Are you already familiar with affiliate marketing? And you are not sure what 2019 will bring for your affiliate program? Here are 4 specific tips to look at your affiliate program just a little differently. But how to start affiliate marketing ?
Wait, am we also an affiliate
Affiliation means no more or less than entering into a partnership, one way or the other. Think a bit wider than connecting content websites and placing a banner. Do you sell a superfood? Work together with a gym chain, also online! Close smart partnerships and become an affiliate for related parties yourself. In addition, look for influencers such as artists, writers and ‘local heroes’ who have no trouble with a little commercial and also want to be your ‘brand ambassador’ online.
Be fast and current
It is a new fashion term, but no less true: agile. Be flexible, agile, adjust strategy to what is currently happening in practice and vice versa. Unfortunately, we often see that an affiliate is forgotten when a company takes action and that is in our eyes a missed opportunity.
Be quick: not suitable for the longtail, but if something happens that directly affects your company, be quick. Call your largest partner and put a good joint message online today. Affiliate marketing is traditionally a slow tool, so being faster with your biggest partners than your competitor can deliver a lot.
Be current: if there are attacks in Paris, it might be a good idea to replace that promotion for a romantic weekend in Paris with ‘Inspiring Stockholm’. This also applies to positive current affairs of course. Please note that you do not move out of place with social hypes, some companies that used ‘Je Suis Charlie’ in their message have been ruthlessly punished by the public.
Stay connected internally: if your company decides that order value is the most important KPI, why do you continue to focus on the numbers of your partners? Move with the focus of your company. That brings us to tip 3.
What do we actually want with my affiliate program?
We understand that you want more sales at fewer costs. But other sub-goals can sometimes help you a lot further:
- Interaction with your brand which partnerships contribute to my brand and objectives and thus ensure conversion?
- Building your own e-mail database, very up-to-date with current privacy issues
- Pushing residual stocks and more difficult categories with partners
- Increasing order values, cross and upselling with partners
This immediately gives you room to be more open-minded with your affiliate program. Think about micro conversions and be creative. And of course, keep measuring!
Technology for the taking
Use technology that has been around for a long time, but is hardly ever used in affiliate. Be brave and think of:
- real-time data feeding
- native ads
- video advertising with performance (retargeting) elements
- programmatic display instead of manual bannering
- in-app/mobile adapted advertising
Having trouble making agreements on a performance basis and are you immediately offered CPM rates? Suggest a real pilot period in which you test whether it is a profitable situation for all parties. Everyone is looking for new partnerships and many parties are willing to invest in a test period. If necessary, involve your network, what do they offer and where can they help to connect parties?.