How can you Motivate Affiliates???

[AIA]

I've found in the last 4 years that there are 3 things that keep affiliates producing.

1. MONEY: this is the primary motivation tool, but it's not enough.

2. CONVERSION: This is the second biggest tool, combine a great or above average conversion rate with high payouts and you've got a great program that affiliates will look forward to maximizing.

3. SUPPORT: Whether an affiliate is emailing you for an increase, or needs some new creative, or is just struggling, they want an answer of some kind. The best affiliate managers are excellent with customer support. Sure, you can run a good program without SUPPORT if the money and conversion are there, but it's never going to see its full potential unless you get involved in management.

Here's my personal case to back this up.

In 2003 I was doing well with a program and although I didn't have much interaction with the account manager I knew that conversion was solid and the money was ok, and payouts were timely. Within a year I had decided to jump to another program and again the conversion was great and the money was double, but the support was pretty much non-existent and turnover in the affiliate manager position was terrible.

Another year goes by (2005 now) and I'm doing well, but focusing on other ventures and not putting as much time into marketing this program anymore. Then I got an email from the new affiliate manager and he did everything he could to get me putting 100% into it again by bumping my commission up considerably and keeping me uptodate on what was going on the industry and with their new products.

Within 2 months I was earning 4 times what I had before he contacted me and we've always maintained a good relationship (I've even met him in person) and although it may seem small, he's always been concerned about my personal progression and did whatever he could to make it easier for me to be a high volume producer. Whether it was getting me my payout earlier to keep high CPC campaigns going, or driving over to their bank branch and depositing my check because there was an issue with direct deposit. This is what affiliate management is about, the amount of effort you put into helping your affiliates will greatly impact the production of the affiliates and in turn help create a successful program.

[Linda Buquet]

AIA.

Great post and great story illustrating what pro-active affiliate managers do for their affiliate "partners"!

[lauraddirectnet]

How about sign on Bonuses? I know many companies do this, but how much usually works. Is $5 or would a higher amount be better. I did see some at $5. Thoughts?

[AIA]

I honestly don't think $5 is going to really motivate someone to sign up. Maybe you should consider giving them a higher percentage for the first month, or a bonus for a certain amount of actions within the month.

[EZWealth]

What motivated me was the fact that I did not have to shell out any money to get started.

Another thing that was a motivation to me was the fact I was sick and tired of my 9-5 job. I had to find a better way and I was willing to try anything (legal) to position myself to tell the boss to "shove it" (can I say that?)

Good fortune to everyone.

EZWealth

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Laura, I agree $5 is not enough to even get consideration. Some offer $25 but even that I don't think is worth doing. To strong affiliates 25 is nothing.

You could do a sign up bonus tied to performance. That was you could promote a number that sounded pretty big without having to pay out unless the affiliate performed. I don't know your numbers so not sure that this would work, just throwing it out there.

$100 jump start bonus after you make your 3rd sale (But you'd want to say - if it's during the same month they sign up.) You wouldn't want to pay the bons if they mosied along and made their 3rd sale finally in month 6. Its a bonus to get them active. MOST affiliates would not make 3 sales their 1st month, so you would only end up paying it out to the ones that got active right away and deserve it.

Just a thought. However even 100 will not motivate the pros and get them to join a program.

[lauraddirectnet]

Great idea! I am going to try it out. Thank a lot. I think that sounds resonable enough to get people motivated. I realize that this will not do anything for some people, but it might get some other into action.