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This Will Hurt Your Affiliate Marketing Channels
If you utilize affiliates to grow your on-lines sales, then don't do what Staples is doing with their affiliate marketing channels.
In May, I received a letter from Staples about changes in their affiliate program. The letter states:
"Staples is experiencing short term budgeting constraints across all marketing programs for June and July. As a result, the affiliate channel will be affected and commissions will be reduced for the majority of our publishers over this short time frame."
What they are saying is that, while affiliates are helping them sell product, we're not going to pay you like we have in the past.
The letter went on to say that "some commissions will be reduced to $0 until August to ensure the program stays within its extremely limited budget."
Are you making this same mistake with your sales force? Affiliate marketers are helping you sell products, cutting their commission will cut their interest in your program.
An affiliate marketer really doesn't care about your "short term budget constraints." Any cut in commissions reduces your value to them, many will move on to another program.
Instead of cutting commissions, find other areas to reduce costs. Never cut off those who generate revenue for your organization, even if temporarily. I'll follow up this story with tips on making your Internet sales channels more profitable.
© 2008 JWH Consolidated Inc, All rights reserved.
Justin Hitt helps industrial businesses maximize resale and affiliate selling channels for optimal profits. Turn business relationships into profits guaranteed. Visit http://justinhitt.com/ for details.
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Comments (1)
Justin Hitt :Hey, at least Staples bothered to tell us they were closing their program. Another affiliate program, Lending Tree, that was used over at Wealthy Lifestyle Publishing closed down without telling anyone. Make it a habit of regularly checking your affiliate marketing channels for activity.
*Still recommending these companies, not an affiliate link.
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