Merchant Switch?

What would it take for you to switch?

[SimplyMarketing]

Hello,

Out of curiosity how loyal is the average AM. I mean for us it is a business right? Think with your head etc.

What would a new merchant have to offer you to switch to their AM program?

I find myself in this position and I am thinking aloud so I appreciate all of your thoughts.

SM

[jcoronella]

Doesn't take much for me. More $$$ per action assuming the same conversion rate. Happens a lot.

[conroy]

Nice topic. Most are loyal to the program that pays the most money. If a new one comes along and looks good it should be checked out.

Some balancing is required, however. For example, if you get a check 3 days after the end of the month from one company, and from another company you get 10% more but have to wait 45 days for your payment, I might choose the former. (Depending on the size of the payment I am receiving of course...)

There are a lot of factors to staying with a program. In general, most affiliates will pick the program that pays the most every time. If they find another company that pays more, I doubt many will be hesitant to change.

There are some ways for managers to keep affiliates around:

1. On time payments.
2. Highly competitive payouts.
3. Building a personal relationship with the affiliate - providing special tracking URLs, customizing the landing pages, extra bonuses etc.

It can be tough to keep affiliates around if you are in one of the markets where there are dozens of good affiliate programs. Affiliates can be quick to switch.

[wellzy]

As an AM I am more loyal to Merchants that have a good conversion rate and decent commission. I made the mistake once once of switching over to a new merchant based soley on commission. Conversions were horrible and I was gettings hundreds of clickthoughs daily. I left it like that for a week. I thought maybe they had some serious lagtime posting sales. Nope. Switched back and picked up where I left off.

I've always wondered how merchants with similar (if not identical) products could have drastically different conversion rates. Makes me wonder.

wellzy

[jcoronella]

switching over to a new merchant based soley on commission

Important point. Definitely need to test the new source.

It also saves time by just asking your existing affiliate manager to match the second offer. They will likely match it.

[EasyClickTravel]

I think it is also important to consider whether the price of the products are competitive between the two programs. It doesn't help much if we give 2% more but our prices are 10% higher.

[sean]

It doesn't help much if we give 2% more but our prices are 10% higher.

Sounds like a win/win if you can maintain the same conversion rate. :-)

[Essex_boy]

For me it would have to drastically higher earnings i.e greater conversion.

One thing that makes me windy is late payment, its the nly reason im here.

[Rosalind]

It doesn't take much to set up a few test pages to try out a new merchant, so I'd say most will jump ship pretty quickly. Certainly all the successful ones. The various payout thresholds might keep some of the lesser-earning affiliates on board at least until they make enough money for a payout though.