One of the steepest uphill challenges for any new CPA network or merchant looking to establish a certain volume of quality traffic is locating affiliates and publishers.
Finding the right affiliates and publishers early in the process can give the program the right foundation for future growth and become a win-win scenario for both the program and the affiliate as the program grows.
Even for existing networks or merchant programs, finding and keeping quality affiliates can be a challenge. We’ve seen incentive programs such as cash or prize rewards, along with wine and dining at industry conferences for the top affiliates.
However, recently I’ve helped a few merchant programs locate affiliates using web2.0 platforms including MyBlogLog, MySpace and blogs. While I initially questioned the type of quality that can be found in such places, the merchants are more than pleased with the new finds, and the affiliates are of high quality in terms of traffic and production.
If you don’t have a recognizable name, brand or affiliate manager in the industry, how hard is it to locate quality affiliates and publishers?
What’s the best way to keep them engaged in your program when you find them?
Will web2.0 platforms begin to help networks and merchants discover new affiliates or publishers?
[NOTE: Today is a traveling day for me, so there will be light posting.]
Interesting. Perhaps you might expand on how you used these platforms to do the recruiting? It sounds as if you simply use the “social” aspects of them to target, pre-qualify a bit and then reach out. Brilliant.
Will web2.0 platforms begin to help networks and merchants discover new affiliates or publishers?
Yes. As you know, David Delisle and I are launching a business that has a software tool at the center but also has social elements woven around it. Without getting into too many top secret details 😉 or getting promotional… in the end we are building what one could call “Web 2.0” or “social” elements into the service itself.
What’s the best way to keep them engaged in your program when you find them?
An “open source” environment (something that you like to think blog about!) is critical to keeping them engaged. If they feel that they’re part of something that THEY own and have (even partial) control over… well, that’s the secret sauce, Sam.
Sounds like Jeff is talking about what Leadpoint (www.leadpoint.com) does. LeadPoint is the ultimate iteration of Affiliate/Lead-Gen 2.0. They give the affiliates control over their form, their site, their brand and get the hell out of the way.