Comments on: Affiliate Networks: How To Talk So Affiliates Listen

By: ej-web-development

ej-web-development — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 10:40:58 +0000

I think a lot of AM’s are just trying to break into the game. Even those that are somewhat established and have 200-300 offers available are fighting an uphill battle for new affiliates in a crowded market.

I think that’s why these blog promos have become so popular. A good way of generating interest any breaking away from the pack. They want to reach critical mass where there are enough offers so that affiliates come easier.

If you don’t have offers that my site’s readers would be interested in, why bother? You can send me all the junk about Acai and weight loss programs but thats not what my readers want.

By: Jim Banks

Jim Banks — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:36:58 +0000

Andrew,

As an affiliate network owner I sat there going ouch on reading virtually every paragraph, as in you are so right. I think some of the networks have it right and some have it so wrong (maybe with all the top 10’s/100’s doing the rounds on twitter, sphinn etc. someone will do one of those!) The best and worst.

I guess as we sit on both sides of the fence as a network and a publisher we work on the basis of treating others as we would expect to be treated ourselves, as a publisher and as a network.

Ideally, if you have good offers and good publishers they will do a fair amount of viral promotion for you, particularly in the email space. I know if one mailer gets an offer that really works they tell all their mailer buddies and everyone gets to make bank. Less so in PPC, but there are still a bunch of people giving away a lot of revenue generating information for free.

In giving it away I figure all you hope for is for people to take the information you give them and that they run offers with you. I’ve given a lot of free information away on making money in ringtones from PPC and meet a lot of people at shows who want to pick my brains. I’m always happy to do that, what goes around comes around.

I agree with you 100% that the guys over at Convert2Media have a refreshing style and openness which can only bring good things for them. I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting them, but have made a point of hooking up for drinks at #ASW09 to see what opportunities exist for us to do things together.

That is one of the big things I like about the space, although technically these are competitors, every affiliate network has something that makes them unique and worth working with, which is why we make an effort to forge strong bonds with them all.

By: Sam Harrelson

Sam Harrelson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:26:12 +0000

Nice post and agreed on the over-zealous use of these tools by affiliate managers.

That’s why I built this resource for judging how much is too much on Twitter, Facebook, etc:

http://samharrelson.com/success/

I hope it helps your readers!
Sam

By: MLDina

MLDina — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:10:52 +0000

Thanks for mentioning us Andew Wee! We have a lot of fun with promotions like the swag bag and the Cashinator. It’s great to be able to provide some outside-the-box services and promotions. Glad you’re enjoying it as much as we are!

By: Jeremy Weintraub

Jeremy Weintraub — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:04:02 +0000

I think this is a great and a real important post. Affiliates are a crucial part in the equation and they are 100% my “customer.”
I think it’s really important to ask and not tell, like you mentioned. Not every publisher wants Acai offers, or even cares about caps.
Some of my most successful affiliates are niche guys or almost exclusively go after a single vertical. If I bombarded them with other offers I’d be an idiot.
I think the ideal scenario is where an affiliate and an AM can each use their mutual perspectives and expertise to find a winning offer. At that point it becomes a true partnership and that’s what I strive for with my affiliates.
Anyway, great post and thanks for bringing up this important topic.