How To Avoid Appearing On Affiliate Blogs!

No merchant likes their affiliate program to be criticised or questioned on a forum or a blog! In an ideal world it wouldn’t happen. Everything would work well and we’d all back slap each other from here to eternity as the affiliate marketing machine kerchings at every turn.

Sadly affiliate marketing life isn’t like that - and there are times when an affiliate reaches an end point and feels an issue is so important that it needs a right good airing in the public domain. John for example is mightily miffed with a network and has awarded them another Muppet of the Week title, and I’ve recently commented on an issue regarding revshare calculations!

In these cases the merchant (or network) can usually react in a number of ways.

1. They can dismiss the affiliate and say “ah, but they always complain - ignore it”!
2. They can bemoan the fact they’ve been “outted” and feel all issues should be kept private.
3. They can take the comments onboard and react positively to improve things.

Before choosing 1,2 or 3 above - wonder to yourself “blimey, this affiliate is really annoyed with this issue - in fact so much so they’ve gone public - let’s get it sorted asap”.

The fact is most affiliates would prefer to extol the virtues of merchants, affiliate managers and networks. However, when things aren’t working, and after exhausting the proper channels for answers or solutions, where else can the affiliate turn?

The answer is usually no where!

So how can you avoid a public flogging on the affiliate blogosphere?

1. Listen, understand and be sympathetic towards your affiliates!
2. Respond to their enquiries and make sure they’re happy with your answers.
3. Make sure you pay them - and they understand the commission structure.
4. Don’t take the michael with terms and conditions (e.g PPC, cookie changes).
5. Remember they’re working with you - don’t treat them badly!
6. Don’t be over demanding - don’t phone them at 2am.
7. If you realise your affiliate is annoyed - deal with it sooner rather than later!

And finally….

8. Remember that if you end up in the public eye for the wrong reasons, that the affiliate is probably felt compelled to do so due to failures occurring in any or all of 1 to 7 above!