Affiliates: what makes a good AM?

[Laura B]

Hi,

I've noticed that there are some AMs on GPWA who have achieved great reputations such as Renee, and they've won several awards for this service.

I'm interested in learning what affiliates look for in a good manager?

Laura

[ironman2000]

Its very simple Laura......................just be available 24/7 and be as open and honest to all your affiliates/colleauges as you can be

The recipe is simple..............its just how you mix them that counts to make the outcome suceed.

Get the thrill of Trading

Keith

[TheMad4Company]

Keith hit the nail on the head, the better the service you offer your affiliates, the better re-action and support you will receive from your affiliates.

Like in any industry service is the most important part, unfortunately it is very difficult to find top class service these days and when it comes along you grab it with both hands.

Great product and Great service equals top rewards!

[Anthony]

Yes I agree, it is all about availability and follow up.

[Skinski]

Reply to mails in a promptly manner , say what you mean, and do what you say.

[thepokerkeep]

In a nutshell, this is what i want from my AM's:

• Availability - respond within a reasonable amount of time
• Knowledge - know your products and be able to answer my questions
• Service - get me the creatives/tools I need to do my job
• Information - send me email updates about new promos and changes to old ones - also make sure i get lots of notice when links/banners are being changed, I'm busy and can't make changes at your convenience!

What I don't want:

• The hard sell - keep it low key and friendly please
• Unsolicited phone calls - if I want to chat, I'll call you!
• Constant harassing emails from AM's I don't do business with - if I didn't reply, I'm not interested!

[Dean_Leyland]

In a nutshell, this is what i want from my AM's:

• Availability - respond within a reasonable amount of time
• Knowledge - know your products and be able to answer my questions
• Service - get me the creatives/tools I need to do my job
• Information - send me email updates about new promos and changes to old ones - also make sure i get lots of notice when links/banners are being changed, I'm busy and can't make changes at your convenience!

What I don't want:

• The hard sell - keep it low key and friendly please
• Unsolicited phone calls - if I want to chat, I'll call you!
• Constant harassing emails from AM's I don't do business with - if I didn't reply, I'm not interested!

What if you adhere to all of those but struggle to make an impact because of previous prejudice or issues with the brand you work for? I often find that its difficult to be taken seriously or be considered as a good partner due to inefficiencies in years gone by.

No matter what I implement/change to improve the program, sometimes following these points just doesnt seem to be enough.

[Adam_1]

I am not an expert affilaite like many here but I think your problem is one that many companies has faced over the years.

Probably the best bet for rebuilding trust is one person one relationship at a time. I doubt you can just throw money at the problem and rebrand the entire program in this industry with all the people that have been burnt in the past.

The best bet is to make personal relationships on the message boards be helpful and available here, making contacts one at a time. Then you can start rebuilding the brand image and then marketing might have some positive effects.


EDIT:

I should add that you first have to believe and trust your own brand. If you dont feel your brand you are working for has long term commitment to its players and affilaites you should move on you are branding yourself as much as your representing your employer, if you dont believe in what your selling dont sell it.

What if you adhere to all of those but struggle to make an impact because of previous prejudice or issues with the brand you work for? I often find that its difficult to be taken seriously or be considered as a good partner due to inefficiencies in years gone by.


No matter what I implement/change to improve the program, sometimes following these points just doesnt seem to be enough.

[Dean_Leyland]

Hey Adam,

I sure do believe in the brand I am working for, I also think you're right, one relationship at a time. Luckily I started that approach some time ago, just gotta keep pluggin away right?

Now to get other believing in our brand (or at least giving it a go)

[dhayman]

Simple to answer:

- Honesty
- Timely responses (whether good or bad)
- Willing to work with you on a problem, no matter how small
- Decent payout options (more a function of the organization, than the AM).
- Ability to come up with creative marketing scenarios, specific to the affiliate, and his/her
situation

[thepokerkeep]

What if you adhere to all of those but struggle to make an impact because of previous prejudice or issues with the brand you work for? I often find that its difficult to be taken seriously or be considered as a good partner due to inefficiencies in years gone by.

No matter what I implement/change to improve the program, sometimes following these points just doesnt seem to be enough.

I think Adam 1 hit the nail on the head.

I would also suggest investing as much time as possible in the forums here. Build relationships with the affiliates, they will then (slowly) put their prejudices behind them and give your program another shot.

Once you build a small nucleus of satisfied affs, you'll be on your way.

[Betpartners]

What if you adhere to all of those but struggle to make an impact because of previous prejudice or issues with the brand you work for? I often find that its difficult to be taken seriously or be considered as a good partner due to inefficiencies in years gone by.

No matter what I implement/change to improve the program, sometimes following these points just doesnt seem to be enough.

Dean, the Totesport brand is hardly in need of a boost to be fair, it really is a strong brand.

You say it does not matter what changes you make etc that it isnt enough, well for starters most sportsbook affiliates would love Totesport to have a proper commission structure rather than the CPA set up you have now, that alone would make a huge difference imo.

Secondly i know its hard when you try stuff and it does not work or does not get the desired results and that is the problem for AM's in general, there are so many doing the same thing.

It is also a problem that affiliates face on a daily basis, what can we do to make a difference? how can we set ourselves apart from other websites and for us thye problem is so much bigger as competition is so much more fierce.

The old cliche of thinking out the box applies to both AM and affiliates but for the most part AM's have far better resources than the average affiliate and stand a far better chance of acheieving success and implementing ideas etc.

Finally the sooner AM's start thinking as much about retention as they do about getting new registrations all the time the better we would all be,

But then the powers that be dont really care about that do they, they care about new sign ups, new sign ups and new sign ups and so i do feel sorry to a certain extent for AM's when they have bosses that dont get it.

That said you also have AM's that dont really get it either, the idea of retention or taking responsibility for converting players once they click through just does not register with some.

[Laura B]

Thanks everyone for your post. They have been great, and they have given me an idea as to what Affiliate need from AMs.

I hope others have found it useful too.

Laura