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Energizing affiliates can be a challenge
for software developers. In order to help your
affiliates be successful, a MicroISV must engage
and challenge them. The following are a few suggestions
to help motivate your affiliates...
1. Communicate
Establish an affiliate communication channel.
Make every effort to communicate with affiliates
on a regular basis. Keep them informed of new
releases, specials, and other deals or promotions
that include your product line.
2. Coupons
Provide exclusive discounts, and coupon codes
with expiration dates, for affiliates who might
be interested in running a promotional offer.
Discounts will not only energize customers, but
will often inspire affiliates to work harder on
your behalf. Remember: the lifetime value of a
customer is generally worth far more than a single
sale. Work with affiliates to design and provide
promotional plans that benefit both of you.
3. Incentives
Volume incentives can be a motivation for affiliates.
Publishers will often hold contests and provide
financial rewards to the affiliates who generate
the most sales during a specific time period.
Affiliates welcome the opportunity to compete
with other affiliates, especially when a prize
or bonus is involved. 4. Promo Materials Provide
affiliates with tested promotional materials that
are known to be effective in generating sales.
Affiliates are not guinea pigs, so provide them
proven copy and web graphics. 5. Make It Easy
Provide affiliates with links that lead customers
directly to the software application of interest.
The provided affiliate links should land on product
specific landing pages. This will increase sales
conversions for both publishers and affiliates.
6. Strong Landing Pages
Landing pages should close the deal. Affiliates
can generate the traffic and drive it to you,
but you still need to close the deal by providing
a strong landing page.
7. Cookie Duration
Do not accidently undercut your affiliates.
If you are using a cookie-based affiliate tracking
system, make sure you have a generous cookie duration
set so the affiliates are properly credited for
referrals... even if the sale does not come thru
right away.
8. Reporting
Provide real-time reporting so the affiliates
can monitor how their efforts are impacting their
revenues. At a minimum, statistical reporting
should show the number of click-throughs an affiliate
has generated, the revenue earned, and the percentage
of referrals that have resulted in sales.
9. Clear Terms
Define the affiliate terms and conditions in
clear language. Be sure to explain how and where
affiliates can advertise. For example, if you
do not want an affiliate bidding on trademarked
terms for PPC campaigns, make sure that the affiliate
terms explicitly state that.
A motivated affiliate can drive sales. Work with
affiliates to maximize their potential.
oneNetworkDirect
oneNetworkDirect contains over 70,000 affiliates
from around the globe.
http://www.onenetworkdirect.com
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