The following is what Nicole Russell had to say in response the the question, What is wrong with affiliate marketing and how can it be improved?
The one thing that I feel can be improved with affiliate marketing is communication.
There are now so many affiliate programs, and most affiliate marketers are working with dozens of them at once, that it’s hard to know what is going on at each one without communication.
If I’m a member of your affiliate program, I want to hear from you on a regular basis. I’d love to hear from an affiliate manager weekly, at least monthly.
I want to know what is going on at that program. I want to know about the current promotions, coupons, new creatives you have, any changes that have been made, etc.
You can use email, direct mail, and/or phone calls. The more I hear from an affiliate program, the better I am able to promote them. We have a common goal and we should be working together as a team!
Regular communication makes that possible and both parties will benefit greatly from it.