In the face of fierce competition, businesses often struggle to capture the attention of their target audience. With countless options available at the click of a button, consumers increasingly rely on recommendations from trusted sources to guide their purchasing decisions. Implementing an affiliate program can be a powerful way to address consumer behavior.
However, partnering with the wrong affiliate can shift your messaging and lead to poor results. To avoid the worst case scenario, you need to do some advance preparation – in this case, affiliate recruitment research. For best results, vet potential affiliates thoroughly and choose those who align with your brand's values and marketing goals.
Here’s everything you need to know about conducting affiliate recruiting surveys.
What is Affiliate Recruitment?
Affiliate recruitment involves identifying, vetting, and onboarding new affiliates to promote your products and services. The goal is to find potential affiliates whose audience aligns with your target market and whose values align with your brand. Affiliate recruitment is the foundation of a successful affiliate marketing program, where affiliates promote products and services and earn commissions based on the sales and leads they generate.
Effective affiliate recruitment can increase your business' reach, brand awareness, and sales by leveraging the influence of the right partners. By carefully selecting affiliates who have a strong connection with their audience and a proven track record of success, you can build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that will help you open up new markets and drive targeted traffic to your website.
Tips for recruiting the best affiliates
Recruiting affiliates doesn't have to be a pain. Consider the goals of your affiliate marketing program (such as increasing web traffic, expanding brand awareness, driving sales, etc.) and then shortlist the partners who you think can best help you achieve those goals. Here's how:
Define your ideal affiliate
When defining your ideal affiliate, consider the type of business you run and the people you want to reach to build a successful affiliate program.
For example, let's say your company sells eco-friendly beauty products, then you could focus on working with affiliates who have a strong presence in the sustainable living niche, like green beauty bloggers, eco-conscious influencers, zero-waste lifestyle advocates, etc. On the other hand, if you run a business-to-business (B2B) software company, you could target affiliates with industry expertise, like tech bloggers, business consultants, and thought leaders in specific markets.
Analyze your competitors
Study your competitors' affiliate programs to gain valuable insights into their structures, commission rates, and recruiting strategies. Use this information to inspire and guide the development of your own program, offering competitive perks and incentives to attract the top affiliates in your niche. Don't hesitate to share your compelling offer with your competitors' most successful affiliates. These new affiliate partners will help you improve your program's performance and gain a competitive advantage.
Search our affiliate network database
Leverage the power of affiliate networks like Shopify Collabs, ShareASale, Impact, Partnerize, Awin, etc. to research professional affiliates that are suitable for your business. These affiliate recruitment tools will help you find authorities in the same niche as your business and boost your outreach. For example, if you run a fitness apparel company, you can filter and search for relevant affiliates in the health and wellness space.
Cast a wide net
Don't limit yourself to affiliate directories. Consider bloggers, influencers, and podcasters who have a strong presence in your niche. Approach potential affiliates with a compelling offer to join your affiliate program. For example, if you run an online bookstore, you might partner with a popular fantasy book blogger. In contrast, a jewelry brand could collaborate with a lifestyle Instagram influencer, or a supplement company could work with a reputable health podcaster.
By strategically selecting affiliates who have a genuine connection with your target audience, you can maximize the impact of your affiliate program management efforts and drive better results for your business.
Visit LinkedIn
Search for individuals on LinkedIn with relevant titles such as “content creator,” “influencer,” or “thought leader,” engage with their content to build relationships, and then contact them with an affiliate program proposal. Use LinkedIn for your affiliate recruiting efforts to find potential affiliate partners who have the expertise, credibility, and audience to promote your products or services.
For example, if you offer a SaaS product for human resource management, you can target HR consultants, corporate trainers, and employee experience experts who can recommend your solution to their customers and followers.
Attract affiliates organically
Create a dedicated affiliate program page on your website that is search engine optimized to attract potential affiliates who are actively looking for partnership opportunities in your niche.
This page should clearly outline your affiliate program, including commission rates, payment terms, and any unique selling points that make your program stand out. As part of your website's affiliate recruitment process, you should feature testimonials and case studies from successful affiliates, highlighting the benefits and potential earnings of partnering with your business.
Invest in search and social advertising
Search and social media ads can be effective affiliate recruitment tools to reach potential partners interested in your affiliate program. For example, if you run an online pet supply store, you can bid on search terms like “pet product reviews,” “pet influencers,” and “make money with pets” to attract relevant affiliate marketers to your program.
Create compelling ad copy and visuals that highlight the benefits of your affiliate program for platforms like Instagram, and direct interested users to a dedicated affiliate landing page where they can learn more.
Attend industry events and conferences
To network with potential affiliates, attend industry events and conferences related to your niche. For example, if you run an online store that sells high-end kitchen appliances, consider attending food and wine festivals and culinary expos to network with food bloggers and recipe creators. Use these opportunities to introduce your affiliate program, exchange business cards, and follow up with personalized emails and messages to continue your outreach efforts and build relationships.
Develop an affiliate onboarding program
We create a comprehensive affiliate onboarding program, providing new partners with all the tools, resources and knowledge they need to promote your products and services. We provide them with detailed product information, marketing materials and a unique tracking link generated by our affiliate software.
We coach our affiliates on best practices for promoting your brand through your website, blog, email marketing, and social media channels, plus we provide ongoing support so that they feel valued, motivated, and ready to drive sales and revenue for your business.
Run a referral program
Implement a referral incentive system to encourage your most successful affiliates to refer other quality partners to your program. Reward them with bonuses or free products when they refer new affiliates that generate sales. This strategy will help you retain active affiliates and identify potential partners who may be a good fit for your program.
Affiliate Recruitment Survey Frequently Asked Questions
How can I recruit more affiliates?
To recruit affiliates, use social media, industry events, affiliate networks, and targeted advertising. Create a compelling affiliate program page that highlights the benefits of joining, and optimize your website for organic search.
What does it take to be a strong affiliate partner?
A strong affiliate has a relevant audience, a track record of delivering results, and values that align with your brand. Affiliates should be able to promote your products with integrity and follow your brand guidelines consistently.
Does affiliate marketing work?
Yes, affiliate marketing works by partnering with the right affiliates, providing them with the necessary tools and support, and continually monitoring and optimizing their performance.
