After a total of 5 interesting months, in the hub of the affiliate marketing industry, I thought it was about time I gathered my thoughts and decipher exactly what I think of it.

Coming from an offline background specialising in press and television campaigns, digital advertising called to me like a beacon, tantalising me with the promise of a better understanding of the full marketing mix. The jury is still out whether I’m there yet? Despite my colleague’s best efforts to educate me on the tricks of this ever expanding trade.

My first two weeks began with a hard and fast induction to key themes and phrases like aggregator, merchant, cash-back and my adoption of an extensive list of notes and a dumbstruck expression. As time has worn on the expression has reverted back to its usual smiley disposition but I’m still adding to my masses of scribbled notes. As it turns out the rumours are true, and you guys in the digital world really do keep changing, and constantly evolving! At first, yes I found this to be mildly irritating for a novice like me, as sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with you, although now I think I’m slowly but surely starting to catch up. With my affiliate glossary in hand, I think slow and steady could possibly win the race.

From my experience so far I’ve learnt that this industry is about building strong relationships, and that this is especially true for those of us that are working within agencies. It’s important to be vocal and pro-active, and ask questions, questions, and more questions. Whether that be to my amazing talented colleagues (brownie points please) or to the many helpful affiliates that I have encountered. I’ve also leant that this works both ways too, and that we as an agency should strive to give back to affiliates. By making ourselves as attainable as possible, offering help and guidance to those that need it, and coordinating communication from merchant to affiliate. Enabling innovative opportunities to be indentified and most importantly executed. Distribution of key information from account managers is what builds a successful affiliate programme.

Plus it’s become apparent that there’s some great opportunities to build these relationships through networking events such as the A4U Expos which I had the pleasure of attending this year. Initially I felt like I was sinking in to the murky waters of the affiliate world, but then left feeling I had soaked up lots of useful tips and tricks, perfect for a new starter such as myself. So my advice to anyone new to the affiliate world is use those around you get yourself a very large note book.

advice · expo · R.O.EYE