Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Affiliate Marketing Management

Affiliate marketing management done effectively will monitor communication, commissions, emails, reporting, and contact information as well as maintaining records. Companies who offer affiliate programs can purchase software to manage their own campaigns or can hire a marketing company who specializes in this type of Internet advertising. Some of the top considerations for affiliate marketing management include product and commission structures, creative display ads, tracking variables, bonus programs, fraud protection, reporting, automatic communications, and managing records. Managing affiliations are important for several reasons. A merchant offering an affiliation with another company will want to make sure that who they do business with is a legitimate business owner and someone they want to be in partnership with. Also, to have a successful alliance both parties need to be in communication frequently and the merchant offering the program should deal honestly with his or her associates by making sure they are paid what is due them in a timely manner. 

The concept of partnering with other websites is a popular one with many companies online; mainly because both companies can benefit by doing so. Becoming an affiliate partner is a type of advertising where both companies benefit either from the advertising or by receiving a commission. Some commissions are paid per click and others are not paid unless a sale takes place. Affiliate marketing management allows the tracking of commissions to be possible and is usually necessary when the company paying the commissions has quite a few partners. In addition, some merchants set up an affiliation with partners that offers a multi-tier commission program. This allows the affiliate to make referrals and from those referrals receive a commission from their clicks or sales. 

Compensation for affiliates is usually based upon cost per click, cost per lead, or cost per sale. Some companies that partner with others online have a simple commission structure based upon one concept while others offer commission that is compensated based upon several criteria. Affiliate marketing management helps a company to keep track of the product and commission structure so partners get paid on time. When a visitor is on the partner site and clicks on the banner or link and goes to the other partner's site a commission might be earned if the visitor registers or makes a purchase. Some companies pay a flat fee just if the visitor clicks onto their site from their partner's site. The commission may come into play for certain products or the sale of any product as the partner receives a percentage of the sale. In addition, some partners pay a commission based upon leads. Leads can be realized if the visitor registers on their site and gives the needed information to become a contact. 

One thing that could be considered very important when it comes to affiliate marketingmanagement is the display ads used on partner sites and how attractive they are. The company who wants to advertise on another's website through a display ad will need to think about what information is needed in the ad to get attention. Most display ads have text, company name and logo, images, and any promotional information that is offered on products and services. Display ads should be changed up frequently especially if they are not producing satisfactory results. Software programs can be used to create attractive ads or companies that offer this service will be able to provide the client with various choices. 

Tracking variables will usually include keeping track of each partner, how much commission is due, what new ones have signed up, and what reports can be used to accomplish affiliate marketing management. Tracking helps to expedite communications between partners. The partner offering the program will have the tracking reports necessary to help to answer any complaints or questions from partners. Reports can be set to filter based upon partner name, date, and more. Some software is set up so that a partner can go on the site and access his or her account and see what commissions are due and when they will be paid. 

Fraud protection helps to stop those who use fake clicks and programs that simulate visitor activity in order to obtain unearned commissions. Affiliate marketing management helps to catch those who are not legitimate partners. Fraud protection is offered by advertising companies that offer services for affiliate programs and software can be purchased to help catch fraudulent activity. "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17). In addition, a merchant might want to do some research by using his or her own reports of partners and see if there is anything that stands out such as an account that does not look legitimate.

Communication between partners is important and should be ongoing starting with an automatic response email that welcomes the new affiliates. Autoresponders in the form of an email is automatically generated at different times. An acceptance letter lets the partner know that the merchant welcomes them and gives him or her instructions on how to proceed. Affiliate marketing management that is effective should include frequent communication between partners. The partner should be able to access his or her account on the merchant's site who is offering the affiliation and subsequent emails can provide additional instructions to manage the account. In addition, the merchant offering the affiliation should make an effort to contact the partner by phone and address. This will help the merchant to see that the partner is a legitimate business owner.