Comments on: Hiring an In-House Affiliate Manager

By: Chuck Hamrick

Chuck Hamrick — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:44:57 +0000

My initial experience (after learning SEO) was launching CJ/LS programs in 2001/2002. At that time we just launched them and didn’t manage them and ultimately they failed. Then used affiliate links to monetize traffics from organically ranked sites who’s merchant had left our service. It was humbling trying to find affiliate programs that converted for very target rankings. Gave me a great respect for affiliates and how hard it is for them to make a living at it. Now I am said to “speak affiliate” as I relate the reality of the relationship to clients. And its not easy to get merchants to understand the value affiliate bring.

By: Affiliate Marketing Job Board | Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Affiliate Marketing Job Board | Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:24:36 +0000

[...] get lots of inquiries from companies looking to hire an affiliate manager, as well as folks looking to move on to a new affiliate marketing [...]

By: Jesse Bouman

Jesse Bouman — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:08:07 +0000

Hmmm, Very good point Vince, listening and understanding is the key.

I agree with Shawn that many affiliate managers were put in their position without knowing what they really do or need to do, on the other end, I believe it is hard to find a manager that was an affiliate prior being a manager, I see more affiliate managers becoming successful affiliates than the other way (Shawn this is your case too right?) in my opinion an affiliate generating a descent revenue from his affiliate business will loose revenue by joining a company to manage their program, unless they keep their affiliate business (wich will require them to spend time on it and loose focus on managing)..

@ Steven, I bet you are from Toronto or LA

By: Aff Mgr Small Co

Aff Mgr Small Co — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:19:47 +0000

One of the things that has helped me most, and I know that my boss would agree with this, is knowing the company and its philosophy, knowing the product, and knowing the targeted audience, as in any form of marketing. If you can find someone already working for the company who can also fulfill the requirements listed in previous posts, then you are in good shape.

By: Shawn Collins

Shawn Collins — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:58:15 +0000

My point with "Ideally, you’ll find somebody with experience as an affiliate manager in your niche" was the overall pool of affiliate managers.

I think they should have affiliate experience, but a great many do not.

Also, in my experience in publishing stat reports geared towards affiliate managers for 6 years, as well as seeing the addresses of affiliate managers for 12 Affiliate Summits, there is a definite concentration of affiliate programs in the Bay area and NYC.

Similarly, I've never seen most affiliates in Toronto/LA in the ten years I was running affiliate programs, or from the addresses of Affiliate Summit attendees.

Which sort of affiliate programs are you involved in? My focus has been primarily on retail.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:05:11 +0000

Okay, I was referring to just affiliates since the basis of the post is that they would make better managers, in which case I do agree to an extent. I wouldn't necessarily say that the majority of experienced managers are in NYC or San Francisco just because a few larger networks are there but it could be a possiblity. I based the fact that the majority of affiliates are in Toronto and LA because statistically it is true from the sheer number of affiliates I've come in contact with.

By: Michael Vorel

Michael Vorel — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:38:23 +0000

Good points Shawn. As an affiliate and affiliate manager I never saw geography as an issue in either case. The great thing about affiliate marketing is that it can be done from anywhere in the world. I would recommend that merchants consider outsourcing the affiliate manager position to lower overhead costs as they don’t need to be at the location to be successful.

By: Steven

Steven — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:35:45 +0000

NYC and SF are wrong. Majority of affiliates are in Toronto Canada or LA right now. Those areas a major hot spot in terms of affiliates compare to networks

By: vince_virzi

vince_virzi — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:31:36 +0000

there are affiliate managers out there that were not affiliates at first; I became an affiliate after being the industry a couple of years. The biggest mistake affiliate managers make is not listening to their affiliates. You learn more by understanding what your affiliate does to drive traffic. Too many affiliate managers just try to manage a program vs. understanding what motivates an affiliate to drive traffic through a specific relationship. The more you listen the more you know.

By: Shawn Collins

Shawn Collins — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:29:28 +0000

I was talking about experienced affiliate managers being in NYC and San Francisco, since there are a concentration of companies in each city with affiliate programs.

What is your basis for saying the majority of affiliates are located in Toronto and Los Angeles?