How do you like to be contacted by Affiliate Managers?

[Jacob_Slotastic]

Hey Everyone,
Just was having a chat with another AM here and wanted to raise a thread to see what your 'as an affiliate community' preferences were when it comes to being contacted by a program.
Of course everyone hates spam, the unsolicited emails you get from a program that you've never heard of trying to sell you on how great they are and convince you a 15% rev share with them is ideal lol. However, email still seems to be the greatest conversation starter and most used practice in our business.
Question 1: If you're going to receive an email from an affiliate manager who is wanting to open a conversation (and obviously pursued) you to work with them what are some of the things to say/not to say in that email?

Also, besides emails what sort of communication do you prefer when speaking with a new program seeking your business?
Is it acceptable to add someone on Facebook and send them a casual message? Does that cut into the don't mix business and your personal life space?

How effective is meeting someone at a trade show? Do you pick trade show dates and try to make time to meet new programs you're potentially interested in working with?

Sorry to bomb everyone with questions. Honestly feedback straight from affiliates here at GPWA is super valuable and really helps us all communicate better. Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for the feedback!

Jacob, Slotastic.com

[Louis - Income Access]

In my experience Jacob, a few key details about the program without any salesy content is good, plus a couple key points that show the affiliate that you are speaking to them in particular and not just sending out a template email. Just keep it short, details focused, and be very clear about what you can and can't offer. Then just leave it to the affiliate to take the next step.

[BHL]

Facebook is fine for me, was contacted once by an aff manager who liked my facebook page so I immediately sent her a message back and signed up for the program. that's a great way to get new clients.

I don't like aff.managers who lack patience. and send me the same message over and over, even if I told them I'm working on it. So a little understanding about your brand not being the only one, and my daily routine a very busy one, is always a big plus.

And I prefer to communicate by skype combined with email.

[pompeyrayuk]

Emails allow the offers to be looked at at will but its also great to talk shop yet not talk shop on msn or skype etc

[Maria F]

Hey Everyone,
Just was having a chat with another AM here and wanted to raise a thread to see what your 'as an affiliate community' preferences were when it comes to being contacted by a program.
Of course everyone hates spam, the unsolicited emails you get from a program that you've never heard of trying to sell you on how great they are and convince you a 15% rev share with them is ideal lol. However, email still seems to be the greatest conversation starter and most used practice in our business.
Question 1: If you're going to receive an email from an affiliate manager who is wanting to open a conversation (and obviously pursued) you to work with them what are some of the things to say/not to say in that email?

Also, besides emails what sort of communication do you prefer when speaking with a new program seeking your business?
Is it acceptable to add someone on Facebook and send them a casual message? Does that cut into the don't mix business and your personal life space?

How effective is meeting someone at a trade show? Do you pick trade show dates and try to make time to meet new programs you're potentially interested in working with?

Sorry to bomb everyone with questions. Honestly feedback straight from affiliates here at GPWA is super valuable and really helps us all communicate better. Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for the feedback!

Jacob, Slotastic.com

Hi Jacob_Slotastic,

I really appreciate your post. I am an affiliate manager and it is tough some time to get the attention of potential affiliates and the first contact email could be crucial for a future partnership with a potential affiliate.

I have few of my own rules that I like to follow, like only use subject lines that are related to the content of the email without deceiving the affiliate into open the email thinking that the email is about a payment or a gift and to tell the truth about the brands I am offering.

I hope that many affiliates will make comments and help us to become better, less annoying affiliate managers LOL.

Regards,

[ocreditor]

I have few of my own rules that I like to follow, like only use subject lines that are related to the content of the email without deceiving the affiliate into open the email thinking that the email is about a payment or a gift and to tell the truth about the brands I am offering.

I for one really appreciate this. Nothing more annoying than misleading emails!

[BHL]

I have few of my own rules that I like to follow, like only use subject lines that are related to the content of the email without deceiving the affiliate into open the email thinking that the email is about a payment or a gift and to tell the truth about the brands I am offering.
Regards,

O reminds me, very important, use a legit email address. like ...@crazyrewards.com, I usually check the address delivering the email, if it's looks the least bit fishy I won't open it, or I'll first ask the aff manager if it's from them.
Some affiliates programs like to change addresses a lot, and or use ones like .....@brand-newsmailing.com or whatever. or even worse dynamic ones with numbers in it. probably enough people who don't even open them.

[GFPC]

How I like to be approached is very simple. Anything longer then a paragraph - delete bin.
Anything explaining the who affiliate program is to long - and salesy.

Here is an example of what I think is great as an example. If they know your name its great to use it but if they do not -do not use Dear Webmaster.. LOL

Hello,

My name is xxxx and I am an affiliate manager for xxx company. If you have a free moment to spare I would appreciate you getting in touch to discuss a possible business relationship together.

Regards

xxxx


SIMPLE leaves the door open to discuss things.

[sherone]

I won't prefer any mails from affiliate manage, as I'm getting a lot of spammy mails everyday.
I like they to be contacted through my facebook.

[Chips]

Having been bombarded with solicitations over the years I tend to put more weight on and am more approachable if the following happens:

Use the "Contact Us" page of the website you with to be placed on.
Don't give me the old song and dance "I visited your website and was impressed....."
What specifically makes you think we could form a bond?
Keep it short and direct, time is money and I don't have time for the cut and paste 400 word articles in an email. And if you do, make sure it is my website in the paste. I see it all the time, the form letter pasted in and the website being somewhere else.
Don't BS me... "Our casino is the highest converting brand on the xxx network" "We have the best processing..."

In short, keep it direct, to the point, respectful and give me a chance to respond, and I don't mean 1 day. Far too many managers will hit the contact page, then immediately send an email once they obtain the email address the contact form spits out. Oh and if I say no thanks, make a note of it and don't keep coming back every 3rd week with the same spiel.

[casinobonusguy]

I delete about 99% of the emails that are sent to me ,years ago when you got an email from a manager you enjoyed reading it as they did their homework on me and my website(s) and it was a more personal approach.Then as technology grew most people prefer the mass email approach or Social Networks.

[casdirs]

I don't mind a nice short email with general information about a casino affiliate program. As long as there is no pressure to join, then I don't mind being contacted like this

[Jacob_Slotastic]

Wow excellent feedback everyone. Much appreciated! I think it helps everyone really to save time and not fill inboxes with spam emails. To em it's a such a mix of email/messenger/social media. I think the best practice seems to be this: Introduction email with a truthful subject line and 1-2 paragraphs asking if an affiliate would be interested in your brand. Then give them the option of responding however they prefer. Just go ahead and list your Messenger and Social links there the signature and wait for feedback.

Some of the best new relationships for me have come from a simple email then a Skype call.

[baldidiot]

I'm sure all of us get these kind of emails all the time, and I have to admit that unless something grabs my attention in the first sentence it's going in the bin. And to grab my attention you need to show me that it isn't a mass email that you send to everyone.

The kind of thing that works well are things like...

"I noticed in your thread on GPWA that you're looking for Norwegian language casinos..."

Things like this:

"We have an AMAZING new casino and we want to offer you 10000% rev share of a $1m CPA blahblahblah" = bin.

[wagerjunction]

Great thread idea Jacob

I've read through everyone's posts with keen interest as it is valuable information to us AMs. Thanks for sharing.

[universal4]

Be ready to answer the question,

"Where did you get my email address?"

If you can NOT answer that question it's spam.....even if you answer it it may be spam anyway....but certainly is if you can't answer the question.

And when you do answer, don't LIE about it.....don't say you got it from a whois if it's an email address that isn't attached to any domains...

If you traded databases with another manager....say so....but then I will want to know who the trade was with....and why you think it's ok to trade people's private info......(some affiliates think this is ok but that allows the affy manager who you do not currently work with make the decision that the person they are handing your private info over to is ethical and does not allow YOU to decide that BEFORE the info is traded)

If it's a purchased list, be ready to answer the question,

"Can I also buy a list and send blind emails to the list to get players (spelled spam)?"

If not, then why do you think it's ok to use the same method to generate affiliates?

Rick
Universal4

[casinobonusguy]

I forgot the best way , a note delivered by fedex attached to a box of chocolates This happened to me one time about 2 years ago lol

[baldidiot]

I forgot the best way , a note delivered by fedex attached to a box of chocolates This happened to me one time about 2 years ago lol

Lol, that would definitely at least get a response!

[xecutable]

The emails has to be very specific to me and to the niche of my website. Whenever I sense general template, or lie that they have looked around but yet they offer me a deal in another niche (exmp. poker, casino etc) I just don't bother reading, as clearly the person on the other end did not bother to put even 1% of personal touch to their invitation.

Start the conversation they way you would start it if we meet face to face on a conference of some sort. It's very annoying to receive emails with something like the following: "I saw that you don't promote us. How does x.xx% of rev share sound. If you are interested pm me back". There are no laws against being polite.

And lastly, this is appeal to everyone, when you don't like a deal, reply with something or anything. It's normal for people to not reach consensus, even after negotiations. A simple "Sorry we will pass on your deal" is enough. Can't tell you how many managers just stop writing after you give them numbers, and on top of that, they asked for it.

Of course everyone is free to do whatever they like, but I am pretty most private members here have the same criteria.

[bonusbetting]

With an offer of money, and a believable promise of more money.