Perfect is an unattainable goal, yet something to be strived for. You’ve seen the guestblog about the Perfect Affiliate, and the Perfect Affiliate Network. Now it’s time to put the Affiliate Program Managers on the “hotseat” and describe the traits we think makes a Perfect Affiliate Manager.
We all know the role of the Affiliate Manager… This is the person responsible for recruiting and helping affiliates sell products and services for merchants. And also help merchants provide the best offers, creative, and support that affiliates need in order to perform well. The Affiliate Manager is very much a middle-man in the ecosphere of affiliate marketing. And generally a thankless one.
But we do see good (actually, great) affiliate managers at AffSpot all the time. Here’s what we observe about the best of the best.. put together in our definition of the Perfect Affiliate Manager.
1) Proactive to just short of annoyance.
Perfect Affiliate Managers know they have to funnel information from Merchant, thru the Networks, down to the Affiliates. They are proactive in educating their merchants to allow time for the dataflow. They are proactive in making sure the Network is updated, and they reach their affiliates through every possible source of information about every promo, sale, contest, etc. in every way possible. And they are proactive just short of the point where everyone is annoyed with their persistance. At AffSpot we see the Affiliate Managers that update on a regular basis, and those that don’t. Trust me, the ones that are updating more frequently are getting more pageviews, repeat pageviews, and are making the most money.
2) Honest with both the Merchant, and the Affiliate, and the Network.
We’ve all had to deal the the Affiliate Manager who’ll do anything to avoid conflict… And their programs suffer for it. They either accept a merchant doing something silly, or push every program through a single network, or tell an affiliate something’s okay then later when the merchant see’’s it the affiliate is suddenly declared “rogue” and cut. Great AM’s admit their mistakes, listen to all sides, and stand up for the Affiliate, the Network, or the Merchant when a stand is called for. Some in the triad won’t like it. But by being honest, the Affiliate Manager will grow their business full of the best merchants, with the best networks, with the best affiliates.
3) Engrained in their core is the concept of the Triad.. Not an Oligarchy.
Merchants have offers on Networks for Affiliates to Advertise (and generate sales). Three points on the triangle. A Triad. Perfect Affiliate Managers know they sit in the middle, attached to all three points of the triad. No one point being more important than another. Perfect Affiliate Managers never mess with the balance, and always work to keep all three points of the triad moving forward, together. It’s in the best interest of all. It’s in their core.
4) Perfect Affiliate Managers are Great Educators.
Perfect Affiliate Managers Educate, not pontificate, or dictate. They help raise people up by teaching them how to be better. Not by telling them what to do. Perfect Affiliate Managers are Great Educators.
5) Perfect Affiliate Managers Know They Arn’t… Perfect.
Noone is Perfect. And Perfect Affiliate Managers know they arn’t. They admit their mistakes, learn from them, share them as examples when educating. They turn their mistakes into gold for their Merchants, Networks, and Affiliates. They are humble in their success and appreciative of those that rely on them. Without losing the ability to tell their story and help others.
This is the Perfect Affiliate Manager. Whether employed by a Merchant, a Network, or with their own OPM company. By being “in it” for the success of all, they succeed beyond all. This is the Perfect Affiliate Manager.
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