Help create a KICKASS affilate program!

[dbarton]

I own a gourmet dog bakery and in the process of starting an affilate program. However I want to create a KICKASS program. What should i offer to attract affilates. High commissions, services ect.. Should we do the program inhouse or should we sign with a network. If you're a marketer what would we have to do to get you to join our program? What would we have to offer or do to make our program obtain KICKASS status?

[wesley]

I have a pet recipe site and articles about keeping pets healthy so this affiliate program would be right up my alley.

Some of my "pet peeves" with affiliate programs in general are:

1. do not have the capability to link to a particular product
- in order for me to be successful at selling a merchant's product, I need to be able to fine tune my advertising
- so basically I want to write the product into my content

2. banners are so general that people are not interested
- again I prefer to customize everything and I want to target areas but if an affiliate program just presents a bunch of banners with pics of dogs, cats and birds, it is NOT going to help me to convert

3. commission is important
- I do run programs that offer small commissions like 3-5% but for the most part, this is a huge time drain for little money
- if you are able to keep your margins while at the same time paying affiliates anywhere between 10-20%, that would be helpful
- BUT at the same time, if you need to increase your costs that much higher to cover the commission, then I say there is no point
- although the dog food business is a large business and even more so now in light of the recent scandals and tainted food, I still think there is a threshold in what the users will pay

This list is not exhaustive but maybe it might help you a little.

Good luck with your venture~!

[dbarton]

wow..great ideas. Never thought about having individual banners for individual items.

We would be willing to work with you and your ideas in order to create a custom program. I was looking at paying a commission of 15% to 20% on our individual items and than possibly a flat commission for our monthly treat club programs.

I'd like to set up a time for us to talk more in detail about your ideas. Please contact me at through our website BonesandBonBons.com if you'd like to explore this idea.

Thanks
Dan

[wesley]

Oh my gosh ~! This site is adorable. It is exactly how a pet treat site should look. My little dogs are going to get some of these treats for sure.

Just one tiny thing, though - the testimonials - the speed of the "script" is moving a little too fast. I am a quick reader but could not read the whole testimonial.

[dbarton]

thank you for the positive feed back on our site. I'm hoping with your expereience and help we can produce a kickass affilate program. Look forward to hearing from you.

[woosterbert]

Hi I agree, your site looks great the treats look so good I might eat them myself. I would be interested in your affiliate package as it would fit in my pets page.

Good luck with your venture

Bert

[ncmedia]

I own a few products on CB, I think you should scout for popular affiliate driven products and inspect their affiliate pages. Some general tips:

1. Offer affiliates as much as possible, it's free money you would not earn otherwise, I offer mine 75%

2. Create as much advertising material as possible to support your affiliates, this includes:

Banners
Text links
Proven PPC campaigns (ads/keyword lists)
Landing pages/mini sites
Articles that aff's can re-write and publish
videos for affiliates to watermark
email templates
popup/under codes
customized campaigns (you make their material with their.com for them).
Print/flyer templates for offline ads

Cheers hope this helps.
NC

[marketraisecorp]

Originally Posted by dbarton

I own a gourmet dog bakery and in the process of starting an affilate program. However I want to create a KICKASS program. What should i offer to attract affilates. High commissions, services ect.. Should we do the program inhouse or should we sign with a network. If you're a marketer what would we have to do to get you to join our program? What would we have to offer or do to make our program obtain KICKASS status?

You commitment dedication and most importantly your website promotional tactics are the initial requirements that are needed to get at least one committed affiliate who is willing to work for you.And as for signing up with a network start of with something that is small.Actually it all matters as to how much you could dig from your pocket initially.

[palladan]

Provide a 3 level affiliate program and that will get the best producers for you. The first level is the personal sales made by the person joining
The second level is the affiliates they got to sign up with the program like themselves to promote the product.

The third level is the gravy to the main affiliates for all their work getting affiliates to signup and for promoting your product.

Example:
I sign as an affiliate, then I promote the products and the affiliate program and get Mike to join as my affiliate. I would be paid a flat amount or % on Mikes sales. Then Mike is out there selling product and working to get affiliates and he gets Mary to join as his affiliate...Mary is my sub-affiliate or the 3rd level. On Mary's sale's I also would get a flat rate or a % of her sales.