How Do You Recruit Great Affiliates?

The success of an affiliate program depends on many things, such as communication, resources, and tools. Even the best affiliate manager can supply all of those things and more and still not have a successful program. Without affiliates joining the program, it won’t be successful. This brings up a common question among new affiliate program owners and that’s how to recruit affiliates.

By definition, “recruiting” means to “supply with new members.” Why is that important? Basically, the more people joining an affiliate program, the better off the program will be.

Not everyone who joins an affiliate program is serious about promoting and making sales. When recruiting stops, it’s likely sales may go down due to some affiliates leaving the program or becoming inactive. By having a steady stream of new people coming into the program, the owner is supplying a steady stream of fresh people excited and willing to promote and create sales.

For those not sure how to recruit or where to start looking for recruits, a great place to begin is complementary goes well with the product(s) of the affiliate program, but doesn’t necessarily compete. Although even those many see as competitors would actually be a great fit, so be sure to do research.

For example, if a website is about healthy pet treats; some complementary websites might be websites that feature information about various breeds of pets, pet health, pet toys, and pet care.

Affiliate managers can start out by contacting the owners of these websites and telling them a little bit about the product. This is the perfect time to let them know about the affiliate program and why their readers would be a good fit for the product.

Giving examples of the potential of affiliate commissions will help get the wheels turning in their minds. Some of these potential affiliates may be new to the concept of affiliate marketing and may not realize the benefits it could give them.

For example, if an information product within a program sells for $25 and the program offers a 50% commission, one way to explain the potential earnings is this:

As an affiliate you could earn $375 per month if your readers bought, on average just 1 copy of the product per day.

There are many people looking for ways to work from home and affiliate marketing is a way that these people can earn a little or a lot of money doing so.

Another way to attract affiliates is by becoming a regular on a few forums that are dedicated to those looking to work from home or are already dabbling in affiliate marketing. Networking and establishing relationships with people from all over the world can prove valuable to an affiliate manager. By including links in signatures (where allowed) an affiliate program owner can let other forum members know about the program.

Another option affiliate managers have is to notify their own mailing lists. These people are already interested in the products or services and have looked to the owner for advice and guidance. They may have even purchased the very product that is being promoted in the program, which is great for not only feedback, but for promoting the product as well. Chances are they know other people in the same target market.

Recruiting new affiliates is something that should be done on a consistent basis. Even just an hour or two each week can provide a steady supply of new affiliates ready and willing to promote the products or services the program has to offer.

Do You Have Super Affiliates?

In researching affiliate marketing, you have probably come across the term “super affiliate.” Many affiliate managers spend a lot of time trying to recruit super affiliates and for good reason. A super affiliate can turn just about any affiliate program into a success.

A super affiliate, simply put, is someone who can generate a lot of sales. Some people feel that an affiliate needs to make a certain dollar amount in sales before they are considered “super.” It is hard to define this term in dollar amounts as different programs have different amounts as well as different types of programs. Not only that, but program owners have different definitions of success in their particular affiliate program compared to others.

Finding super affiliates is easier than most think. In fact, you may already know of several yourself. Super affiliates tend to have large sites, large newsletter lists, and a nice amount of influence over their target markets. It doesn’t take much thinking to know at least one affiliate who fits these definitions.

If however, it comes a bit more difficult in a particular market, it’s easy to find a few of them. Simply research a bit. Google can really help with this; just type in keyword or phrase that relates to the product or target market in question. For example, if you are selling an information product on natural remedies, type in such phrases as “natural remedies, “natural cures,” and “homeopathic medicine.”

Take note of the websites that are coming up in your search results. If the same site is coming up over and over, it is probably very popular. Even if different sites are coming up, click on them, and take a look around. Look for signs of affiliate activity, such as ads, reviews, and affiliate links.

Once you have located some affiliates that seem a good fit for your particular program it is time to start the recruiting process. Take note that these people are receiving offers from many other affiliate managers. If you want them to promote your product, you’ll need to make it worth their time.

First of all, make sure your product is something that their target market would honestly want or need. When you make your initial contact with the affiliate, make it personable. Instead of sending a standard form letter, take the time to send a personalized note. Try to keep that first email short and sweet, though, as the affiliate doesn’t have time to read anything super long.

When promoting a digital product, send a sample along with the introductory email. The affiliate will want to try it out before they promote it to their readers. If you have a physical product, offer to send a sample in the mail. This will help to determine if the product is a good fit for their visitors.

Entice the super affiliate by offering them something more than standard affiliates receive, such as extra commission or cash bonuses. For example, if you normally pay 50% commissions, offer 60% or 70% to the super affiliate. The amount of sales they can bring you will more than make up for any extra commissions you give them. Another option is to offer them a second tier percentage, where they receive a commission for referring other affiliates to the program.

It can take time to build up a relationship with a super affiliate and get them involved in a program. It may take time to find them, but keep trying. Eventually you will recruit a super affiliate and maybe more!

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