We are always looking for ways to better service our affiliate partners. Happy affiliates that have everything they need to be successful will be just that… successful. And you want them successful with your affiliate program, so it’s important to continue to strive for great customer service in all your dealings with affiliates. And to be honest, it’s not brain surgery or rocket science. Time tested features, characteristics and activities that are anything but new can help even the ol’ vet improve the success of their program. Here are three quick ways that you can serve your affiliates more effectively.
Complete Data: Have you sent a newsletter with an upcoming promotion but failed to include the start date of that promotion or the end date? Making sure the data you send to your affiliates is complete 100% of the time is vital.
Use a Database: If you aren’t using some sort of database to keep track of your affiliates and their preferences, needs, audience, opportunities and interests, you are seriously missing the boat. If you have to remember all these things off the top of your head, you’ll miss things and won’t be able to service your affiliates as well as you should.
Use Social Media: It’s funny that I still talk about this with new and seasoned affiliate managers. Many seem to either, themselves, have a jaded view of social media (twitter, facebook etc) or they know their supervisors do. Business is done on these communities and relationships are discovered and strengthened. Don’t ignore them.
Affiliates, here’s a chance to share your ways that your affiliate managers can be more of service to you. Do tell, what are you three main ways they could service you?