I just wanted to write a little something about one particular affiliate network company called Affiliate Window and how they are using email communication in such a useful way for me and compare it to how some other companies communicate via email.
One of the sites I run is a bargain / special offer blog. It’s a pretty simple site in concept, if I see a deal online I post about it (when time permits). Now I like to try and keep the posts simple on this site and ideally it should be just something I can put together in a few minutes here and there. So I really need the affiliate networks to make this process as easy as possible for me.
How Affiliate Window Get It Right
Let’s pick a company on the Affiliate Window network, say Comet, the electrical retailer just as an example. Comet may have a promotion on for say 10% off various electrical lines, with a voucher code to enter.
Affiliate Window will send me an email, just about this subject and nothing else. They will include pictures, sometimes just the company logo, sometimes pictures from the product lines. They will include some write up for each deal, normally just a line or two. Finally they will also provide hyperlinks already embedded with my affiliate code.
So for my site all I have to do is create a new post, paste in the email, rewrite it a little to make it more unique, mask my affiliate links, include some pictures, post it and bang It’s done. I don’t need to visit the site, I can do everything I need from the email. Couldn’t be easier, thank you Affiliate Window.
How To Get It Wrong.
Here’s some of my experiences of other affiliate networks and some things they do to get email communication wrong. I won’t name any particular companies here just individual points.
- No Communication at all – Yes some affiliate networks never send anything at all, neither do they have other ways of getting information other than logging in and taking a look yourself.
- Summary Newsletters – You get a big email, usually weekly, highlighting all a summary of some of the things going on in the network. While this has it uses for finding new advertisers it isn’t particularly useful for anything else.
- No Links – Yes you send me an email to highlight something, then I need to log into your site, find the advertiser, dig through countless banners etc just to find the link I need. Or I have to manually create loads of deep links.
Other Ways To Get It Right
Just to balance things out a little, there are other ways some of these companies get it right. Some of them now keep regular blogs, where they post the latest deals on the network. The good part about this is you get to see deals from companies you may not be affiliated with yet. The bad part is you still need to log in and go and create those links yourself.
I know I’m picking on a very specific example here and not all publishers would need these emails to suit their particular business model. But it just seems to me that it’s not exactly rocket science, to get this working as well as Affiliate Window manages to do.
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Webmaster Staffing said,
This is a free service?
Webmaster Staffings last blog post..Outsource Domain Registration and Management
Judit said,
That is needed great thing to know about them. Every professional Affiliate company should offer such a features. They can’t exists without publishers, so they really have to give their best to offer features that will make life easier for everyone.
Judits last blog post..Creating an Aromatherapy Retail Store Online
Carrie said,
I’m amazed that so many affiliate networks get more wrong than right. I mainly use Amazon (at least around Christmas time) and they’re big enough that they don’t need to do much to keep my interest. Other networks could make it easier for me (and other affiliates) with some emails and tools.
Marketing Minefield said,
Affiliate Window is definitely going through a good period at the moment. They also recently released a Firefox plugin which instantly creates an affiliate link to the page you’re on. It’s very useful – something some of the other networks would never have thought about doing.
Reseller Program said,
That’s really a great write up, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had so many different affiliates that don’t provide the resources necessary to succeed. Why suggest me a product if I need to spend 30-1hr digging through the site finding all your recommendations! That’s time that I could be fixing and tweaking campaigns I already have running. Hopefully some affiliate managers get a chance to read this post.
faye said,
great thing to mention it here in your post. Will be checking after their update..
fayes last blog post..Red Mobile: Smart Takes a Pawn and Seeks a Fork
Social Masters said,
Affiliate window sound like an excellent idea. Takes out a lot of hassle and leaves you to get on with writing the posts and tweaking parts of your other campaigns etc. Maybe try and fit this into my ideas for my blog.
Nice one
Social Masterss last blog post..How To Pull Women In Clubs
Rose @ Nature's Sunshine Blog said,
I’ve been hearing a lot about affiliate marketing and I’m looking for more info about it. Thank you for sharing this blog because I learned a lot. And I think I will try the Affiliate Window network. Thank you for the link, too.
Rose @ Nature’s Sunshine Blogs last blog post..Buy Chinese Herbs Direct
Tina | Foreclosure Listings said,
Affiliate marketing is swarming in the online market today. What I really don’t if they really pay. I guess affiliate marking is just another variation of MLM or Network marking. I’m wondering if it is another scam?
Catherine | Natures Sunshine Store said,
This post is really a great help. You have clearly made your point and I agree with it. Only few affiliate marketing really convinced me. But with this post, I think affiliate window belongs to the few.
Multi Domain Hosting said,
That sounds like a pretty good affiliate network…and your are right most affiliate networks never write you. I can’t remember ever getting a letter from Clickbank.
Multi Domain Hosting said,
Your link for affiliate window is not working!
Sell Used Cars said,
What a good post. You’ve given me some great information about affiliates and what they do. I will look in to the affiliate network.
Jacques said,
I never knew of this affiliate network. Will check it out soon. Thanks for the heads up.
Jacquess last blog post..Keyword Marketing Research 101
THia Bebs said,
Is this a free ?
THia Bebss last blog post..Article: The History of St. Valentine’s Day
janrafi | earn money online said,
i get a blank 404 page when i click on the affiliate window link.
janrafi | earn money onlines last blog post..Charice to sing for people in Barack Obama’s pre-inauguration ball
Isabelle said,
I’m a member of a really good affiliate program and I agreed that support and communication are the two most important things that an affiliate network can provide it’s affiliates. Without their help and advice to grow my business I have no doubt that I would have given up long ago.
Isabelles last blog post..Top 3 affiliate mistakes (and how to turn them around)
ppc evolution said,
One of my affiliate networks is neverblue ads. I always communicate with my affiliate manager and they are normally always happy to help. But, your right, most affiliate networks have bad customer service. Someone should start a list of good customer service affiliate programs and affiliate managers.
indie said,
I never knew about this. Thanks for mention this. will have to check this.Is this a free one?
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