How Not to Get a New Affiliate to sign up

[alexcorsa]

I do not see this as something bad and difficult to accept, I think being friendly can sometimes lead to something more relaxed and can be better at the time of closing some business

[Catfish]

LOL ... I'd go for "Oi mate!"
But seriously, you are right. Doesn't have to be too formal, but that approach is definitely a bit to casual.

[JamieG1981]

We had two meetings that didn't go ahead at the LAC, both time because the affiliate manager didn't turn up that day. Both meetings where requested by them not us.

Two weeks later and we have still not even had a email apologising for not turning up. In this industry someone sending me an email saying 'hey bud' is the least of my worries to be honest.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[Vargoso]

We had two meetings that didn't go ahead at the LAC, both time because the affiliate manager didn't turn up that day. Both meetings where requested by them not us.

Two weeks later and we have still not even had a email apologising for not turning up. In this industry someone sending me an email saying 'hey bud' is the least of my worries to be honest.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

This should be added to the first comment as main "don't do" of affiliation. Actually to any other thing in life

[ttt]

LAC 2019 was really a mess like I have never seen before. Looks like many affiliate managers do not take it seriously. Only professional approach was Bet365 and ActiveWins. (Indeed, I had a meeting with 10 brands only)

[ocreditor]

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

It's 100% not just you! Some emails are just so useless it makes me think.. is this really working?!

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!!

LOL I love your post

[Cardy007]

Yeah, its probably from a young guy that is from the Next Generation - they were brought up meeting people on Social media and I guess this rubs off on how they send emails. Also it sounds like they are simply shooting out lots of high volume generic emails and not checking the smaller details - which we consider a courtesy. Also I can understand a little his Buddy approach, although I dont think its professional, it could maybe be due to just how friendly people generally are when at conferences etc when "Personal Branding" helps people to get noticed and be different in their own way - being more personal. But for intro email I dont this it makes the cut.

[Triple7]

I do not see this as something bad and difficult to accept, I think being friendly can sometimes lead to something more relaxed and can be better at the time of closing some business

It depends a bit on the whole picture.

If an AM has done his homework, is constructive, etc. It doesn't bother.

But if it's part of not even bothered to check a site, spam for a GEO the casino he represents not even takes, etc, it bothers.

[Vargoso]

I think the main problem, in this case, is that the e-mail asked to promote a brand that was already being promoted, rather than the informal treatment.

[Renee]

We had two meetings that didn't go ahead at the LAC, both time because the affiliate manager didn't turn up that day. Both meetings where requested by them not us.

Two weeks later and we have still not even had a email apologising for not turning up. In this industry someone sending me an email saying 'hey bud' is the least of my worries to be honest.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

At least 50% of the affiliates who ask me for meetings do this every conference. They don't bother telling me they aren't showing up. They don't answer the phone when I call or text to see if they are still coming, and they don't apologise or even offer an explanation as to why they did not show up. For that reason I booked only 1 meeting at LAC this year. When I'm constantly waiting around for someone to show up that wont show it means I can't talk to people walking by. It is so disrespectful and I will be honest, if an affiliate does that to me I will not bother with them in the future. I've had a handful come back to me later asking me for a better deal than the standard, which I could give them, but refused based on the fact that they fkd me around at a conference. You can make more money, but you can never get time back.

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

I received emails from about 5 affiliate managers this week asking me to join their program and promote their brands. If they can't even take notice that we are an affiliate program/operator, and not affiliates, then I doubt they are looking thoroughly at affiliate websites. Also, "great to meet you at ICE/LAC" - spam list 100%.

[Martyn]

Affiliate managers ARE well annoying.

To back up my bold statement, I was have a private and informal chat with an affiliate in an open area, happened to be by the bar. We took a few steps aside to give us a little room and we became aware of a guy standing about 3ft behind me, just staring at the affiliate I was meeting with. This unnerved the affiliate I was talking with and I felt I had to offer to take a walk and find somewhere a little more private. We found a spot but within 30 seconds, he was there again, this time just to my right.

We tried to ignore but the guy just made the whole thing uncomfortable. In the end, the affiliate asked in as nicer way as possible if he was wanting to ask something, the AM started with his into speech and the affiliate put him in his place as he'd already met with that company with a different AM.

Not only was this guys approach poor, creepy and unprofessional, it also creates that bitter taste when dealing with that company going forward.

I think I'm from the old school, I'm more professional in emails to people I haven't met and more friendly to those that I know, but I also do very little cold calling, if I do I do my research first.. I believe my best work is conducted on the "bud", "dude" or "fella/lady" level. But I think I only introduce this once we've figured each other out.

I'm definitely more of a relaxed style of working as I believe it opens more doors than it does shut them, I like to have fun while I work try to convey this in whatever medium we communicate in.

[Top Domains]

That wouldn't bother me (the "bud" part, though "Bud" would be better). Might even crack a bit of a smile. This beautiful girl did such a great rendition and is so talented and adorable too, take it from her:

[Top Domains]

At least 50% of the affiliates who ask me for meetings do this every conference. They don't bother telling me they aren't showing up. They don't answer the phone when I call or text to see if they are still coming, and they don't apologise or even offer an explanation as to why they did not show up. For that reason I booked only 1 meeting at LAC this year. When I'm constantly waiting around for someone to show up that wont show it means I can't talk to people walking by. It is so disrespectful and I will be honest, if an affiliate does that to me I will not bother with them in the future. I've had a handful come back to me later asking me for a better deal than the standard, which I could give them, but refused based on the fact that they fkd me around at a conference. You can make more money, but you can never get time back.

I wouldn't dream of treating you that way. That is pretty horrific.

[Top Domains]

creepy

Creepy was the word that came to mind as I was reading that. This could get me ranting about progressively younger generations, but perhaps another time.

[Pokerface]

Not really a big deal for me however on the first e-mail perhaps a more formal approach would be preferred. What I really don't like is when you respond to these initial e-mails either the affiliate did not do their homework only to find that we are already signed up and promoting or they turn around and ask all the questions such as what sites do you have? What geos do you target? How many blah blah blah ....

[MMM]

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

One thing re all that is that it also might be a language barrier. Someone who is not native english speaker might use bud, mate and all those words without actually feeling the words so to speak.

It's like people used to swear much more when using another language - the just don't feel the weight of these words.

[Former Member 14]

One thing re all that is that it also might be a language barrier. Someone who is not native english speaker might use bud, mate and all those words without actually feeling the words so to speak.

I can agree with that assumption, and do make compensation for that possibility. However, when it's from AM's et al who English is their 1'st language (not hard to distinguish), then, least to me, it's just a bit too familiar for my liking - given I don't know said AM from a bar of soap!

One thing that does bite me though, are emails wanting to open up dialogue to work with X program, but the AM hasn't taken the time to even spend a few minutes on your site. These emails I always delete. My thought process is... if they can't take a few minutes to peruse my site, then the dedication towards me as an affiliate partner, will probably also fall by the way-side too.

[Pokerface]

I think it would be great in the signup form to include a section/questions for the normal questions that follow after signing up. What are your websites, what are your geos, how do you generate traffic, etc. It is frustrating to get these questions in an e-mail after the fact when it could be done much simpler.

[Renee]

I think it would be great in the signup form to include a section/questions for the normal questions that follow after signing up. What are your websites, what are your geos, how do you generate traffic, etc. It is frustrating to get these questions in an e-mail after the fact when it could be done much simpler.

Trust me, people still don't use it. We ask for geos, and people usually only select one.

We have fields asking campaign type (including website etc), with an option to put other and a text box to add more detail, and people never fill their website in, or explain what they are doing. If they choose only the "other" option, they write something like "bonuses".

[Former Member 14]

Trust me, people still don't use it. We ask for geos, and people usually only select one.

We have fields asking campaign type (including website etc), with an option to put other and a text box to add more detail, and people never fill their website in, or explain what they are doing. If they choose only the "other" option, they write something like "bonuses".

If it's asked, I fill it in. But, your not the 1'st Program Manager or AM Renee outlining this issue. I can see how frustrating this could be for an aff program. So maybe making it compulsory to add a URL etc, would at least make you aware of site URL(s) your casinos are promoted on.