10 Tips to Make the Most of Your Affiliate

Management Day

Karen McMahon, The Affiliate WhispererKim Salvino, Chateau 20Amy Ely, Under Armour

Agenda• Introduction• Section #1: Mastering The Fundamentals

o Must-do daily activities to keep your program running strong and prevent future challenges

• Section #2: Embracing Time Management o Ideas to prevent burn out and stay ahead of your to-do

list

• Section #3: Ensure Long Term Successo Make time for relationship building and forward thinking

• Final Thoughts

Section #1: Mastering The Fundamentals

Tip #1: Verify The Basics

• Real time site & cart testing – identify issues quickly!o Visit the site via direct URL type ino Check on multiple browsers – IE, Chrome, Firefoxo Does homepage load properly?o Add an item to the cart

Section #1: Mastering The Fundamentals

Tip #2: Review Stats Twice a

Day • Check to make sure your known performers are

seeing steady clicks/sales• Make note of new sales or sudden surges

o Anomalies can indicate brand bidding, unethical activity, OR successful tactics from growing partners

o Use tools to help (Brand Verity, The Search Monitor, etc.)

Section #1: Mastering The Fundamentals

Tip #3: Stay Informed

• Know what’s going on in the industry o Forums, blogs, podcasts, social media and publications

• Affiliate Summit, ABestWeb, PMA, etc.o Hot topics that can make a big business impact

• Internet tax• Google algorithm updates• 1st party cookies and mobile tracking• First click, last click and multi-attribution models

Section #1: Mastering The Fundamentals

Section #2: Embracing Time

Management

Tip #4: Schedule Time Wisely • Block off times of the day for application

approvals, responding to questions, planning• Lost focus = lost productivity• Set priorities! Don’t let your inbox dictate your

day

Section #2: Embracing Time Management

Tip #5: Keep Yourself

Organized• Create and prioritize an ongoing task list• Develop a calendar of promotions and deadlines• Maintain these important tracking documents:

o Creative requests and link testingo Vanity coupon codes and exclusive dealso A checklist to verify all banner/text is loaded in relevant

affiliate networks for each campaign

Section #2: Embracing Time Management

Tip #6: Time Saving Resources• Manage affiliate relationships more efficiently

o Maintain detailed recordso Keep notes of ongoing conversations and successes

• Identify new and existing resource opportunitieso Does your network offer support services?o Does your company have call center resources that can

assist with operational activities? o Paid/unpaid/course credit interns – check with your

company’s Legal/HR to see what options exist

Section #2: Embracing Time Management

Tip #7: Evaluate Your Routine• Review your daily activities – which ones are

helping achieve your goals?o What are 2-3 key things that directly influence your

success? Are you prioritizing them?

• Analyze performance – should you request less creative, less often?

• Evaluate performance and growth of affiliates where you’re giving extra attention – should you shift focus?

Section #2: Embracing Time Management

Section #3: Ensure Long Term Success

Tip #8: Build in Recruitment

Time• Use one day per week to create and maintain a

master recruitment listo Check engines for top performing keyword searcheso Check sites linking to your competitorso Check analytics for new sites linking in

• Each day, reach out to 5 new potential partners and follow up with 5 that have yet to respondo Document your efforts & keep your list updated

Section #3: Ensure Long Term Success

Tip #9: Make Time For

Affiliates!• Set Goals• Dedicate part of the day for affiliate calls• Take time to review affiliate sites• Schedule one day a week for affiliate meetings• Make time to deliver on your promises

Section #3: Ensure Long Term Success

Tip #10: Take Time to

Strategize• Run key reports

o Commission detail reportso Publisher performance reports

• Look at trends• Decide on new offers to release to affiliates• Consider timing of promotions

Section #3: Ensure Long Term Success

Final Thoughts…Rome Wasn’t Built In A

Day

Final Thoughts

It takes time! Master the basics and refine your process

regularly

Contact Us

Find Us On TwitterKaren McMahon @Aff_Whisperer

Kim Salvino @kim_salvinoAmy Ely @aely