Top 10 New Year Resolutions for Growing Your Affiliate Programs

It’s the start of another new year, but instead of obsessing about losing those last ten pounds, why not resolve to improve your bottom line by expanding your affiliate programs? It takes time to nurture and grow your programs, so beginning now with the ideas below can help ensure a successful year.

1. Ban bad banners. Everything, including banners, needs a makeover occasionally. Sometimes banners collect virtual dust on your site with incorrect dates and obsolete coupon codes. Often, they don’t match the look and feel of the website and contain obvious errors. Make it a priority to retire non-performing, inaccurate, and unattractive banners and start out the year with ones that will earn their keep.

2. Update text links. First impressions count when it comes to text links, too. Your site will look like old news if your offers aren’t current. Take the time to update your links, and freshen them up regularly throughout the year.

3. Spread the news. Affiliates love to be kept in the loop, as long as the information is relevant, brief, and timely. Consider sending out regular newsflashes. Keep your newsletter short and simple, with perhaps an expression of thanks, a description of how the program is doing, and a blurb on what’s new. And distribute electronically for the best results.

4. Revamp keyword policies. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Hey, those keyword policies have been good for the last five years, why change now?” this resolution is one to consider. Carve out time to add new keywords and review tradename policies. If you aren’t doing this every six months or so, try keeping keywords current on a more regular basis.

5. Drop some names. Even successful merchants sometimes become invisible behind their programs. Publicize yourself by always including your name, email, and phone number on all affiliate correspondence. You’ll build your visibility and create name recognition that will lead to more business.

6. Woo the winners. The start of the year is a good time to assess which affiliates are your best performers, and then brainstorm and implement ways to encourage them to do even better. Don’t forget that money talks. It’s better to catch their ear with the right incentive before they find another program that does.

7. Check out your shopping cart. Conversion rates lagging? Maybe it’s time to get an expert to evaluate your shopping cart for overall user-friendliness and effectiveness, including responsiveness to customer questions via email or live chats. One person to consider is Scott Hazard. He is a super affiliate along with being a generally smart guy. He wowed everyone at the ShareASale Think Tank with his detailed analysis of merchant websites. He has since turned it into a consulting business.

8. Beef up order sizes. If building up order sizes is on your list (and it should be), bundling products may be a way to accomplish this goal. Consider ways to suggest related items, provide innovative packaging, or highlight new product lines.

9. Get out from behind the desk. Just who are your affiliates anyway? Face-to-face contact can jumpstart your program, like attending the Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas in February. Not only will you meet affiliates, but you’ll learn from leaders in the industry who are driving trends. And increasing your knowledge of the marketplace never hurts, either.

10. Leverage your resources. Affiliate marketing is becoming more and more sophisticated. Many merchants are running their entire operation: sales, marketing, management, payroll, shipping, PPC, shopping carts, and their affiliate program. If hiring a new employee to help run the affiliate program isn’t in this year’s budget, contemplate hiring an Outsourced Affiliate Program Manager (OPM). Many talented and capable companies can help you grow your program and free up time for other important tasks.

Want to grow your programs in this year? Resolve to spiff-up your banners and text-links, communicate and reach out to affiliates, evaluate your technological tools, and obtain the expertise you need for your best year ever.

Durk Price is a professional affiliate manager and has 13+ years of full time experience in Internet website design, programming and integration, online advertising and marketing for multiple clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 in size. As President of eAccountable OPM LLC. his main focus is in creating, launching and managing affiliate programs for a wide range of clients, including: eFaucets.com, LightingCatalog.com, CanvasOnDemand.com, Mountain Chalet, greatBigcanvas.com, ReplayPhotos.com, Junonia.com, Singer22.com, iPodJuice.com , Black Hound New York, MyNursingUniforms.com, BeautyTrends.com, Annaslinens.com, ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com, TrustedID.com and PawsUpPetSupply. He also blogs regularly at Affgoo (www.affgoo.com) as the “GooRu” and at the industry news blog: www.affiliatenewsreview.com.