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Gather an Affiliate Army

Obviously you'd sell a lot more produce and make more money if you had an army of produce sellers working for a commission. There is strength in numbers. That's what this little monster is all about—setting up your products with an affiliate program so others can help you make more sales and more money.

What's the best way to build an army of partners? Let them sign up for your affiliate program with no buy in. That means you don't require people to first order a copy of your product before they can become an affiliate. In fact, it's better to seek potential partners and offer them a free copy of your product along with an invitation to become an affiliate if they like it.

Think of it this way: the lower the barrier to entry, the more there will be who enter. Not all will be good affiliates, in fact, most won't do too much at all, but requiring someone buy your product first won't change that. Most people just aren't real go-getters.

It's beyond the scope of this article series to teach how to start an affiliate program, but there's a lot of information online about it. Clickbank may be the easiest and most well-known place to set up affiliate sales. One advantage they have is you don't have to worry about taxes for your affiliates. Clickbank handles all the tax details. With some of the others you have to collect your affiliate's tax info and report it to the government if they earn over a certain amount.

Others can find your product in the Clickbank Marketplace and become an affiliate without you having to seek them out. Still, you'll want to seek out quality affiliate partners on your own.

Here are some tips to help you effectively recruit affiliates:

1. Clearly define your affiliate program: Develop a clear and comprehensive affiliate program that outlines the terms, commission structure, and expectations for affiliates (for example, no spamming). Provide detailed information about the commission rates, cookie duration, payment methods, and any promotional assets or resources you offer.
2. Offer attractive commissions: Offer competitive commissions to incentivize affiliates to promote your products. Research the industry standards and ensure that your commission structure is appealing enough to attract potential affiliates.
3. Identify your target audience: Determine the target audience for your products and identify potential affiliates who have influence or reach within that audience. Look for affiliates who have established platforms or communities that align with your target market.
4. Create compelling marketing materials: Develop high-quality marketing materials, such as banners, text ads, email swipes, product images, and promotional videos. These resources make it easier for affiliates to promote your offers while maintaining consistency about your products in messaging and branding.
5. Provide affiliate support and resources: Support your affiliates by providing them with the necessary resources, such as product information, promotional guidelines, and access to a dedicated affiliate manager if you have one, or access to you if not. Be responsive to their queries and provide ongoing assistance when needed.
6. Develop an affiliates-only portal: This is where your affiliates access all the sales materials, where you'd post an affiliate FAQ, and where you'd make announcements (in addition to emailing them). You could also post a leader board where you list the top ten affiliates to encourage competition.
7. Reach out to potential affiliates: Actively reach out to potential affiliates who align with your target audience and have a strong online presence. Personalize your outreach and highlight the benefits and opportunities of partnering with your program.
8. Leverage affiliate networks: I mentioned Clickbank already, but you could consider joining other reputable affiliate marketplaces that connect merchants with affiliates where you might attract a whole new set of affiliates. These platforms provide a centralized hub for affiliate recruitment and can expose your program to a wider audience of potential affiliates.
9. Offer incentives and bonuses: Motivate your affiliates by offering additional incentives or bonuses for meeting specific sales targets. This can boost their enthusiasm and encourage them to promote your products more actively.
10. Establish strong relationships: Foster strong relationships with your affiliates by providing ongoing support, regular communication, and recognition for their efforts. Encourage collaboration and create a sense of community among your affiliates.

While it does take work to set it up and recruit quality affiliates, you can make more money with less work once that's done.