10 Tips for managing affiliate marketing

Discover the answers to 10 questions most common affiliate marketing management

1. It 's affiliate marketing right for my company?

Affiliate marketing is one of the most powerful and effective to acquire new customers, regardless of the product or service. Affiliate marketing exposes your business to new customers and you can get from your marketing routine. Also, when you start an affiliate marketing campaign, you are in control. You can determine the rate of commission payable and pay only when your affiliates make a sale. This operation is not lost for you, because you only pay when the sale is made.

2. What are the startup costs?

When you start an affiliate program you have the ability to manage operations on their own or having it managed by an affiliate network. The costs for both choices are reasonable and generally start around a few hundred dollars. Furthermore, as a company do not forget that many of your costs may be tax deductible. To start an affiliate marketing program in house, the costs include:

Affiliated management software

Affiliate marketing support including a website that answers affiliate questions and a means for them to contact you if problems occur.

Affiliate marketing materials including banners, copy, coupons and promotional content.

Affiliate marketing contractual agreement

Monitoring software to track cookies, click throughs, payments, etc. ..

If you choose to hire an affiliate network to manage the program typically pay a flat fee or a percentage of what they pay each month.

3. How long will it take from my workday / workweek?

Many experts agree that it will take about an hour and a half every day to manage your affiliate program. Also you should budget more time in the early months of the program, about two or three hours a day. Even the most efficient affiliate managers spend about 45 minutes per day managing their affiliate program.

Professional affiliate managers generally spend an average of 40-80 hours per month dedicated to the management, monitoring and promoting your affiliate program.

4. Should I use an affiliate network?

Do you have an extra 3 hours a day for the next two or three months? You have an hour a day to devote to managing the program after the initial three-month program is complete? An affiliate network, while it may be a bit 'more expensive from the outset, can help you focus your time to other activities that generate profit. In addition, an affiliate network can help expose the affiliate program to a wide range of experience affiliates, which means more money in your bottom line and greater overall exposure.

That said, there are a huge number of effective in-house solutions including some you probably already very familiar with such 1shoppingcart.com and affiliatepro.com. These programs will help you stay 100% control of your affiliate program and are effective in managing your program.

5. How should I pay affiliates? What type of commission works best?

This is a very important decision because it is not just about profits, the rate of commission right will help recruit top-notch affiliates. The general rule is to set the commission rate of default at a rate that can afford to pay, leaving room for deals Commission has limited the increase in time, promotions, and private donations. For example, if you can afford to pay 50% of the gross profit margin, pay 25% instead and tier so that after a sales target is reached they earn 30% or you can hit up to 50% during holidays or during typically low sales times.

6. How do I recruit affiliates?

Your customers can be your best affiliates. After all, they already appreciate and enjoy your products or services. A simple link on your website is a good starting point. Here are some ways to find quality affiliates:

Online forums. These are great places to meet and greet and connect with like-minded people. They are also a good resource for members who are interested, motivated and qualified to sell your products and services. Using a forum, you can announce your affiliate program. Be careful not to 'sell' on the forum as most forums look down and this could kick off. In addition, you can include a link to your affiliate site in your signature.

Find websites that link to your competitors and approach them to be an affiliate for you. Similarly, you can find affiliates using your favorite search engine and contact them to join the program.

The last way is to be part of an affiliate network or become listed in a membership directory. This will ensure that affiliate marketers who are looking for new products and services to promote. However, keep in mind that many beginners marketing also search for products and services to promote via affiliate directories, and you may lose interest and motivation before making a sale. This is not a strong deterrent, why not get paid unless they make a sale, but it should be noted.

7. What is the best way to communicate with my affiliates?

Email is the general tool of choice, which makes an auto responder a fantastic tool for basic e-mail like e-mail address of welcome, promotions, coupons, introducing sending links and banner ads, and answering questions frequent. Furthermore, it is generally advisable to have an email address, fax number, and telephone number available for when affiliates have questions that are not answered by your frequently asked questions web page or when you simply want to talk with you.

8. How do I motivate affiliates?

Money motivates no doubt about it. That being said, affiliates are also motivated by the feeling that they are important to you. This means that when they ask you for your time, you give. In addition, promotions, bonuses, prizes, contests, and increases in fees are all tools to motivate and inspire affiliates. Constant communication, like sending a weekly or monthly Ezine, will also help remind your affiliates that you're out there and invested in their success.

9. I need to hire an affiliate manager?

The answer to this question really depends on your needs. How big is your company? Do not have time to manage the program? You have the ability to manage the program? An affiliate manager is the person that:

Recruits affiliates

Communicate with affiliates

Develops, tracks, and reports on promotions

Develops programs to enhance affiliate program

Motivate affiliates

Tracks sales and pays affiliates

Check out the competition

These are all very important functions and if you have time to manage on their own, great! If you do not, then consider hiring an affiliate manager.

10. How do I find / hire an affiliate manager?

Outsourcing an affiliate manager is fairly easy to do. There are hundreds available with a quick search online. You can ask associates, inquire at online forums, or post an ad looking for someone to fill the position. Depending on the complexity of the affiliate program, you might consider a virtual assistant well qualified for the job. The skills your affiliate manager will need are:

Organizational skills

Communication skills

The attention to detail

Knowledge of online business, internet marketing, and operations of e-commerce base

Basic html and graphic experience are a plus

Because you're going to be represented, please make sure they are personable.