Things That Could Go Wrong With A Business Affiliate Program

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

If you don?t know or have what it takes to manage a business affiliate program, a lot of things could go wrong and result to a reduced market size, shrinking sales, a worsening reputation and other negative effects for your business.

Things that Could Go Wrong with a Business Affiliate Program

MISCONCEPTION: The Network behind a Business Affiliate Program Will Grow by Itself.
One good reason why many business affiliate programs fail at the first attempt is because its owners or managers often and mistakenly believe that their network of affiliates will grow by itself. This is completely false. A business affiliate program will never increase in size if it?s not being nurtured properly. Don?t depend on your affiliates to spread the word ? that?s not why they signed up to be your affiliates. It?s up to you to increase your network size by actively recruiting affiliates continuously.

MISCONCEPTION: More Affiliates Automatically Mean More Sales.
Strictly speaking, however, that?s not quite true. When you?re recruiting for affiliates for your business, focus on quality rather than quantity. Don?t just hire anyone right away. Set qualifications that you know an affiliate must meet to have better chances of earning. It?s for their sake as well, anyway!

If, for example, you?re selling pet products then it?s important that your affiliate ? if they?re using blogs or personal websites ? to have a keen interest (although knowledge would definitely help) in pet products or pets in general and that the content of their blogs or websites must be directly connected to the topic.

You will have more chances of earning from two people who know what they?re marketing than from three people who are only interested in hosting your ads and nothing else.

MISCONCEPTION: A Business Affiliate Program Does Not Need to Provide Motivation and Support to Its Affiliates.
Wrong again! Affiliates are not your employees. If they are, then you?d have the right to require them to work for certain hours each day and to perform certain actions during certain situations. But they?re not your employees so you have no hold over them. This, however, doesn?t mean that you can?t and don?t need to give them motivation and support. In fact, it?s important that you give them both as they?re the only way for you to ensure that they?ll continue working as affiliates.

MISCONCEPTION: A Business Affiliate Program is Easy to Understand for Everyone.
While most people are able to understand how business affiliate programs work, there are those who can?t. People who were born prior to the advent of the Internet or those who are newly introduced to the wonders of the web are good examples of these people.

While these individuals currently don?t have the know-how to work in the Internet, they may have other integral qualities that you?re looking for in an affiliate. Take the time to invest in them. Create a special FAQ section for them and so they can understand how a business affiliate program works step by step.

MISCONCEPTION: A Business Affiliate Program Will Work Right Away.
Even if you have all the right ingredients to make a successful business affiliate program, that doesn?t immediately signify you?ll be able to rake in dollars right away. Earning from business affiliate programs take time, just like any other online marketing strategy. It also takes hard work and perseverance. If it?s your first time to launch an online business, avoid pinning up all your hopes on building an affiliate program. While it can certainly work in boosting sales, it won?t serve as a primary source of income for your business. That can happen later, but it won?t happen at the start.

MISCONCEPTION: A Business Affiliate Program Doesn?t Need Great Products and Services.
Just because you?ve chosen the best payment structure and hired the best affiliates doesn?t mean you will immediately have a surefire way of earning money. All of those will mean nothing if you haven?t given your affiliates excellent products or services to sell or advertise.

If you want your business affiliate program to work, start by working on your products and services. Are they competitively priced? Do they offer features and benefits that your target market is looking for? Can they be something you could innovate in the long term or develop into other newer and better products and services?

These are just some of the things that could go wrong with a business affiliate program. In the end, it?s important that you give your program the time and effort it deserves to prevent it from failing.