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If you're in a business that has several parent cos., do you ever have them bid against one another for your business? Do you talk to your competitors to see what rates they are getting?
I myself have gotten "no love" in this area, with sales increasing by more than 30% month after month I am now entering into an area which "I" would think companies take notice and do all they can to keep a super affiliate happy.
Funny think is that my parent company has come to me and brought to the table higher price structures but time and time again has failed to deliever. I have also had other related troubles which they have not even followed up with.
Bottom line for me is that this company has wanted to apprear as if they (affiliate manager) want to help me along but they have never delivered.
This started from day one when I emailed them saying "hello ... I am here.....can you help me". They replied with an email saying they were so happy and excited to recieve my email and will follow up with another email with lots of great information. This affiliate manager said she wanted to take her time....well I never got that email. Even worse she had me contact another "super affiliate" that was not my upline and had little reason to help me. She said this person would love to help me simply because he is a "great guy". LOL
I knew in my heart that this person would not help me unless $$ were to be had.
For me this is simply a let down, my business is grow at an increadible rate. I just got back from Mexico, started planing retirement with a $5000 deposit with E-Trade and have already made more money in the first two months of 2004 than I made during 2002 as a chef.
I can and will figure this affiliate stuff on my own but find it supprising when companies who have a vested intrest in seeing there affiliate do well seam to "drop the ball".
So far my gegotiations with parent companies have been terrible, however please note that they do always pay me ;-)
Chef Brian
2004
you sure :)
very few companies know how to treat affiliates well, the 1s that do end up becoming world/market leaders in their field.
No worse thing than a pxxxed off affiliate.
Shak
Not pissed off, just more suprised and disappointed I guess.
Chef Brian
I understand how you feel. There are so many programs out there that don't value affiliates. Actually, I think it has a lot to do with AMs that don't really understand the business model. I view affiliates just like an outside sales force in the brick & mortar world. They need to be nurtured, supported and rewarded for great performance, otherwise, just like employees, they will become demotivated and quit if they aren't recognised, compensated and valued for their contribution.
There are some great AMs out there. To a large degree, most of the good ones are out on the message boards keeping in touch with affiliates. Once you find a program that treats you like the above - stick to it!
Just like you, I feel truly good programs are hard to find.
One thing I might suggest is: Before you start trying to negotiate, be sure you are really doing some good numbers. Then start calling the AM and create a PERSONAL relationship before you start to negotiate. Build a rapport and get the AM on your side 1st. Many AMs don't have authority to change comm. Many just do the day to day management but the program rules and budgets are set by a VP of marketing or someone. So if you just blind side her with a request she may deny, simply because she does not have the clout to approve. If you build a relationship 1st and sell her on the benefits of how you can increase company sales she may be more willing to go up the ladder to try to help you.
Hope this makes sense and is helpful to all of you in future negotiations.
Linda
[edited by: eljefe3 at 4:27 am (utc) on May 20, 2003]
If you're in a business that has several parent cos., do you ever have them bid against one another for your business?
This can work, but sometimes one parent company will have a much better conversion rate than the other. Actual sale % is not the only important factor, look at the conversion rate as a way of increasing your pay. Additional asking politely for a raise won't hurt you once you are really at a strong level.
Do you talk to your competitors to see what rates they are getting?
Yes, if you see your competitors also as potential partners or associates (i.e. with benefit to both parties)
In both cases build good relationships.
Smiley
Sure I understand your point about starting a relationship with the AM ... infact that was my first email. My "hello, I am here, please help me" email.
As mentioned I never really recieved any email with any real ideas or help but instead recieved an email that was more based on "fluff" than substance.
Again, I am not angry, or mad... rather I would say I am rather supprised and a bit dissapointed.
I really love affiliate marketing, the freedom it gives me as well as the ability to earn much more than getting paid "by the hour" or salary.
Brian
>Before you start trying to negotiate, be sure you are really doing some good numbers.
That is #1 - show them the money. If you aren't sending super affiliate traffic/conversions, don't ask for super affiliate deals.
Building that relationship can help, and you do get good inside info out of it sometimes. However, I usually don't have time to cultivate this - I have too much other, more pressing stuff to do.
When I feel like I should be making more because of top traffic, top conversions, or I just get that feeling - I fire off an email and ask what can we do to improve the relationship. Try not to come off as, "hey, I need more $$$!" Work it, baby.
Also, when you have another merchant that offers you a better deal, tell the program you use before you leave them - they sometimes come back with a better deal than the new merchant. You can play them against each other just as you can in the bricks world when you get a better job offer.
Super affiliates are hard to come by, the smarter companies will realize they need to do whatever they can to retain them.
>I emailed them saying "hello ... I am here.....can you help me".
Affiliate managers don't usually have a lot to offer a super affiliate. If they knew enough to be able to help us, they probably wouldn't need us. What they often do have to offer, is inside industry info, and a good view of some real world data. They don't always know the value in this, or that it could help you, so you have to ask specific questions.
You said:
<<<<When I feel like I should be making more because of top traffic, top conversions, or I just get that feeling - I fire off an email and ask what can we do to improve the relationship. Try not to come off as, "hey, I need more $$$!" Work it, baby.
>>>>>>
I think you hit it on the head Drastic with the above info, while my manager did mention more money before I even said a word about that I wish I would have taken a more "diplomatic" stance instead.
My father (a great businessman) gave similar advice with trying to "improve the realationship" instead of "I need more money".
Another thing for me is that it is hard to gage just what "super affiliate numbers are". My affiliate mangager mentioned $50,000 monthly in sales. Last month I hit a new high of $47,000 and am on track to meet or beat that this motnh with 3 fewer days in the month.
I guess time will tell.
Chef Brian
My personal feeling that AM should not participate as an affiliate. This creates a conflict of interest and they will not help you. I think it's BS that this happens, but I guess that is the way it is.
It works :)
Tells your affiliate manager what you would do if they increase your commission. e.g. Write articals about their service/product, place ads on local newspaper, Use the extra money for advertising and etc..
Very good point- If you can give more than pipe dreams, your AM may be more able to get more for you. This may be money- but it may also be software, great links, a conference... Something to help you make more money for both parties
