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Running affiliates programs is easier than ever with

the software and help available now. However, keeping

your affiliates motivated and selling isn't quite

as easy to do. If the success of your business rests

upon how your affiliates perform, you make want to

provide them with the right tools to get the job

done successfully.

If you are already running an affiliate program for

your products, you should know that a large number of

people who sign up for your program never to be

heard from again. You can however, reduce the number

of non productive affiliates by remaining in touch

with them constantly.

Remind them of their usernames and passwords, and

tell them where to log in to check their stats or

get creative. Always keep them informed of new

product lines or changes in policy or procedures.

The key to motivation is making sure that you stay

in touch. Always pay attention to who your top

sellers are, and make sure that you contact them

on a regular basis. Pay attention to who your worst

producers are, and make sure you stay in touch

with them constantly as well.

The main reason most affiliates don't perform that

well is because they don't possess any leadership

or guidance. This can easily be changed by writing

a marketing course, which you can even offer for

sale to non affiliates, although you should make

it available to your affiliates at no charge.

Keep your creatives and sales copy up to date. You

should also provide new material for your affiliates

to use on a regular basis. Providing them with

nothing but a text link and one banner just

doesn't generate much excitement at all.

Provide your affiliates with sales letters, reviews,

ads, banners of different shapes and sizes, and

anything else that comes to mind. Be sure that your

affiliates know the material is there for them to

use. Always listen to your affiliates, and get

the proper feedback on your material.

You should also hold virtual meetings. Set up chat

rooms where your affiliates can attend virtual

meetings on a weekly basis. Be sure to answer any

questions, have motivated speakers, and aything

else you can think of to make the meetings more

motivated.

Given your affiliates the credit they deserve is

also very important. Each month, you should give

credit to the best performers in your affiliate

newsletter. Give small bonuses to those that

perform well, and you can even set up a payment

structure that rewards higher commissions and bigger

volumes of sales.

Always make sure you do everything you can to

help your affiliates succeed and make money in

your program. If they are making money - you are

succeeding and making money as well. In reality -

their success is your success.

Once affiliates begin to sign up, even if you are

automatically approving them, its in your best

interest to audit your network on a regular basis.

Now, the FTC is making marketers responsible for

the actions of their affiliates. If your affiliates

get out of control, it could cost you a lot of money.

You'll have hundreds of affiliates sign up for your

program. Hobbyists, spammers, webmasters and even

marketers. It's very important that you review

each one on a regular basis to ensure the way they

are promoting you is acceptable to your company and

above all - its legal.

Below, you'll find some tips when screening:

1. All affiliates must have an active web

site. If not, they may be spammers.

2. The affiliate site content must relate

to your products or services.

3. The site should have appropriate levels

of content.

4. Misuse of content. Be very clear with

your affiliates and what content they can use from

your website.

Affiliate fraud

Fraud with affiliates has been increasing over the

last several years, which is another great reason

to screen your affiliates on a regular basis. With

fraud, there are two main types:

Malware - Some affiliates out there have developed

software that is installed on a machine, normally as

part of a free download. When someone clicks on the

affiliate link, the true affiliate ID is replaced

with the fraud.

Fake purchase - If you have a product of high value

that returns large commissions for affiliates, you

may notice some bad parties signing up, then using

stolen or fake credit card information to purchase

products via their links.

Communicating with affiliates

Good affiliates are normally busy, as they can

easily forget about your services and products.

As time goes by, your offers can wind up less in

less visited areas or accidentally deleted.

It's extremely important to stay in contact with

your affiliates, even more so with the high performers.

Do not wait for them to contact you, as if you

do, it normally means they are reporting a problem.

By taking the time to contact them, you are showing

that you are interested in the partnership.

You don't need a new product as an excuse to

contact your power affiliates. Even if it's just

a quick note to ask if they need anything. You

can also use the opportunity for feedback on your

program as well.

Managing a successful affiliate program is not an

easy task you can fully automate, as you'll have

to get involved. Happy affiliates are more

productive, and the more money they make - the

more money your company makes as well.