Affiliate Managers

[BizzMan]

In my opinion the relationship between an affiliate and an affiliate manager is extremely important. They can; help make sure you get paid on time, send you good promotions, keep you in the loop, offer you helpful hints and so much more. Despite this it seems like a lot of people ignore their affiliate managers. They only go to them when they have problems and only ever through email. Both parties deserve much more.

When you bring in big money for a program, not only will they pay you well to keep you around, but they will offer you incentives to keep you motivated. When you communicate with your manager they will better know how to help you. Sometimes it is coupons, sometimes it is support and once in a while it is something internal to help with conversions. It seems like such a waste to keep them at arms length.

It doesn't even take much, an update or two a month, maybe a meeting at a conference once a year and a phone call every now and then for the important conversations. I think we would be much better off as an industry if we would work just a little harder at communicating and moving forward together.

[GregK]

have you been able to maintain good communication with your AM's bizzman?

[WestEagle]

That is all fine in theory bizzman but I have some affiliate managers that I can not get a hold of no matter how hard I try. I'm luck if after sending ten e-mail I get one response. It is so frustrating trying to deal with them and the bigger their program the less likely a response!

[Jonathan_Chapman]

Hi guys,

Just joined the forum here.

I think one of most important functions of an affiliate manager is communication with your affiliates, after all they are the reason you are there. If your 'extended sales force' don’t know the latest promotions in a timely fashion then you are losing out on incremental sales. When I was an affiliate manager for my merchant I would make sure that I was always available to speak to, whether it be on the phone, email or messenger. Good contact between the affiliate and affiliate manager builds good relationships facilitating a better programme. Now being at a network in the affiliate development department I find it is very much the same, always being contactable, never being 'too busy' to talk to on anyone.

Cheers

Jon

[BizzMan]

Jon, I agree completely. I wish I had the pleasure to work with you in your manager days. To answer Greg, I can get a hold of some of them sometimes, but with a few programs it seems like I"m out on my own. I know that if I were bringing in tens or hundreds of thousands a month they would care, but I'm just a little guy right now.