Setting up an affiliate programme on the Awin network can be a great way to expand your business and increase your online sales. But you have to put the work in to make it a success. Here is a detailed plan which you can use as a task list to help you get started and a six-month roadmap to grow your affiliate programme and make it profitable.

Pre-launch Phase (Month 1)

• Research and familiarise yourself with the Awin network. Understand their platform, features, and commission structure.
• Set clear objectives for your affiliate programme. Determine what you want to achieve, such as increasing sales, generating leads, or expanding brand reach.
• Define your target audience and create buyer personas. This will help you identify suitable affiliates to join your programme.
• Develop a compelling affiliate programme offer. Decide on commission rates, cookie durations, and any additional incentives you can provide to affiliates.
• Create an engaging landing page or website dedicated to your affiliate programme. Highlight the benefits of joining and provide clear instructions for potential affiliates to sign up.
• Prepare creative assets such as banners, text links, and product images that affiliates can use to promote your brand.

Launch Phase (Month 2)

• Apply and get approved on the Awin network as an advertiser.
• Set up your affiliate programme on the Awin platform, providing all the necessary details and configurations.
• Develop a comprehensive affiliate agreement and terms of service document.
• Create an onboarding process for new affiliates, including an automated welcome email and access to the necessary resources.
• Reach out to potential affiliates within your niche. Use Awin’s search functionality to find suitable publishers and send personalized invitations to join your program.
• Monitor and review affiliate applications, ensuring they meet your criteria and align with your brand values.
• Provide affiliates with the creative assets, tracking links, and any specific guidelines for promoting your products or services.

Activation and Optimization Phase (Months 3-4)

• Communicate regularly with your affiliates, providing updates, promotional materials, and any changes to the program.
• Analyse the performance of your affiliates. Identify top-performing affiliates and establish a good working relationship with them.
• Offer ongoing support to affiliates, addressing their queries and helping them optimize their promotional efforts.
• Optimize your creative assets based on performance data and feedback from affiliates.
• Conduct regular affiliate training sessions or webinars to share best practices, industry insights, and new product updates.
• Implement A/B testing to refine your landing pages, creatives, and promotional strategies.
• Set up tracking and attribution mechanisms to accurately measure affiliate-driven conversions and optimize your commission structure.

Scaling and Expansion Phase (Months 5-6)

• Identify new affiliate opportunities by researching complementary industries, niche markets, or influential bloggers in your field.
• Create exclusive offers, discounts, or affiliate-only promotions to incentivize affiliates and attract new ones.
• Launch co-branded campaigns or joint ventures with high-performing affiliates or influencers.
• Explore content marketing collaborations, such as guest blogging or sponsored content on influential websites.
• Leverage social media platforms to engage with your affiliates and promote their success stories.
• Regularly review and optimize your commission structure to ensure it remains competitive in the market.
• Monitor industry trends and adapt your affiliate programme to align with emerging marketing channels or technologies.

Throughout the six-month plan, it’s crucial to track key metrics such as affiliate sign-ups, conversion rates, revenue generated, and ROI. Continuously analyse and adjust your strategy based on the insights gained. Remember to maintain open communication with your affiliates, provide timely support, and offer incentives to encourage their active participation.

By following this plan and consistently refining your approach, you can establish a successful and profitable affiliate programme on the Awin network.

Then What?

After the initial six-month phase of setting up and growing your affiliate programme on the Awin network, it’s important to continue nurturing and expanding the programme to maintain its growth and profitability. Here are some vital tasks to consider on a monthly basis.

Performance Analysis

• Continuously monitor the performance of your affiliates, tracking key metrics such as clicks, conversions, and revenue generated.
• Identify top-performing affiliates and analyse their strategies to understand what makes them successful.
• Review affiliate-generated content, landing pages, and promotional materials to ensure they align with your brand image and messaging.
• Identify underperforming affiliates and assess whether they require additional support, guidance, or possible removal from the programme.

Communication and Support

• Maintain regular communication with your affiliates, providing updates, promotional materials, and industry news.
• Respond promptly to affiliate inquiries, offering support and guidance to help them optimize their promotional efforts.
• Provide ongoing training and educational resources to keep affiliates informed about new products, marketing techniques, or industry trends.
• Foster a sense of community among your affiliates by facilitating networking opportunities, such as forums, social media groups, or affiliate meetups.

Incentives and Rewards

• Develop a rewards programme or tiered commission structure to incentivize affiliates based on performance levels.
• Offer special bonuses or increased commission rates for specific product promotions or seasonal campaigns.
• Recognize and reward top-performing affiliates with exclusive perks, such as early access to new products, higher commission rates, or personalized support.

Creative and Promotional Assets

• Regularly update your library of creative assets, including banners, text links, and product images, to provide fresh materials for affiliates to use in their promotions.
• Develop new promotional materials tailored to seasonal or trending themes to maintain engagement and relevance.
• Provide affiliates with access to co-branded or exclusive promotional materials that enhance their ability to drive conversions.

Relationship Building

• Nurture relationships with your affiliates through personalized communication and proactive support.
• Seek feedback from affiliates on their experience with the programme, any challenges they face, and suggestions for improvement.
• Collaborate with high-performing affiliates on joint marketing initiatives, cross-promotions, or exclusive offers to deepen your partnership.

Conversion Optimization

• Continuously analyse and optimize your landing pages, checkout process, and user experience to maximize conversion rates.
• Conduct A/B tests to refine your website elements, call-to-action buttons, or pricing strategies.
• Implement remarketing or personalized retargeting campaigns to re-engage potential customers referred by affiliates.

Programme Expansion

• Identify new affiliate opportunities by researching emerging niches, complementary industries, or influential bloggers in your field.
• Explore partnerships with influencers or social media personalities who align with your brand values and target audience.
• Conduct regular outreach and recruitment efforts to attract new affiliates and expand your programme’s reach.

Tracking and Reporting

• Ensure accurate tracking and attribution of affiliate-driven conversions by regularly auditing your tracking links and monitoring any discrepancies.
• Generate comprehensive reports to evaluate the performance of your affiliate program, identifying trends, successes, and areas for improvement.
• Analyse the ROI of your affiliate programme by comparing the revenue generated from affiliates to the costs associated with running the programme.

By consistently implementing these vital tasks on a monthly basis, you can foster the growth and profitability of your affiliate programme on the Awin network. Adapt your strategy as needed, stay proactive, and maintain a strong relationship with your affiliates to drive continued success.