Affiliate Manager’s’ cap, and focus on helping your affiliates. Send them atleast one update a month. Ask for feedback and ways to improve your products.
Start acting on the four main things above, and you’ll have plenty of loyal and thrilled affiliates bringing you more exposure and sale for your business.
I am open to any suggestions that you are currently using to build and manage your affiliate base.
Have a great day!
Abe Cherian
