So, you’ve been running your affiliate program for a while.
You have even received a bunch of organic affiliate applications.
But it’s not quite what you expected.
Sounds familiar?
To get the most out of affiliate marketing, you’ll need to delve deeper into affiliate recruitment outreach, as, according to Partnerstack, over 70% of affiliate revenue in top companies comes from externally sourced affiliates.
In other words, recruited through outreach.
But where do you find these affiliate marketers?
Let’s get into it.
Link building cheat sheet
1. Find List Posts and Review Articles
List posts and review articles more often than not are written for the sole purpose of placing affiliate links.
So, for SaaS, or, really, any business that heavily relies on its online presence, these blogs make sense as the first place to start looking for affiliate marketers to recruit.
The easiest way is to just Google:
But, you would still need to find contact emails, and manually handle the actual outreach.
That’s a lot of work.
Respona can speed it up dramatically, by bringing it all together.
It even has campaign templates specifically created for affiliate recruitment.
Let’s take the “Listicle” campaign template as an example. It’s specifically designed to find “top 10” articles for you.
All you need to do to use it is fill out a few simple fields:
- Your product/service name and website
- Your target keywords
- A brief description of what sets you apart from your competitors
- An incentive to offer your prospects for including you in their article, such as your affiliate terms
These inputs will be used to form the basis of your email sequence and set up your search criteria at the same time.
Once all fields are filled out, click “Use this template” to access the campaign editor.
The first step is to review your email sequence.
Since we used a campaign template, we already have a sequence ready to go.
However, we still recommend giving it a more personal touch, as well as:
- Check for spam words
- Include an unsubscribe link
- Change the number/delay between follow-ups
- Insert variables like first_name and organization to save time on personalization
The next step is to find opportunities, as well as contacts.
Respona will use advanced search operators with your target keywords as well as common words and phrases used in “top X” article titles to find relevant opportunities for you.
No need to do much here, besides click “continue” and set additional SEO filters:
As well as run a simultaneous contact search based on job titles and seniority levels of your target affiliate marketers:
You can also make the search recurring to regularly scan for new opportunities, on auto-pilot.
Results will start populating the screen as they are found.
Once the automation is complete, you can move forward with the last step: review & launch your opportunities.
Here, you can make final personalizations to every individual email before launching your campaign.
Once launched, all that’s left for you is to manage responses.
You can do that within Respona’s shared Inbox, which allows you to manage all of your email accounts in a centralized dashboard.
No need to juggle a dozen Gmail tabs.
2. Look Up Affiliate Program Members/Join an Affiliate Network
What better place to look for affiliate marketers than… Affiliate programs?
This way, you can be sure they’re an active affiliate marketer, and so, likely will be receptive to your pitch.
But how do you know for sure if someone is an affiliate or runs a program of their own?
90% of the time they’re going to be using an affiliate management software (UpPromote, Tapfilite, Post Affiliate Pro, CJ Affiliate, etc.).
And most of these tools have subdomains with unique links for their affiliates.
For example, here’s what a link leading to an UpPromote user looks like:
For different tracking tools, these links will look a little different, but the common theme is the same: we can use backlink tracking software like Semrush or Ahrefs to find and export these affiliate marketers.
We can then upload a list of these websites to Respona, and follow the same steps described in the previous strategy (skipping the Google search, of course).
Alternatively, you may join one of these programs yourself.
3. Social Media
Despite heavily involving manual research, finding affiliate marketers on social media easier than you think.
First, target the platform where your potential customers are most active. Once there, search for influencers or content creators within your affiliate product or service niche.
Take note of the ones with high audience engagement, not just a large follower count. Engage with them, get to know their content, and evaluate its consistency and quality.
If their online presence aligns with your brand, then it’s time to make moves.
Reach out to them directly through a private message, email, or even better – both.
Tell them about your affiliate program and highlight what’s in it for them, such as commissions, exposure, or access to your products or services.
Remember, the race isn’t just for the swift, finding the right affiliate marketer takes time, reflection, and a keen understanding of your brand goals.
Here are some tips:
- Know exactly who your audience is and find influencers who share the same demographics.
- Use platform-specific hashtags that are relevant to your niche. This can lead you to potential affiliate marketers who are already creating content in your industry.
- A perfect affiliate marketer is not just about a huge follower count. Prioritize those with genuine engagement, interactions, and an active community.
- Make sure the influencer’s content aligns with your brand’s voice and image. Their content style, caliber and frequency can greatly impact your brand’s reputation.
- Once you’ve identified potential affiliates, approach them professionally, highlighting the benefits they’d get from the affiliate partnership – and try your best to stay human.
4. Turn Your Customers into Affiliates
There’s a saying that goes, “A satisfied customer is the best source of advertisement.”
Your own customers are people who have not only used your products or services, but also liked them enough to make a purchase, making them the prime candidates for your affiliate marketing program.
They have a deep understanding and appreciation of your product, which makes their promotions far more authentic and credible.
To convert them into affiliates, start by creating a robust referral or affiliate program. Generous commission structures or exclusive perks often attract more people.
Communicate about your program proactively to your customers through newsletters, emails or social media updates.
Whenever a customer makes a purchase, make sure they know about your affiliate program and the benefits they can reap.
Always hold them with value by offering support and guidance on how to be an efficient affiliate. Equip them with the necessary tools – promotional materials, unique affiliate links, or discount codes.
Provide them with regular updates on product developments or changes in the affiliate program.
Recognize their efforts and make them feel valued; this not only boosts their morale but also encourages them to promote your brand more avidly.
A brilliant example of a company successfully using its customers as affiliates is the popular cosmetic brand, Glossier.
Known for its cult-like following, Glossier built its entire business model around its deeply passionate customer base.
These ‘Glossier reps’, as they’re known, are given a personalized webpage on the Glossier site and can offer their followers discounts.
In return, reps earn a commission on the every affiliate sale they drive.
This strategy of turning customers into affiliates worked incredibly well for the brand as it not only allowed its customers to feel more connected to the company, but also offered an authentic promotional channel for Glossier’s products – real users sharing their genuine experiences with the brand.
5. Hire an Affiliate Manager
As your affiliate marketing program grows, it may become challenging to manage every detail from recruitment, training, communication, to handling payouts for each affiliate marketer.
That’s when an affiliate manager becomes valuable. They oversee your program, allowing you to concentrate on core business tasks.
Depending on where you are in the world, the salary of an affiliate manager can vary greatly.
However, in the US, the average affiliate manager salary is anywhere between 50k and 88k per year.
An affiliate manager could boost your marketing game as they bring on board their experience, network of affiliates, marketing strategies, and a deep understanding of how different affiliate platforms work.
They ensure rules are followed, track performance, provide feedback, and nurture the relationship between the brand and its affiliates.
When it comes to hiring, begin by outlining what you specifically need. What are your program’s goals and the skills required to meet them?
Once you have a clear job description, you can post the vacancy on job boards, affiliate marketing forums, or professional networks like LinkedIn.
Then, create a shortlist of potential candidates, focusing on those with prior successful experience in your industry.
During the interview process, ask questions related to their strategy in boosting your program, problem-solving skills, and their network.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
Of course, there are more ways to find affiliate marketers, including networking, using affiliate marketplaces, etc.
But we chose 5 of the most sure-fire, and effective ways to find affiliate marketers.
If you need help finding and recruiting affiliates, don’t hesitate to give Respona a shot and start your 14-day free trial today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where Can I Find Affiliate Marketers?
You can find affiliate marketers in a variety of places online, such as through affiliate networks like ShareASale, Amazon Associate, the eBay Partner Network or Awin, or by reaching out directly on social media channels and blogs related to your niche.
You can also explore professional networking sites like LinkedIn.
What Traits Should I Look for in an Affiliate Marketer?
To ensure success for your brand, look for affiliate marketers who are experienced, trustworthy, and have a dedicated audience who engages actively with their content.
Also, their content should align with your brand philosophy and target audience.
How Do I Approach Potential Affiliate Marketers?
Begin by researching and understanding their work. Reach out professionally, conveying how your brand or product could benefit their audience.
Be clear about what’s in it for them, and always keep the conversation mutually beneficial.
What Should Be Included in an Affiliate Marketer Agreement?
The agreement should precisely list the commission rates, payout methods, expected promotional activities, and any brand guidelines the marketers need to follow.
It should also outline the rules regarding unethical practices and the conditions under which the agreement can be terminated.
How Can I Ensure Success of the Affiliate Marketing Program?
The success of your affiliate marketing program highly relies on regular communication and providing motivating incentives to your marketers.
Always provide them with updated banners, promotional content and any training they may need.
Moreover, setting realistic expectations, monitoring performance and providing constructive feedback also contribute to the program’s success.
