Affiliate members

[bfree74]

Out of 600 member affiliates we have about 150 active. Should we systematically be deleting some of the inactives, or does having a larger number of affiliates mean more?

 

[Linda Buquet]

You're actually doing pretty good. Affiliate marketing is a 90/10 game. You have more than 10% active. you can always work to help more affiliates get active, but deleting inactives is something I wouldnt do if I still managed programs.

Here are some blogs I've written on the subject that should help you understand why I feel that way.

Booting Inactive Affiliates? Affiliate Activation Campaigns Gone Bad
http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/2006/04/03/affiliate-activation-campaigns/

Top 7 Reasons Your Affiliates Could be Inactive - Don?t Expire Them
http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/2006/08/30/7-reasons-affiliates-inactive/

Ultimate Affiliate Activation Email from zZounds Affiliate Manager
http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/2006/08/29/affiliate-activation-email/

 

[bfree74]

That is very helpful, we were planning on weeding out some of our inactives. However, I see the logic in your post and the links you posted. I will be developing some strategies on how to encourage our inactive affiliates.

 

[Linda Buquet]

I just read a really good line somewhere today. Wish I had bookmarked it, not sure where I read it. But it went something like this...

The next algo change could turn a 0 producer into your next super affiliate.

 

[cdorob]

Ok, I have some things to discuss about the "deleting affiliates" subject.

1. New affiliates sign-ups from non-related sites. Meaning we only have software in our catalog, and still receive affiliate requests from let's say a printed magazine publisher. Nothing related to software on their sites. Should this type of affiliates be accepted or not? (sure we've tried getting in contact with them - no answers)

2. Non-responsive affiliates. Like the "reports e-mails" (or any other emails) fail delivery, no other way to get in contact with them, and they are inactive. Should they be deleted?

It would be interesting to find various approaches to this.

 

[bfree74]

Thats kind of my issue. We have so many inactives (inactive for six months or more) that have invalid email addresses or even faulty or non-existent websites. Where do you draw the line?