Affiliate "Recruitment"

[Dean_Leyland]

Hi All,

As you all know, operators like ourselves are always looking to work with more affiliates in order to expand our program. One thing I am always battling with myself about is the best way to contact an affiliate and how best approach them.

I regularly do keyword searches in Google as does many other operators to find affiliates we aren't already working with. However I am concerned when contacting an affiliate that my contacting them may appear "spammy". I know full well spamming is very much an unwanted practice but would you consider being contacted via email as a result of such keyword searches, spam?

If an operator wanted to work with you, what kind of approach would you most appreciate?

Any responses and input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dean

[graham]

For me personally, I occassionally look at emails from New Programs/New AMs, but unless there is something in that email that really gets my attention, then the person is just wasting their time. So far of the 1000s of emails I have received in my time as an affiliate maybe 1 of them was able to do so. All I really want to know is why I should promote their room over one of the ones already on my site / how are they differing themselves from the competition. Unfortunately nobody ever really does this and just has yet another skin running the same software as 1000 other sites, similar bonuses but will make claims like "we convert the best" etc., without ever providing any proof. So unless you are going to offer me a shitload of money that I actually believe you will be able to pay, then chances are these sales pitches wont work.

Which brings me back to your original question. To be honest, most of the rooms I have ever worked with were chosen from networking with other affiliates or affiliate managers. If several affiliates I know really say a room is great, I will definitely look into it more. Also, if you do things to market your brand on your own more and more affiliates will take notice. Many of the AMs I work with I have probably been introduced to at various conferences by friends in the industry and that is usually where the relationship develops. Being active on these forums and the other affiliate communities is also very important because it lets people get to know you and show that you want to be involved with the industry. The rooms that sign up as sponsors here and just post links to their crappy offers once in a while are more than likely just wasting their money.

So basically what I am trying to say is get out to some events, meet affiliates, get to know people in the industry and the business should follow. If you don't want to do that, then the other ways I think are:
- Do something revolutionairy / innovative for the industry that hasn't been done
- Become a marketing leader in the industry somehow so that affiliates will have a hard time not noticing you. Create a real buzz around your brand that gets people curious.
- Make your program extremely affiliate friendly (ie. no shady terms, good commissions, amazing stats, cool embedables that affiliates can use on their sites (once people are using these on their sites, others will take notice.), etc.).
- Hire a really hot affiliate manager. Why do you think Renee is so popular I am kidding, she is an an amazing AM that just happens to be good looking

[craig96]

If you just send an email that looks a copy and paste job then it can seems spammy and affiliates may ignore the emails. Try and sound like you are interested in working with them as a person rather than just 1 more affiliate to add to your list. Commenting on their site can suggest that you have looked at their site and mention that you will help them with compaigne and whatever they will need.