Posts Tagged ‘affiliate marketing’

Affiliates put their efforts out there, and usually their money too, before anything is returned to them. This makes them very selective and diligent to scout out a good offer. Here are some of the features that are important to affiliates:

• Great sales copy and professional website
• Affiliate marketing tools: banners, links, sample landing pages
• Good Payouts and Reliable payments
• Some merchants offer data feeds with product pictures, descriptions and availability
• Attractive offers
• Good relationships with the merchant or affiliate manager
• Articles, videos or other “viral” marketing material

Technorati Tags: affiliate marketing, affiliate programs, affiliates

Established networks can provide merchants with peace of mind and speed of implementation (speed to market).  Sales tracking, payout software and economies of scale savings make an existing network the first choice for many merchants. Also, an existing affiliate virtual sales force can be very compelling.

Here is a more detailed look at the top reasons an affiliate network can be attractive to a merchant:

• Affiliate management staff:  this staff knows the ins and outs of setting up and running a successful campaign. These professionals can help you avoid difficulties and can become key to growing your sales success.  Often, affiliate managers can help you with your offer and with getting affiliates interested.
• Software for tracking sales and commissions. Complete with link tracking and detailed reporting information. Payouts and paperwork filing (such as 1099s) are also handled by the networks.
• Networks have existing affiliates.  Affiliates are available and motivated to helping make sales. Also, affiliate payouts are only made when a sale is made, a very low-risk sales model to the merchant.
• Many networks help with credit card and transaction processing, thereby eliminating the need for the merchant to attain a merchant account.  ClickBank is an example of a network providing this service.

Technorati Tags: affiliate management, affiliate marketing, affiliate networks, affiliate program management, Affiliate Program Services