In the previous article we recommended several very useful affiliate marketing apps,
For example.
- Refersion
- UpPromote
- Social Snowball
- LeadDyno
- GoaffPro
- ReferralCandy
The affiliate marketing world is changing，with so many apps offering “one-click” options, it’s easier to get started with affiliate marketing on Shopify. However, there is still some groundwork to be done in order to really make the most of your marketing tools.
Here are some important steps to keep in mind when you’re setting up your affiliate program.
- plan how your affiliate marketing program will work
Define what your sales and marketing goals are and what kind of affiliate commissions you are willing to offer. This can be discounts, free products, coupons or other incentives.
Then see what kind of budget range you can afford and what features are high priority for you.
For some businesses, all they need is a simple affiliate internet marketing tool, while others may need additional communication features such as bulk emails, automatic payments, custom dashboards, etc.
Once you have determined which features you need and defined your commission structure, you can choose the right app for you.
- Choose the right tool
Now that you’ve determined your basic affiliate strategy, it’s time to find the right marketing tools. There are several quick ways you can start your research.
- See what tools your competitors are using
- Read online reviews and ratings
- Sign up for trials and demos to better understand how the tools work and determine your comfort level
Once you’re ready to try or buy the app, simply log into your shopify account, navigate to the listing page for the app of your choice and click “Add App” – then follow the instructions to set it up.
- Develop your communication plan
This will determine how and why you will communicate with your partner company.
Email communications are often the best way to join new affiliates and stay in touch throughout the campaign.
Some emails can be sent automatically through your shopify affiliate marketing app, while others require more personal information (e.g. onboarding emails, customer support, payment inquiries, etc.).
You can also promote your affiliate program on social media, your website or other marketing channels.
- Recruit your partners
With the right tools in place, you can start recruiting the ideal members.
It is important that you clearly define the criteria you are looking for, what you are willing to pay and what data you use to calculate the payment: sales, clicks, leads, etc.
You can use your affiliate marketing app to find affiliates on the networks they own, or you can start with your own customer base (e.g. referral marketing).
Shopify Affiliate Marketing – Example of Vianetic using an application form to recruit affiliates. Image from TheVianetic.com
- Ongoing tracking and management
Easily track performance and manage your affiliate program with the dashboard provided by the affiliate marketing tool.
Using the analytics and insights you receive through the app, you can further optimize your affiliate program.
While having a diverse marketing mix is always a good strategy, we believe that affiliate marketing should be an important part of this effort.
While there are many APPs that can perform similar tasks, it is important to make the most of your monthly fees. Therefore, we recommend that you do your research on each app.
Use these articles to help you narrow down your search and sign up for as many free trials and software demos as possible, giving you the best chance to “try before you buy”.
We can conclude from the above analysis that
For small businesses just starting out: GoaffPro offers a generous free program.
For enterprise-level businesses looking for a robust end-to-end solution: Refersion is a better fit for an established, fully end-to-end Shopify affiliate marketing product.
Affiliate marketing should be a part of any business’ diverse marketing mix because it is an effective way to reach new customers. Affiliate programs are growing in popularity, and for good reason: they work. -Affiliate marketing can also help you increase your brand awareness because people are more likely to remember an ad if they’ve been introduced to the product or service before. -There are many different affiliate marketing programs available, so it’s important to do your research before signing up for anything. -Once you find a program that fits your needs, make sure you sign up for as many as possible. This will give you the best chance of reaching new customers and increasing sales.
