How do you find new affiliate programs to work with?

[Affcorner]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering, how do you all find new affiliate programs to work with? You can select multiple options if they apply to your case.

[Melanie_BBP]

I'm also interested in the results of this poll. Nice post Nicholas, hope we can get some feedback from affiliates.

However, from experience I can say that forums can really influence the decision of an affiliate to join a program.

Cheers,

Melanie
Affiliate Coordinator
BigBetPoker

[thepokerkeep]

I chose forums since I always check the feedback at GPWA, AGD and Casinomeister before joining a new program.

I also receive emails every day from programs. Some go into the junk folder, others get a reply.

If an AM sends me a well written email that goes into detail about their program and explains the offer + benefits of working together, I always reply.

[benthomaslee]

I too am very interested to see where this one goes.

Terry when you say it's mainly what's said on the forums is that just what other affiliates have to say on the program and the resolution of issues or does the presence and activty of the AM's come into it as well?

Ben

[thepokerkeep]

I too am very interested to see where this one goes.

Terry when you say it's mainly what's said on the forums is that just what other affiliates have to say on the program and the resolution of issues or does the presence and activty of the AM's come into it as well?

Ben

Hi Ben

A combination of the factors you mention help me decide.

Getting to first base (convincing me to look at your program)
How active is the staff?
How quickly are problems or complaints resolved?
How many complaints are there?
What is the severity of the complaint(s)?
Are there ongoing complaints from players?
Is the program AGD certified?

For example;
Renee obviously convinces many affiliates to join Rewards simply because she spends her time answering questions and providing real, helpful advice. Plus she injects her personality into the forum by joking around and adding to the general chatter. She makes me want to work with her. And her program is as good as she is, great creatives, tons of marketing materials, detailed stats...

On the other hand, looking at Europartners or Beast Affiliates, all we see is one complaint after another and there does not appear to be a resolution coming soon from either of those programs. Excuse after excuse (or complete silence), will not entice me to join a program whether they're brand new or industry icons.

I rarely look at a program that's less than a year old regardless of what is going on in the forums. I've been burned too many times by new programs, even the ones with great AM's.

In the end, if a program is reputable and meets all the other criteria, and I think I can develop a good relationship with the AM, I still only add them if they add value for me and for my players.

Hope that helps,

[benthomaslee]

Hope that helps,

It certainly does thanks

Another thing I've just thought of is that lots, if not all, programs offer promotional revenue share deals to try to help hook people in. In reality does something like double commission for a couple of months have any bearing on the average affiliate adding a Program?

Cheers

[thepokerkeep]

It certainly does thanks

Another thing I've just thought of is that lots, if not all, programs offer promotional revenue share deals to try to help hook people in. In reality does something like double commission for a couple of months have any bearing on the average affiliate adding a Program?

Cheers

Incentives must work as a recruitment tool otherwise so many programs wouldn't use them.

In my experience, if a program offers something like 50% for the first three months, or some incentive like that, it rarely benefits a new affiliate since they tend to only begin generating revenue after 3 months, 6 months or longer. So, the program rarely has to pay out a huge amount in commission anyway.

For veteran affiliates with good traffic, this type of incentive is probably a great reason to try a new program. Then again, affiliates who generate high traffic tend to negotiate special deals anyway so they may not be motivated to accept a short term deal.

I'm attending the CBG event this weekend and of the 9 sponsor programs, at least 2 of them are offering incentives to affiliates who join over the weekend. For me, this will not affect my decision making but I'm sure many other affiliates will take advantage of the special offers. I've already done my research and made appointments with the AM's I want to do business with.

Getting back to your question....
I would say yes, incentives do have a bearing on convincing affiliates to try a program.

Let me ask a question...
Do you think this type of incentive is an effective marketing strategy over the long term? Do most affiliates stay loyal beyond the life of the incentive?

[benthomaslee]

Getting back to your question....
I would say yes, incentives do have a bearing on convincing affiliates to try a program.

Let me ask a question...
Do you think this type of incentive is an effective marketing strategy over the long term? Do most affiliates stay loyal beyond the life of the incentive?

Good question and, as a rule, for us, yes they do, The incentive is the hook that get's our foot in the door as it were. Once we've opened a relationship with an affiliate it gives us much more chance to impress offering ongoing management, support etc.

If we just offered the incentive, didn't back it up with anything and left new affiliates to fend for themselves I think we might well get dropped as soon as the commission fell but in my opinion it's building the relationships in this time that will get program loyalty and continued promotion on your sites.

To Nicholas I hope you don't see this as a derail I think I'm just trying to drill down into the kind of info you were looking for from the thread in the first place

[thepokerkeep]

Agreed! If a program does not back up the incentive with good (ongoing) support, they won't keep the affiliate happy.

Great discussion Ben, thanks.

[best.hands]

I selected three. Word of mouth, competition's affiliate choice and forum members shared experience about any affiliate program that best work for them. After any of the scenario, I then go for a thorough research about what I heard or found and uncover if there's a good earning potential, the ease of promotion, and the quality of the products or services.

[Tower_Stuart]

Thanks a lot for some of the feedback in this thread. It's certainly given me a bit to think about as I venture out looking for Affiliates

[Ciara_GalaPartners]

Hi Guys!

I have really enjoyed reading this thread!! You have given me some really useful tips.

Thanks!

[Magdalena Bajor]

Hi Guys!

I have really enjoyed reading this thread!! You have given me some really useful tips.

Thanks!

Same here! Thank you!

[LuckyLizzy]

I think that most people use a combination of those ways. Sometimes they come to you, a lot of times you find the good ones on the forums and other times it's some other way.