Whats the thing most overlooked when running an affiliate prog?
 

id say its support, that and proper staffing...

thoughts?

Exactly! When i had AdultLounge, my priority was to make sure affiliates got # 1 support and members got # 1 support! Even had LIVE CHAT for customer service in members area....its the most important i think also!

bizump for day ppl

I would guess that not responding to emails (and other forms of contact if they are offered) is probably the #2 reason (#1 being poor income) why many sponsors lose affiliates. Since some affiliates "test" sponsors by sending an email before signup, they lose signups too.

But the almost universal shortcoming is lack of affiliate development and if I ran an affiliate program, it is on that I would spend the bulk of the resources I apply to affiliate marketing and support.

We have sponsors putting time and effort into "whales" via special payouts, parties, etc. Most of that is unnecessary because once someone has found a sponsor who earns him serious money, he isn't likely - on a whim - to stop doing business with them, nor is there much chance he will increase his business just because he gets a few free drinks. At the other end of the scale is the huge effort to attract new(bie) affiliates, which these days has to be producing ever diminishing returns.

In the middle are thousands of more-or-less experienced webmasters who have demonstrated at least some ability to generate sales: and they are basically ignored. Yet the odds of spotting tomorrow's whales in this group are much better than that the shotgun approach will pull in (and keep) the right newbies: especially because you can help make it happen.

Get hold of someone who has been with you a short while and is doing a little business and find out something about him. If you think the guy has a spark, arrange for some tutorials, give him some better tools to work with, whatever you think he needs. This would not only build his and your income, but also set you apart from all the sponsors who point affiliates at banners and galleries, but otherwise leave them to it.

It will also buy more loyalty than any number of prizes, promos and parties and if the cost per affiliate is greater, so what? You are directly targeting people who have already proven their ability to produce for you, so give them the right help and they will earn the cost back in a couple of months. These are also the very people you least want to lose to other programs, so surely it makes sense to offer them something that most other programs don't.

quality sites

agree with you:thumbsup

Thanks, but seriously, every time I see this board skinned at a price reputed to be around $25K - I wonder if sponsors ever stop to think before spending their money.

If something like this is successful, it pulls in a bunch of signups, but most of them will never produce anything. And unless the sites generate significantly better-than-average sales for those who do give them a shot, most of them will drift away in response to other promotions and in a few months the sponsor is back where he started.

Put the same investment directly into affiliates who are already producing for you and unless your judgement is off or you give them the wrong help, every cent will come right back. Not only that, but over time you are going to get more and more affiliates who will be jumping to recommend your program. It has to make more sense...

ya, i think that kinda money could be spent better, but then again, ppl love to flock to something that seems solid.

not responding to emails

i hate that shit

I have 3 sponsors right now that I have emailed and I am just waiting for responses from...going on 2 weeks now