Step 5. Start your campaign

As you can see, rolling out your affiliate program depends on you accurately targeting your customers and affiliates. You must be prepared to test your conversion process now as you start your campaign.

Affiliate networks are built via email, telemarketing, and fax. The following is an example of a letter used both as an email and fax contact, as well as the basis for a telemarketing interview.

If you have your target prospects in place, begin by emailing and testing your offer. Compare this to your success via phone and fax follow up. A basic rule applies; the busier a Web Site is, the more likely you are to make initial contact via phone. The less busy they are, the more you focus on email; these are the affiliates who will likely respond via email and are more likely good customers than best selling affiliates. Here's a sample piece of copy:

Subject Line is
RE: I've recommended your website

Hello [their name], (if no name use Hi there!)

I just reviewed your website at [their URL]. I really liked [write a couple personable sentences about their site design or content. Have fun with this!] Did you design the site yourself? Excellent work!

I wanted to introduce myself and present you with an offer. The company I am working for is called [Your Company]. They offer the world's largest selection of luggage, bags, and travel-related products at the best prices. Check it out for yourself at:

http://www.yourcompany.com

We are looking for a few website owners (like you) who love the value and selection we offer, and would like to make it available to their web visitors. We will pay you for doing so.

The idea is simple. You add a link to your site, we track your visitors and pay you a good commission on each sale. We do all the work of processing orders, drop shipping, customer service and handling returns. You receive e-mail notification with each order and a check at the end of each month with a sales recap.

Sound interesting?

We just launched our Web Site to offer the best products at the best prices. There is no one else out there doing what they do.

They asked me to select a few great websites and reward the WebMasters with better than average revenue-sharing commissions. That's where you come in! I like your site and recommended it to the Review Committee.

If you are intrigued at this point, I invite you to investigate the site, then fill out the Associate Application at:

http://www.yourcompany.com/associates.html

Our Online Sales Director will call you to discuss the commission arrangements and answer your questions.

Sincerely,
Hazel Whyte
Your Company Review Committee
http://www.yourcompany.com/associates.html

P.S. Keep up the good work on your site. It was a great place to visit! I ended up spending quite a bit of time at it and bookmarked it for later...

Remember to test this via email, fax, and telemarketing. You will find that by showing you know what their site is about, and addressing them by name (especially in the subject line of our email), your conversion rates will dramatically increase.