Your company has developed an Affiliate Program, Great! Web site owners are signing up to join, downloading banner and text links, and pointing traffic to your Web site.

Now it's time to head to the beach or play a round of golf, Right?
Not exactly...

Now that you have created a small army of affiliates, How are you going to keep them motivated to keep promoting your business? How do you make sure they don't jump to another competitor? Or drop your links? Remember for the same reason you want to keep your Top Sales People is the same reason you want to keep your Top Affiliate Programs!

Factors of Strong Affiliate Relationships  
* Use email to inform them of new services, promotions, or contest
* Use email to showcase affiliates that are succeeding 
* Use Direct Mail as a way to connect with them
* Offer affiliates a Special Discount for their own purchases (1-2 times a year)
* Advise them with Internet Marketing tips and solutions
* Response to emailed questions within 48 hours

Why Affiliates Lose Interest
* New Website Owners believe the money as easy
* Sites may require 100, 1000 or 5000 click-thrus to earn $3, $5 or $10 
* Owners don't realize that earning money takes work
* Another program may offer them a better opportunity to make money
* Lack of feedback or response to inquires 

Note: Affiliates that have success are more likely to be pro-active in promoting your name and will think of you first when they want to do business. In a way, you are pushing out the competition before the customer realizes they need your products or services.

Plan for Your Affiliate Program Success
* Plan out an email schedule, send out 1 or 2 times a month
* Plan a direct mail piece to affiliates, if you can get the mailing information
* Plan seasonal promotions that tie into your business
* Create banners and text links to support season promotions
* Spend time searching for affiliate prospects, then invite them to join
* Offer a bonus to New affiliates if they send "x" amount of traffic or sales to you

Develop an affiliate relationship plan for at least the first 6 months of your program. Adjust your plan as needed going forward based on the success of your endeavors.  

One of the biggest problems is getting affiliates started. They sign up one day and then don't come back for days, weeks, or months. Encourage them to get started and place links on their site, by offering a first sale or click thru bonus. The longer they delay in setting up their links, the greater the odds are that they found another site to do business with. 

Questions: Feel Free To Email Us At business@giftideacenter.com