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Chapter 23. Managing Your AffiliatesSearch engines are generally sympathetic and fairly responsive to trademark infringement complaints against competitors . Want them to remove your affiliates' listings? Forget it. Affiliates are an extension of your sales force; therefore, it's your job to manage how they promote your business. An affiliate program is potentially a merchant's best friend. Unlike a majority of online marketing programs, this one is solely performance based. Companies, or individuals, sign up as your affiliates to market your products or services and receive a commission fee on each sale. Their sales are monitored by a unique tracking URL you provide to them. No sales? No commission fee. Affiliates might promote your products via a testimonial in their own e-zine, through banner ads on their web site, or by purchasing keywords on search engines. Unfortunately, a number of affiliates use various types of spam to lure in customers at little cost. Merchants who are connected to these unethical affiliates are at risk for having their web sites shut down by Internet service providers (ISPs). Additionally, merchants could experience brand dilution and damage customer loyalty. But that's a chapter unto itself. With regard to search engine advertising, big brands must create an affiliate strategy because many are losing massive profits to their marketing partners . How much is "massive?" I'm talking about the loss of millions of dollars. |
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