4 Steps for Affiliate program Management

Affiliate program management is important. You have made the decision to outsource management of your affiliate program. Now, you need to know what makes a good affiliate manager. With so many companies offering various services, how do you know what to look for in a program? By looking at several key elements, you will find the right program that fits your needs.

 
 
1. Start by Recruiting

Since recruiting new affiliates are the heart of all affiliate programs, you will want to see how the companies do not recruit, if they do it at all. Affiliate experienced management team will be able to lay out their plans to recruit new affiliates for your program.

2. Support for you and your Affiliates

Next, you will want to see the supporting factors. You need someone there to answer any questions you and your affiliates to help them when they need it. Therefore, you will want to see the turnaround time for response.

Ask the company:
Is the question asked by e-mail, telephone, or support forums?
How long before the response given? (This must be less than 48 hours on weekdays.)
Affiliates will be assigned a case manager / personal contacts?
Is support provided with website creation / design / e-mail to recruit new affiliates?
Do they help with the blog / social media / website?
Do they help with PPC, SEO, and SEM?


In addition, you want to ask how they handle inquiries affiliation:
Are you expected to handle any questions or would their affiliation?
Is there a support forum for affiliates?
How do they handle disputes affiliation?

3. Customization features

Not all affiliate programs are the same. Therefore, you may not need much help to other programs do. While recruiting is a prime target for outsourcing, you might want to help with promotion and recording.

A full service will do everything from recruiting affiliates, track sales, track pay, suggest and implement ideas promotion / contest, and suggest ways to improve your program. If this happens, you have to ask how their respective service, especially when it comes to paying affiliates.

4. Affiliate Pay and Tax Records

Part of the tracking involves tracking pay tax records. All affiliates must sign a W9. Because the IRS does not accept digital signatures, it should be fairly easy to obtain and maintain. However, you need to make sure that this will be done one way or another.

If you are not comfortable outsourcing specific aspects, you can always use free software. Free software available for online business owners to track and maintain records tax affiliate. It is easy to use and will fit to the existing payroll system.

Affiliate program management is a tough job and outsourcing is generally a good idea. Keep these key points in mind and you will find the right company to run your program.