Need thoughts on starting an affiliate program

Here's my two cents. 1. Usually, it piggybacks on the main products or paying customers, so you can treat it as an additional revenue stream. You can use it to grow your customer base, but the rewards have to be really good to make it work. 2. Focus on the rewards, throw some ideas to your user base, and hear their feedback. Try crazy and simple rewards. 3. People love free stuff or huge discounts.

Affiliate programs are tricky when executed without strategy. Sharing our past mistakes so that you can start stronger: 1. Assigning affiliates without setting pre-qualifications or a criteria 📌 We ended up wasting resources on landing pages that underperformed. 📌 Because we made it to easy for people to join without pre-qualification, some affiliates ended up damaging the reputation of the brand. 2. Setting rewards that were not enticing enough or weren't aligned with what they REALLY wanted 📌 Some affiliates lacked commitment in representing the brand and in helping us market the brand. 📌 Our surveys and interviews were poorly executed to collect the data of what people really wanted in exchange for the role of affiliate marketing. We relied too much on what people say they want vs. what their actions are actually telling us about what they truly wanted. 3. Not setting an expiration for the title 📌 Because they were labeled as affiliates forever, it became challenging for us to disassociate the brand with affiliates who: - Had a conflict of interest, - Damaged the reputation of the brand, - Did not deliver any real benefits for the brand. 📌 Setting no limits makes the program prone to abusive behavior. 4. Not providing enough resources for them to succeed 📌 While it's not necessarily our job to train affiliates, the program would've been more successful if we provided them with a guide or brief that clearly outlines: ✅ The give and take to set the expectations out of the relationship; ✅ Brand Guidelines, do's and don'ts, values, tone, story; ✅ Tips & tricks to make the most out of the program (including social media tips); ✅ Program terms, conditions, limitations, and expiry 5. Starting an affiliate program without establishing brand loyalty 📌 In our experience, the best performing affiliates were avid users and fans of the brand and its products. 📌 Because they already knew the ins and outs of the brand, it was easy for them to align with our goals and vision. Their recommendation came naturally to them because they were so happy with the experience. 📌 The authenticity that they come forward with is easier for other people to relate to. 📌 They become not just affiliates, but case studies or living testaments of the transformation that our brand/product can bring into people's lives. Hope this helps! Wishing your program all the best, @senthil99nathan 😊

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