When it comes down to a planning a successful affiliate marketing campaign, the effort that needs to go into the ‘packaging’ is just as important as the customer facing strategy.
Really good affiliates – ones that can move traffic and sell items with alacrity – are few and far between, and they are not well disposed to wasting their valuable website real estate on products, or services that don’t, to put in crudely, shift.
So companies who march in with the attitude that the affiliate network should love this because it’s our product and it’s guaranteed to sell, will get a rude awakening.
Affiliates like large numbers. They like volume products that will sell at a great price. And the lower the unit price, the greater volume of sales will be needed. So unless you have one, or the other, think really long and hard as to the merits of an affiliate campaign for your particular product, or service.
You’ll also get affiliates to take a product on of course, but unless they are in the top echelon of performers, don’t expect startling sales figures.
In other words, don’t spend all your time worrying about the consumer, but forget, that to entice an affiliate, you need an equally convincing message. And that has to be a detailed sales strategy, and performance perimeters. They also have to be believable of course.
Not all products are right for the affiliate networks, so do your research first and ensure that the package you’re offering, is one that will not only work for you, but also work with your affiliate partners.