How many of you know what your affiliate manager likes to do in his/her spare time? It might seem like an overkill but this is exactly the kind of friendly relationship you should be aiming for. Your affiliate manager is there to help you so use their expertise and inside knowledge. I find that too many people simply don’t realize the potential in such a relationship.
First of all you as an affiliate is one of the most valuable assets and affiliate company has. You make them money. Once your leads have checked out you can start thinking about getting a better rate. Affiliate companies need you, so negotiate the price. How do you do that? Via your affiliate manager. Contact him/her and ask for $1.60/lead rather than $1.50. If your lead quality checks out an AM would usually be more than happy to negotiate the prices with you. This is where your relationship plays a crucial part. You are much more likely to succeed with the person who know you and trusts you.
Secondly, most affiliate companies would often have private offers only available to chosen people. How are you suppose to be picked when nobody even knows you? Make yourself know, speak to your AM about your methods of promotion and you may well be invited to participate in the next private offer. Besides, the more the know about your methods, the more they will be able to help you maximise your revenue. Remember, these guys know what converts and how more than anyone.
Finally if you have doubts about your campaign don’t hesitate to speak to your AM first. Keep your emails and conversation history. If something goes wrong you will always be able to refer back to your previous conversation and say:”Look, I spoke to -name- and he/she advised me to do this”. At one point I had a grey hat idea that required some incentive offers even though my affiliate company did not have any suitable campaigns. I actually decided to run my idea past my AM and tell him exactly what I was going to do. A few hours later I was surprised to see him get back to me with a list of offers I could try. Those were none incentive offers that I was allowed to promote in my specific way on one off basis. One of these offers did not convert as well and I was politely asked to stop promoting it. Besides from that minor quirk, a month later I was walking to the bank with a completely legal yet grey hat cheque from my affiliate.
So what I want you to do is next time you log into your affiliate control panel grab your AM’s instant messenger contact details, ad him/her to your contacts and have a friendly conversation about the offers, marketing ideas and life in general. Turn this into a habit and you will thank me one day 
PS: That picture at the top represents you contacting your AM on Skype I know… I know…
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ilia,
I always love reading your posts here although I have to read them a couple of times to try to comprehend your thoughts (as English is not my language and blogging is new to me). I’m impressed that you’re so young yet so successful at what you do. Keep posting regularly. Thanks for sharing your bright ideas.
PS. Let me know what you think of my blog. Please advise to improve it. Thanks.
Even in this impersonal online world we frequent and do business in, there is great value to be had in building relationships. This post serves to highlight that, and let’s face it folks, if people know and like you, chances are that they’ll lend you a sympathetic ear and a virtual hand when needed!
Agreed! Networking and interfacing with people on a more personal level makes you stand out from the crowd. It is also much easier to deny or just plain ignore an email, whilst a personal voice conversation can get loads more done.
Hi there Ilia. You’ve been awfully quiet on this side, just exactly what are you up to? If you’re making online money somewhere you have to share the recipe with us, you know how it works. Jokes aside, we would like to see some fresh material from you before christmas.
I agree with Marketing Man!
Whats happening mate? Been waiting on some more goodness from you for sometime! Hope everything is ok with you
Hi Mr Boyko and all the very best for the new year to you. I wish you and your endeavours tremendous success in 2010, and loads of fresh posts on your blog. Enjoy my friend.
hi……….
is my first time to visit here, wow ur site is good, and greats articles too. can we make a friends with dropper ec, maybe someday i’ll find something to make me rich about knowledge. thanks
is u have a time, can you comment to in my post or articles in my blog?, i hope u can visit me too my friends.