What makes a perfect affiliate manager?

Mediachick · 06-06-2006, 04:16 PM

Regarding your needs, business, content, what makes a perfect affiliate manager to deal with when you suscribe to an affiliate program?

What kind of support do you expect from an affiliate manager?

What are the best aff tools?

Is there anything you would like to see changing in the ways affiliate managers deal with you webmasters?

All info is appreciated!

jacobkell · 06-06-2006, 04:24 PM

Well i dont know,maybe free hosting,a lot of free content,fast support and promotions.

MorganGrayson · 06-07-2006, 04:52 PM

Mediachick...this question was once raised elsewhere, and I answered with one word: TondaB.

All programs send out monthly newsletters. Her's were well written, funny, and a delight to read. Hence, I made certain that I always read them. (I confess that more than a few program newsletters spend a second in my inbox then are deleted. The info is on the site, so I ignore the newsletters.)

I once described how I designed freesites and asked for a specific banner size. The banner was designed and hit my inbox. I was intensely grateful.

She was enormously approachable. Easy to talk to. Very easy to ask questions. I never felt like an idiot asking her things. She did "special" things for her affiliates.

There are a lot of affiliate managers who do the same. WEGRuth and some chick named Funbrunette - I forget where she works, it's around here somewhere - are the same.

I also think that free content that *isn't* used to make the free galleries sponsors provide would be nice. It rather sucks to put in the time and effort to make one's own freesite or gallery then discover that a million other webmasters have merely submitted a URL with the same pics.

Funbrunette · 06-08-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

There are a lot of affiliate managers who do the same. WEGRuth and some chick named Funbrunette - I forget where she works, it's around here somewhere - are the same.

Thanks Morgan!

MorganGrayson · 06-08-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funbrunette

Thanks Morgan!

You're welcome, scrumptious!

Panky · 06-08-2006, 12:04 PM

An affiliate manager who actually knows what the hell they are talking about. One where the lightbulb is actually on. One who knows the ins and outs of the industry, understands the different marketing methods in which to get traffic, has knowledge of the company they are representing as well as the site(s)/product(s) the company offers, the niche(s) they fit into (the target market), and any tools offered, and who actually responds to ICQ, email, or whatever contact method in a timely manner.

It's one thing to be able to whore the boards, schmooze at shows and what not to generate business, it's another one to be able to actually assist affiliates when need be.

MorganGrayson · 06-08-2006, 01:06 PM

Whoa, Panky! Methinks you've met one or two of our less-than-bright collegues over the years!

NaughtyAce · 06-08-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panky

An affiliate manager who actually knows what the hell they are talking about. One where the lightbulb is actually on. One who knows the ins and outs of the industry, understands the different marketing methods in which to get traffic, has knowledge of the company they are representing as well as the site(s)/product(s) the company offers, the niche(s) they fit into (the target market), and any tools offered, and who actually responds to ICQ, email, or whatever contact method in a timely manner.

It's one thing to be able to whore the boards, schmooze at shows and what not to generate business, it's another one to be able to actually assist affiliates when need be.

Panky makes a very good point here. There's sometimes the representatives out there that don't really know the business, but then again sometimes you gotta give them the chance to prove to you what they really know or can help you on.
I've been doing this six years but I still come across affiliates that know more than me because they are the ones out there hustling the hardest. They are the guys in the trenches using the latest software or latest sites, where as myself I try to find as much time as I can to look at the latest from the industry but dealing with day to day work in the office holds us back as reps.

Quagmire · 06-08-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

There are a lot of affiliate managers who do the same. WEGRuth and some chick named Funbrunette - I forget where she works, it's around here somewhere - are the same.

I have to agree about FunBrunette. She holds my hand, sews my mittens on my sleeves and makes sure I get on the short bus. With much embarassment I admit I've asked her questions about where to find things in the affiliate section which a blind illiterate monkey with no computer could find and she points me in the right direction.

My other love is Laura Lee at TCG. She's also one who has gone above and beyond helping me out with things.

I think the key things is to treat each affiliate with the same level of respect whether they are sending you 1 join a month or 1000 joins a month. You never know who is going to grow in to a whale in this industry and possibly be cutting your checks one day.

Panky · 06-09-2006, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quagmire

I think the key things is to treat each affiliate with the same level of respect whether they are sending you 1 join a month or 1000 joins a month. You never know who is going to grow in to a whale in this industry and possibly be cutting your checks one day.

That's a very good point as well.

I can understand that some affiliates are/can be a royal pain the butt. There are some people who want everything, but they won't work to achieve it. They will try to exhaust the rep of every last bit of energy that person has and every last resource the company provides. The good affiliate managers realize that not everyone is the same, so they work with each person on an individual basis. They also know that just because affiliate (A) pissed them off that day, it's not affiliate (B's) problem.

Quagmire · 06-09-2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panky

I can understand that some affiliates are/can be a royal pain the butt. There are some people who want everything, but they won't work to achieve it. They will try to exhaust the rep of every last bit of energy that person has and every last resource the company provides. The good affiliate managers realize that not everyone is the same, so they work with each person on an individual basis. They also know that just because affiliate (A) pissed them off that day, it's not affiliate (B's) problem.

Well of course everything only stands within reason. If someone is making it very obvious that they want a free ride and aren't working towards their own growth you have to focus your attention on affiliates who are.

People like that make themselves known pretty quickly. You can see it in their writing styles on the boards as well.

gunner · 06-11-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaughtyAce

Panky makes a very good point... but jerking off 10x a day in the office holds me back as a rep.

I agree, you really should cut down on that some

Funbrunette · 06-11-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quagmire

I have to agree about FunBrunette. She holds my hand, sews my mittens on my sleeves and makes sure I get on the short bus. With much embarassment I admit I've asked her questions about where to find things in the affiliate section which a blind illiterate monkey with no computer could find and she points me in the right direction.

My other love is Laura Lee at TCG. She's also one who has gone above and beyond helping me out with things.

You're cheating on me MOFO with Laura Lee!

Hehehhehe You're a delight to deal with and you always make me laugh my ass off, I wish 1/4 of the WM out there were as easy and eager to learn as you!