Asking for Advice Getting Off the Ground

[KPKP]

I signed up with SAS about a month ago with what I thought was a pretty lucrative program. Our site is a consumer site where neighbors rate and review businesses. The businesses subscribe for upgrades to their free listing or to be in a featured ad. I have a 10% recurring commission on subscriptions, 180 day cookies, and it's 2-tier. I have the auto deposit set up and created a bunch of text and banner ads.

But so far I only have about 25 affiliates signed up and most are not very relevant to our site.

Any advice on how to get some traction with great affiliates? Thanks!

[Linda Buquet]

Hi KPKP,

It can take some time to get a new program off the ground.

I believe SAS has a featured program option, that could get you in front of more affiliates.

You can do a new program announcement here and at a few other affiliate forums you just need to read the rules.

Feel free to place a free ad for your program in our forum in this section:
Affiliate Program Announcements
Just please be sure to read and follow the rules for that forum before posting.

The best way to get exposure with our affiliates is to jump into discussions, not talk about your program at all, just be helpful and knowledgeable and people will see your sig and click to check out your program.

[KPKP]

Thank you for the advice and encouragement Linda. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

[Joseph Ratliff]

Originally Posted by KPKP

I have the auto deposit set up and created a bunch of text and banner ads.

But so far I only have about 25 affiliates signed up and most are not very relevant to our site.

Sounds about right for "created a bunch of text and banner ads."

You have to set up some targeted promotion strategies like 25 - 100 well-written articles, PPC (careful, be sure you know what you're doing), but before you do any of that...you need to form a more formalized marketing plan overall with targets and goals for how many affiliates you will "sign up" and how you will find the ones relevant to your site.

In other words, organize your business promotion activities first.

Hope that gets you started.

[KPKP]

Thank you Joseph. Great advice. Hmmmmmm... you seem like a great potential affiliate partner...

But seriously, I have been targeting blogs and sites that are a good fit for promoting our service and sending them personal email pitches. Most of them don't have a phone number to call so do you have any advice on how to get their attention?

[Joseph Ratliff]

Originally Posted by KPKP

Most of them don't have a phone number to call so do you have any advice on how to get their attention?

Honestly, you need to set up a system where potential partners would contact you...and stop trying to get their attention. Perhaps a landing page, some PPC ads, etc... designed to put them on a list if they're interested.

WHOIS search didn't produce a phone number? Hmmmm.....

Are they worth trying to "court" as a partner if they don't even list a simple phone number then? Something to think about...

[KPKP]

That's just way too logical...

You're awesome. Thanks for your help.