Lots of Affiliates, Now What?

Merchant needs tips to get the affiliate sales rolling.

[pdivi]

I recently signed my widgets site with one of the well-known affiliate networks. I created a lucrative compensation scheme given our site's conversion rate, average sale, and competitor offers. Response has been great in our first week on the network -- lots of new affiliates, many of them very active in our niche.

Can you offer tips to get our new affiliates producing sales?
Here's what I've done so far:
1. loaded a series of professionally designed banners and buttons
2. loaded a data feed of our products

Also on my to-do list: contact each affiliate personally to discuss the company / answer questions.

Any other tips to help get things rolling?

[jimbeetle]

It's hard to judge anything by the first week as affiliates who signed up are still getting to know the program, though you should be aware that probably only 10% percent or so might become good performers. Your personal contact initiative just might boost that up a couple of points. I'd suggest visiting the sites first so you are in position to make some suggestions as to how your affs can tie your program in. And prioritize your contacts, use your site visits to try to identify the cream and concentrate on those affs first.

Banners and buttons are neat, but only effective in certain situations. Can affiliates use text links? Can they link directly to specific products? Be sure your program is as flexible as possible to cater to the different voices, audiences and approaches that your affiliates will take. You want to encourage this as much as possible.

[eljefe3]

Find sites that are already ranking high for your products. Convince ( or pay them more) that your program is better than what they are currently promoting now.

[pdivi]

Great suggestions. jimbeetle, quick question on one of your comments.

Can affiliates use text links? Can they link directly to specific products?

There is nothing in my program that prohibits affiliates from text links / product links. Any ideas on how I can encourage text & product links, aside from providing a product feed?

[jimbeetle]

Just wanted to be sure that you had those as an option. One of the most looked merchant benefits of an affiliate program is the "different voices, audiences and approaches" of individual affiliates. Flexibility is important.

As to encouraging them, the good ones will know how to incorporate your program to suit the way they work. If you suss out any newcomers to affiliate marketing you might suggest writing articles and reviews in place of just slapping up some banners.

<added>Oh, and be sure to take eljefe3's advice -- these are the folks you want. Try to be especially flexible with them.</added>

[MyNewPC]

You could offer a bonus to any affiliate producing a sale in the first xx days. I've seen several merchants do that.

Offer at least 30 return days and unlimited credit during that period of time; i.e., if the same customer buys more than once during the return day period, the affiliate should be credited for each sale.

[DirvanMolando]

eljefe3,
you wrote :
"Find sites that are already ranking high for your products."
where can he and I find this information?

Thank you very much.

[eljefe3]

Search for whatever product you are selling in the search engines. Many of the top ranked sites will probably be affiliates.

[DirvanMolando]

Thank you.