How to Become the Merchant Publishers Want You to Be

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On This PanelJesse Morgan, Magazines.com (Merchant)

Joan Alpogianis, Rakuten Linkshare (Network)

Gabe Carreras, Catera Commerce (Publisher)

Why are we here?This session is to share proven affiliate strategies, discuss network benefits and provide publisher insider tips.

You will walk away with 8 little nuggets of affiliate gold to grow your program.

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Why should you care?

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• Grow your program and increase results• Humans need constant reminders• Trying something new can change your

program today• Strengthen your ties with your publishers• Gain trust with publishers

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How can you ensure your day-to-day challenges don’t derail your productivity?

Here are eight proven tips I’ve learned along the way…

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Build Relationships.have a little charm

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Build Relationships1

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Get to know your top partners personally, what works best within their program and continue to be engaged.

• Set up phone calls and regular meetings

• Send personal emails

• Send a Birthday Card

• Collaborate with all parties

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Make Decisions Based on Data

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Make Decisions Based on Data1

1Intuition can steer you in the right direction however data can define your priorities and confirm your assumptions.

• Determine who your incremental partners are with an attribution tool.

• Know your top selling products

• What publishers are increasing or decreasing based on your KPIs

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Tracking Confidence.Select a network you believe in

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Have confidence in your tracking1

1Setting up links /offers for your product’s promotions is how you generate revenue in this channel. This is why we are all here.

• Check your links

• Communicate any issues

• Get any issues resolved immediately

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No cookie cutters allowed.Cookies are delicious

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Do NOT take a cookie cutter approach1

1All publishers are different and should be treated that way.

• What promotion works best

• What creative work best

• Target the right audience

#affiliatenuggetslist, offer, creative

Have the AnswersHave the Answers

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Have the Answers

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Know the simple answers about your affiliate network, offers, commissions, current promotions and customer service inquiries.

• Know your Terms & Conditions

• Have general knowledge about your feeds

• Know how to navigate the publisher interface within your network

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Be Accessible.Yes that means you

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Be Accessible

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Hopefully this is a reminder.

• Respond to emails/phone call in a timely manner

• Offer your IM

• Always remain professional

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Always Be Recruiting

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Always Be Recruiting

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The Affiliate Industry has a natural churn and burn effect.

• Beware of market trends

• Establish an activation strategy

• Spread your publisher mix

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Promote Wisely.What works best for you and the publisher

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Work within your limits to present the best all around.

• Present your best offer

• Stay within your media budget

• Forecast appropriately based on incrementality

• Only promote offers you feel are genuinely good

deals

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Promote Wisely

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Let’s Recap.What did they say again?

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Build Relationships

Eight Proven Strategies1

Make Decisions Based on DataHave Confidence in your Tracking

Do NOT take a cookie cutter approachHave the Answers

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Be Accessible

Always Be Recruiting

Promote Wisely

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Stay in Touch

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Jesse MorganEmail: jmorgan@magazines.comTwitter: @jc_morgan

Joan AlpogianisEmail: jalpogianis@linkshare.comTwitter: @linkshareblog

Gabe CarrerasEmail: gabe.carreras@cartera.com

#gangbusters14

… AND WEREDONE!