The PowerPoints from Affiliate Summit have been uploaded to the official AffiliateSummit site.
However, the PowerPoint for the “What SUPER Affiliates Want” discussion panel consists of only 3 pages, so I'm posting our presentation notes here on the NPT blog. You may find them somewhat cryptic, but I'm sure you'll get the idea. 🙂
Recruitment
Agreements
- All necessary info upfront
- No hidden restrictions
- No exclusivity clauses
- Advance notification of changes
- Parasite-free
- Reasonable eligibility requirements – Avoid geographic exclusions
PPC & Trademark Bidding
- PPC bidding permitted
- Suggested keyword lists
- Don't compete with affiliates
- Trademark bidding permitted or terms negotiated
Merchant Site
- Professional appearance
- Functional – no broken links
- REAL testimonials
- Excellent customer service
- No traffic leakage
Affiliate Program
Payment Schemes & Commissions
- Choices – PPC, fixed amount, %, lead
- Negotiable
- Two-Tier Programs
- Commissions – fair, high (higher than competition)
- Lifetime, recurring
- Bonuses and incentives (rate increases for volume)
- Long-lasting Cookies
- Return Days – Provide info on chargebacks
Statistics Reporting & Tracking
- Real-time reporting
- Sales Notifications
- Conversion ratios
- SID tracking
- Product-level reporting
- Downloadable data, or API
Payouts
- Low minimums
- more frequent
- Payment Options – check, PayPal, wire transfer, direct deposit
- On-time every time!
Creative
- Good selection of text, banner, HTML, javascript, dynamic, video
- Exclusive
- Fresh and updated regularly
- Easy access to creative
- Allow deep-linking
- TEST for accuracy
- Datafeeds – choice of full or partial, appropriate category breakdowns, dynamic
Relationship Maintenance & Enhancement
Communication
- Dedicated account reps
- Availabilty by phone, email, IM (according to affiliate preference)
- Also consider discussion forums, attending conferences
- Rapid response to affiliate queries
- NO spam
- Product Notices – allow affiliates to select / de-select notification categories
- Advance notification link/product/program/commission changes or discontinuance
Product/Merchant Info
- Best-seller info
- Customer demographics
Training & Information
- Show affiliates how to implement scripts / datafeeds or make it super simple;
- Newsletter – real info, not just more product notices
If YOU are an affiliate manager or online merchant with an affiliate program who wants to increase affiliate program sales, I can’t recommend any better training than Affiliate Classroom’s, “The Affiliate Manager – 1st Edition“. Small price to pay for HAPPY affiliates and HUGE returns.