What is the quickest path to Q4 failure? We posed this question to influential industry affiliates to gain perspective from the front lines. Across the board, we heard from our affiliates that advertisers failing to prepare and share their holiday offers in advance is detrimental to affiliate success this time of year.
Concealing your Q4 deals from your affiliate partners until the last minute may sabotage affiliates’ ability to creatively promote and drive revenue around your promotional periods—and during the greatest revenue opportunity of the year.
And, the earlier the better. This way, affiliates can sync up their marketing efforts with your marketing calendar. This ensures everyone’s goals are aligned and sets your affiliate sales team up for Q4 success.
But, what about having the details of your offers leaked out? Timing, timing, timing—rather than the details themselves—takes precedence. Here is how big brands like Walmart did it last year.
If you still choose not to disclose your Q4 marketing calendar ahead of time, what is really at stake? What type of revenue opportunity does Q4 present? Take a look—the numbers don’t lie.
Stay Locked In
Plan early, communicate this plan to your affiliates—and stay locked in. Don’t pull the rug out from under your affiliate partners by changing program terms, failing to deliver on promised promotions, or otherwise disabling affiliates during this most critical time of year. Affiliates are counting on your communicated Q4 plan.
Utilize LinkConnector Resources
One tool to help you avoid the costly mistake of last-minute planning and missed revenue opportunities is the LinkConnector Coupon / Promo Manager found in your merchant account. This tool eliminates manual error by programmatically ensuring affiliate partners are using your most up-to-date promotions. You can upload promotions well in advance and keep everyone up to speed with your marketing calendar.
Check out LC’s email functionality as well—another tool which gives merchants the ability to proactively communicate offers. Login to your account now to get started.
…being in direct contact with publishers whenever possible, especially during lead-up to the busiest periods, allows merchants to understand what publishers need to reach the desired results, find potential areas for development, and motivates them to go that extra mile.Christopher Freeman, JVWEB
Cyber Monday Side Note
If history repeats itself, Cyber Monday will be the largest online shopping day—ever. Have you considered an offer centered specifically around this key day, or Black Friday and Cyber Monday? You are missing out without such, as reinforced from a cutting-edge Social Affiliate in the LinkConnector Network.
Work smarter. Make this Q4 a record-breaking season for you and your affiliates!