How big of a role can Affiliate Mktg play in a new site's success?

Can a new subscription site survive only with Aff Mktg?

[lovehealthsuccess]

Just from a "total number of new leads generated" perspective....if we assume a FIRST CLASS Affiliate program, a TERRIFICLY built company web site, a VERY HIGH CONVERSION RATE for all leads coming into the company's landing page via the Affiliates, and above all a service marketed by the company that once subscribed to by a lead (i.e. once the lead converts to a paid subscription) would have a VERY HIGH retention rate....

How long would it take...given that Affilates have to learn about the existence of this "new company", they have to ramp up their lead generation efforts, they have to see evidence of "first class Affiliate Management" execution by the company before REALLY kicking the lead generation effort into high gear, etc....

...how long would it take to generate 2,000 leads exclusively through a brand new Affiliate program that until day 1...no one knew existed?

(And assume that the company's subscription was targeted specifically at small business owners who employ at least two 18-24 year old employees.)

[eljefe3]

It would depend on how well you could promote the program and how fast you could contact your taget affiliates. If you are entering an existing lead market, then there are already AM's out there who are generating leads for your compeitors. It's up to you and your program to get them to switch over.

[lovehealthsuccess]

Agreed.

Starting as an unknown....how would you go about rapidly "getting known" among the Affiliate community who's specific niche is small business owner software?

[ska_demon]

Rapidly "getting known"

This could be a little tricky. Affiliates are wary secretive trolls that live under bridges wearing nothing but underpants ;oP

What I am saying is:

Who knows who the affiliates are? Sure some of us hang out here at WebmasterWorld but the good ones are very hard to find and even harder to convince to join your program. If you are an unknown how do we know you are trustworthy? How do we know that you will pay on time, every time? I think you may do well to join a network initially. You will "get to know" lots of affiliates in a short period of time. Probably most will do nothing or very little for you but you may find one or two very good affs that will make your program a success.

Ska

[ChrisSanderson]

Can a new subscription site survive only with Aff Mktg?

I believe not. And not just a subscription site, the market is now too crowded with well managed affililiate programs for a new site to be able to get success from pure affiliates.

Dragging affiliates away from what they "know works" to what "you tell them will work" is very tough. Especially in Q4.

Even with well managed program a merchant still needs to have other marketing around to enforce the brand and support affiliates. The exception being very niche products with few or no competitors.

Cheers

Chris