How Not to Get a New Affiliate to sign up

[Topboss]

Is it just me or has Business Etiquette gone out of the window?

I got the email below today ( won't mention the program )

Hey bud!

I'm the xxxx Affiliate manager, and I'd like to offer you a cpa/hybrid/revshare deal for your site https://www.topbossgroup.com

Firstly Who starts off an email to someone they have never met as " Hey Bud " and secondly, If this person had bothered to check - they would actually see that we are already Affiliates of theirs and have their brand plastered all over our site!!

Are people just becoming lazy and can't be bothered to draft a decent email or do their research? or am I just old fashioned and this is the new way to conduct Business?

[Cash Bonus]

I think that no one should conduct business in this way in my opinion, it doesn’t sound professional and it sounds like this person doesn’t seem to care. You’re not old fashioned at all, Topboss. It’s a good point you bring up. Who says “Hey bud!”? We do actually have proper names as people, so that’s unusual unless you know this person well enough and are comfortable talking to each other like this. It also sounds like this person couldn’t have been bothered to do a simple check to see if he/she has contacted you in the past and also didn't check to see if you were an affiliate with their company.

[sweetbet]

If this person had bothered to check - they would actually see that we are already Affiliates of theirs and have their brand plastered all over our site!!

That's what annoys me the most. As soon as I see that the person hasn't even bothered to look at my site and see that I am already promoting them, then I just simply delete the email and don't bother replying.

[luckyga]

I also receive these sort of emails all the time, goes to show, amongst a whole host of other issues (regular late/non payments, T&C changes, ignored emails to name a few), just how unprofessional the industry generally is.

[nwalker]

Who says “Hey bud!”?

I don't mind saying that someone at Betfair starts their emails to me as Bud, Buddy, Mate, Matey. All before I even met the guy.

I've since met him and he's young so probably hasn't learnt the correct etiquette.

You have to remember that some of us are from a different generation (god that makes me sound old). The 20 somethings are used to communicating in this way. They've been bought up with communication short hand on social media. I'm not saying this is right, but can explain where the problem begins.

I've tried to read some of my childrens texts and such and it's like a different language!

[Topboss]

You are so right and that is one of the thoughts that crossed my mind. The younger generation tend to use "cellphone speak" and have probably never actually been taught Business Etiquette so are none the wiser.

I remember when my son ( fresh out of Varsity ) started working for us, He also used to send emails that I could hardly decipher half the time, so I eventually sat down with him and actually gave him "Email Etiquette" lessons.

Sounds funny, but I honestly believe there should actually be courses of that nature offered for the younger generation, especially if they are going to be dealing with older people or working for a Corporate Company

[Triple7]

That's what annoys me the most. As soon as I see that the person hasn't even bothered to look at my site and see that I am already promoting them, then I just simply delete the email and don't bother replying.

I agree. It's annoying when people just spam. Sometimes even for a brand that doesn't take the GEO, I am targetting. Or a brand that is already listed on my site.

[Harry69]

Personally I agree, I think 'hey bud' is too familiar, if the person has never met or spoken to you. As you already work with them and you even have them displayed on your site, this affiliate manager just sounds like a lazy bum. They should at least look at your site before contacting you. I'd put their email into junk

[MrFWebmaster]

If this is your first introduction with him then "hey bud" is not really the way forward. I only expect that sort of tone after a relationship has been built.

[Strider1973]

What I "love" are emails from AMs asking on which websites I promote them, even though I already mentioned it before and even though I had to enter the data in their backend...

It might be that the younger generation is used to more slang, but that's not an excuse to use "Hey Bud" in a business email. This is a job, so potential business partners should be approached in a professional way.

[Vargoso]

Maybe this is lack of an introduction to new employees? Maybe someone just says: "hey, go and get as many new websites as you can".

I do some email work too, can't say it's perfect ofc, but I take a look at the website I'm emailing first, ask other team members if we already work with them, etc.

About the first phrase "Hey bud!", it sounds friendly in my language, now I have learned that is not that good idea to use it , maybe it's better to use "Hello sir", "Hello there" ?

[Former Member 14]

What I "love" are emails from AMs asking on which websites I promote them, even though I already mentioned it before and even though I had to enter the data in their backend...

It might be that the younger generation is used to more slang, but that's not an excuse to use "Hey Bud" in a business email. This is a job, so potential business partners should be approached in a professional way.

My partner has 17 year old son who lives with us. He's a nice enough kid, but has a sense of entitlement - seems to extent to his peers. He often talks about disrespect, but those comments are only leveled at those who disrespect him, not visa versa. I generally address him by his 1'st name, whereas he always calls me "dude", "bro", etc., etc. That used to annoy me, but you can't change what's been the younger generation's mindset, and status quo for years.

Before I stopped gambling online, I'd often deal with VIP managers. All were @ least 40+. However, towards 2015, I noticed a lot were young, like 23 onward, and the respect (lack of) seemed to fit within their comms etc.

Reiterating, this lack of common respect, just seems to be a younger generation thing.

Adding, my partner's 17 year old (like most of his friends) seem unable to communicate face 2 face. EG - Both myself and partner, have had to make phone calls for him to arrange appointments and stuff, because he seems to lack the ability to communicate not only what he requires, but also in how to go about getting what he needs... Online he's brilliant, but in the "real world", it's like he's incapable of functioning.

Given he'll be classed as an adult in 6 months time, it's a worry!

[universal4]

Yes sometimes the overt sense of familiarity crosses the line when we have never spoken or at least exchanged emails previously. Although I must admit that I would rather they call me bud or dude then to call me dear like is so common among the Indian SEO wannabe spammers.

Rick
Universal4

[allaboutthebets]

I thought I was the only one who hated being called mate on email. I don't mind being called mate from mates but someone who I have spoke to on email twice, no thanks

[Doolally]

Too many emails like this these days. No politeness which isn't a lot to ask when loking for a new business relationship. I just hit the delete button.

Unfortunately it seems to extend to the forums here too. Too often I see a post from a new Affiliate Manager saying to come and get 30% or whatever they have to offer. They'd be better starting with an introduction to the program, the brands, their differentiators, etc, before calling for the Affiliate to jump right in and invest time and money in them.

[Anthony]

It is frustrating to be contacted by someone you are already working with, sadly I see those emails far too often. It only takes a moment to look at the site they are contacting. I guess they look at it as a numbers game and focus on getting as many emails out as possible.

There has been a few affiliate managers contact us and the did take the time to review the site and offer their program as something that would fit in with a particular vertical or geo we were promoting, unfortunately they are rare.

[Syndicate]

Many affiliate managers believe acting familiar creates loyalty. While i'm not saying everyone should be overly formal, being professional could help their cause!

Is it just me or has Business Etiquette gone out of the window?

I got the email below today ( won't mention the program )



Firstly Who starts off an email to someone they have never met as " Hey Bud " and secondly, If this person had bothered to check - they would actually see that we are already Affiliates of theirs and have their brand plastered all over our site!!

Are people just becoming lazy and can't be bothered to draft a decent email or do their research? or am I just old fashioned and this is the new way to conduct Business?

[universal4]

In most cases they are just spamming lists.

Otherwise, why are they calling me buddy, and sending the same email to multiple email addresses.

Rick
Universal4

[JoeHarris]

All depends on the level of the relationship you have with your affiliates. If you very are close and speak weekly I don't see a problem in using informal greetings.

That, being said to try and set up a deal and make the first contact starting "hey bud" is ridiculous! lol

Kids today ay?

[casinowinners]

The same thing happened today to me as well. An affiliate manager hit me up in my personal email, which they probably got from linkedin. First of all, I consider it to be pretty rude to contact somebody in their email without first getting in touch on the platform through which you got the email. Secondly, if they had bothered for just 30 seconds they would actually see that their casino is already live on my site. I am constantly doubting the level of competence many affiliate managers have.