Comments on: Planning For Affiliate Christmas!

By: John Jupp

John Jupp — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:59:34 +0000

Yes Christmas can be a big distraction but for core seasonal merchants, turnover can easily treble in the two months to Christmas and to ignore that factor is not something retailers are going to set aside.
I agree with your analysis about special deals with affiliates. That’s why I’ve made sure that the exclusive codes for one gift retailer are exactly the same value as a generic version on offer. Also there’s been no special deals over commission this time around as I want as many small affiliates as possible orienting towards promotion. In fact the creative designed thus far has been specifically engineered to that end.
The only avenue I am differing on is cross promotion whereby some of the larger affiliates have non affiliate channels for promotion too. That I am in favour of exploiting separately simply because the affiliate has done the work, has the customer database and the facility to promote outside the affiliate channel potentially generating significant returns on investment.

By: Perp

Perp — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:41:17 +0000

nice post, and makes sense…however, I’m looking at rolling out a new site for this Christmas, with a view to it picking up traffic/love next year, and really pull in some traffic next xmas…question is, how, with very limited time, can I stay motivated in first half of the year to keep updating it, as it’s unlikely to generate any sales, and I could use my time better on other sites?

By: KirstyM

KirstyM — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:26:46 +0000

A really good post Jason, I think it does highlight that affiliates shouldn’t forget about their year round bread and butter when the snowy cash register is dangled in front of them.

From my own POV I’m doing a few mini sites for selected products that will possibly do well. Those took me 6 hours to complete and that is the extent of my Christmas effort. I started a gift site a few weeks ago also, but this isn’t really solely for Christmas trade, it’s intended to be a long term performer October to June every year. I have in the past spent a lot of time chasing after new merchants etc, but won’t be doing that this year. I’ll be concentrating on my existing sites and following the promotion plan I laid out for myself months back rather than wasting time chasing commissions that might not eventuate.

“Mr Merchant Come Lately” need not apply for my time this year – I’ve already decided on my work plan!

By: Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:11:52 +0000

I did think of running a Christmas blog this year but after not having much luck with it last year I think i’m going to stick to my normal blogs (but maybe with a few Christmas posts popped in from time to time).

By: David Fiske

David Fiske — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:42:20 +0000

Very refreshing perspective. I’ve found myself agreeing with your views – especially those on the incentives side of things. My new year’s resolutions was to stop chasing them and I’ve managed to do that for most

I think this year I’m a little more grounded and less likely to fall for the trick of getting one ticket into a draw I never stand a chance of winning in by adding loads of content and changing banners here there and everywhere.

That said, I’m a bit more organised this year and have been thinking about Christmas for a while. It’s very sad that throughout Summer I’ve been thinking festive thoughts. You’re right in saying it does take a little of the festive magic out of Christmas though.

But that’s affiliate marketing I suppose…