Hi Jessica, We are in the process of developing an online subscription based product. Currently we are blogging about music practice for kids and trying to get to know our core purchasing audience, Moms, through social media. We're a shoestring startup, but we'd like to be equitable with revenue sharing when the revenue flows. How do you think affiliate sales opportunities are perceived by Mom bloggers? For example, our ad appears on your blog. When the reader clicks, a cookie is placed on their computer so we know who to properly credit when a purchase is made.

Thanks Jessica, You Rock!
Angelique Lee, Music Noodle

Angelique, thank you so much for this question.  While not an affiliate management expert, I can give you my take from a blogger's point of view.  Many mom bloggers look to affiliate marketing to monetize their blog.  However, many are just beginning or are unsure how they can optimize their affiliate advertising to create a win-win situation for the advertiser and themselves.  Here are few suggestions on how to create a symbiotic, fruitful relationship with bloggers.

1. In addition to offering a commission on sales, I recommend offering a bounty for each sign-up for your website.  I'm assuming you'll offer trials for potential customers and by offering a bounty of even 50 cents for each sign-up, bloggers will see this as an incentive to actively promote.


2. Start with a small group of bloggers at first to get feedback on your affiliate program and to allow for tweaking to find the "sweet spot" for your program.  Give this select group unlimited access to your subscriptions, make sure they know what new features/offerings are coming down the pipeline, and offer bonuses for high performers.  As you grow your affiliate network, make spaces in this exclusive group performance-based so that you are fostering relationships that reward retention.


3. Keep the lines of communication open and make yourself accessible to bloggers so that you can tailor an affiliate program that continues to grow and flourish instead of remaining stagnant.

Again, I'm not an affiliate manager but I have engaged in affiliate advertising and am more likely to partner with a company that offers a two-pronged approach.  Meaning, reward for sign-ups and for sales.

Hope this helps!  And if you would like to take me up on my advice for working with a small group first, I encourage you to pitch the Buzz Cooperative blogger members...for free.

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