Are you using “Human Herding” techniques in your Affiliate Marketing efforts? What’s that? A simple concept really. And more than likely your using Human Herding without realizing it. But it’s a powerful way to generate sales, clicks, and there’s nothing wrong with the concept.
As an experienced Cattleman there is an analogy that fits. If a cattleman is out checking his herd and there are a bunch of calfs with their mothers it isn’t unusual for most (if not all) of the “momma” cows to head on out to the pond for a drink. And all the calfs are left with the rancher. Kind’ve like the herd deciding that the cattleman is the designated babysitter. Which is essentially how Human Herding techniques work for Online Performance Marketers.
Implementation, however, can be problematic. You see, in order to use Human Herding techniques you need to first identify who you are and what your about. In detail. Then you give freely on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Ning, etc. and slowly build your “herds”. It takes time, patience, and hard work. And here’s the part that’s difficult for most. You have to inspire and trust your “herd” to work on your behalf for nothing more than their desire to share with others what you are sharing. Simple Word of Mouth advertising with the goal being to increase the herd. Not to generate instant sales.
But there is a big payoff. As your various social media, blog, and website “herds” begin to grow it is essential that you change NOTHING about how you continue to give to the herd. Keep pumping out the articles, posts, e-book giveaways, tips, tricks, advice, whatever it is just keep doing it. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a good herd of cattle so don’t expect anything different when your employing Human Herding strategy. The temptation is strong to make everything about you and generating money for you. But herds are full of skittish flighty animals so don’t spook them. Nothing is worse than being caught either in the path of a stampeding herd, or, having your herd run away from you.
In other words, monitize intelligently. Use paid contests (where an advertiser pays you to give their stuff away). Mix your affiliate links in just as you would with a blog (only products and services that will be of interest and benefit your “herd”. Don’t slow down the giving of your time, attention, and interest in your “herd” and at some point they will trust you rather than simply follow you. And you’ll see that in your performance advertising commissions. When there is a big spike that stays up for more than a month… your most likely there.
But something else happens as well. Opportunity. As your “herds” grow, follow, and then trust you for what you do for them they may wander off… And leave behind something they love and trust themselves… their friends that they introduced into your “herd”. Which acts first as a reason for someone that’s losing interest to stay… And then if they wander over to the pond a reason to return to the “herd”. A built in mechanism for maintaining a large group of people that trust you in your chosen niches and that will do more than click a link and go on their way.
They’ll “return to the trough” over, and over, and over again. Which is what you want, isn’t it? solid, dependable, repeat business.
How are you building and maintaining your herds?
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