How to ACTIVEate Affiliates

[Linda Buquet]

I've blogged several times about how negative some affiliate activation strategies can be. See for example Booting Inactive Affiliates? Affiliate Activation Campaigns Gone Bad. Instead of threatening affiliates with cancellation for non-performance, how about some positive motivation and relationship building? You never know if some of those inactive affiliates are super affiliates that are just getting ready to shift some time over to build a killer site for your program.

Before you push that de-activation button, try a great strategy that Mike Payne, the zZounds affiliate manager has been using very successfully. When I saw Mike's excellent activation letter I asked if I could share it with all of you. Mike replied: "I'm glad you liked that activation email - boy does it work well. It really opens people up to the program again and helps me to develop new relationships."

zZounds is one of our oldest and most popular 5 Star affiliate programs. Below is Mike's activation email which is an awesome example of how to build partnerships with affiliates and empower them for success.

zZounds Affiliate Activation Email

I wanted to chat with you about your zZounds affiliate account and your plans for your websites' growth in 2006. In the last two months, we have not received any traffic from your site - but I'm confident that we're just a phone call away from developing a great income stream for your site.

I would like to offer you a free consultation on how to effectively monetize your web site with zZounds content. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, I'm confident that I can help you make the most of the zZounds affiliate program.

To request a free consultation, simply reply to this email and provide your affiliate ID, your email address, and a working U.S. telephone number. If you're outside the U.S. or would rather set up an email or instant messenger consultation, I'm happy to accommodate you as well.

I remain excited about partnering with you and your site network, and I'm eager to talk with you and plan out a very successful 2006. Talk to you soon!

Mike Payne - zZounds Affiliate Manager

What? An affiliate manager offering affiliates a "FREE consultation" to help them build their business? No threats, no warnings, but an offer for a FREE consultation? Study the tone of this letter. Put yourself in the affiliate's shoes and think about how it would feel to get this email instead of the standard "due to your non-performance we are cancelling your account" email.

This is what I call Affiliate Marketing done right!
Thanks again for sharing this Mike!

Anyone else care to share their activation emails and/or ideas???

[LonnyFX]

Excellent approach, affiliates just like any customer would be much more interested in what you have to offer if you'll show your interest in him from your side - let him feel that his site is an important part of your marketing strategy, and guess what - it usually IS!

I try to stay in touch with our affiliates as much as I can; I have a few co-workers that are constantly trying to optimize our campaigns on their site. Mike from zZound surely knows what he's doing. I'm sure that such approach can easily increase your CTR, not to mention sales and credibility in the affiliate industry.

[LeadFlashRoxx]

My approach with affiliates is the same as Mike's. I believe it should be a team effort in generating success. After all, success for an affiliate is success for the affiliate manager and the network. Not being available just doesn't make sense. I certainly don't have all the answers but I'll make every effort to figure them out. I also think affiliate marketing should be as much fun as it is challenging and what's more fun than building and growing a thriving business.

Much Success,

[beglobal]

Originally Posted by Linda Buquet

I've blogged several times about how negative some affiliate activation strategies can be. See for example Booting Inactive Affiliates? Affiliate Activation Campaigns Gone Bad. Instead of threatening affiliates with cancellation for non-performance, how about some positive motivation and relationship building? You never know if some of those inactive affiliates are super affiliates that are just getting ready to shift some time over to build a killer site for your program.

Before you push that de-activation button, try a great strategy that Mike Payne, the zZounds affiliate manager has been using very successfully. When I saw Mike's excellent activation letter I asked if I could share it with all of you. Mike replied: "I'm glad you liked that activation email - boy does it work well. It really opens people up to the program again and helps me to develop new relationships."

zZounds is one of our oldest and most popular 5 Star affiliate programs. Below is Mike's activation email which is an awesome example of how to build partnerships with affiliates and empower them for success.

zZounds Affiliate Activation Email

I wanted to chat with you about your zZounds affiliate account and your plans for your websites' growth in 2006. In the last two months, we have not received any traffic from your site - but I'm confident that we're just a phone call away from developing a great income stream for your site.

I would like to offer you a free consultation on how to effectively monetize your web site with zZounds content. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, I'm confident that I can help you make the most of the zZounds affiliate program.

To request a free consultation, simply reply to this email and provide your affiliate ID, your email address, and a working U.S. telephone number. If you're outside the U.S. or would rather set up an email or instant messenger consultation, I'm happy to accommodate you as well.

I remain excited about partnering with you and your site network, and I'm eager to talk with you and plan out a very successful 2006. Talk to you soon!

Mike Payne - zZounds Affiliate Manager

What? An affiliate manager offering affiliates a "FREE consultation" to help them build their business? No threats, no warnings, but an offer for a FREE consultation? Study the tone of this letter. Put yourself in the affiliate's shoes and think about how it would feel to get this email instead of the standard "due to your non-performance we are cancelling your account" email.

This is what I call Affiliate Marketing done right!
Thanks again for sharing this Mike!

Anyone else care to share their activation emails and/or ideas???

Interesting information!!! Thanks!!!