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Affiliate marketing program

Affiliate marketing programs help online retailers and direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands grow their business by connecting with affiliates (publishers) who earn a commission from the sales generated by referrals to their site. When paired with public relations, these two can become a powerful tool to encourage more blogs and publishers to cover your brand and drive traffic to your website.

The platform we recommend, which a majority of outdoors brands use, is called AvantLink (based in Utah). Their affiliate-base is diverse, comprised of content sites and niche-blogs as well as others. They reject about 70% of affiliate applications to provide quality-over-quantity affiliates for our merchant partners.

Is this just another couponing site tool?

Simply put, no.

In the past, you may remember affiliate sites and links mainly focused on discounts and promo codes which would end up on couponing sites. AvantLink puts the control in the hands of the brand. Your business can accept or reject any applicants who apply. In addition, there is no need to offer a discount.

Why would a publisher use an affiliate link?

With the changing landscape of the media, ad revenue has fallen and the broad marketing publications have struggled. In searching for a solution, publishers are focusing more on niche content and topics. By offering an affiliate program/link, the publisher can make a commission, set by your company, and can direct relevant traffic to your website for a conversion. It’s a win/win. 

Here is an example of REI affiliate marketing program application:

• REI's affiliate marketing page. They do a great job with their program. 

What is the process for adding an affiliate program to your site? 

1. Verde and your dev team add a link to your footer and a snippet of code to your site.

2. Publishers can click the link to apply to be part of the affiliate program. 

3. Once the application is complete, we can review, accept or reject the application. 

4. Once approved, the publication generates a link via their dashboard on AvantLink, which they use in their article.

   • For example, if a swimwear blog writes an article on swimwear and includes your brand/product, the writer will link to that product on your product detail page using the link. 

5. If a reader clicks on the link and purchases from your site, the blog will get a commission on the sale. At the end of the month, AvantLink invoices your company and then they payout all commissions.

6. You have full control who is approved and you are not discounting anything (so nothing will end up on promo code site). 

Here is an example of a gear rundown from Outside Magazine. You can see all of the links are affiliate links. 

Why is this something to consider?

• Many publishers are seeking out brands with affiliate program to generate revenue. 

• It helps with link building to your site. 

• Verde can mine the list to enable pitching even more publications = more awareness and exposure = more direct and organic traffic/sales. 

How is this all tracked?

• We have standard tracking & reporting

• Simple Javascript library implementation (site-wide, confirmation, GTM)

• Real-time tracking and reporting on impressions, clicks and sales.

• Additional parameters available include (but are not limited to):

  • New Customer Sales

  • Mobile Sales

  • Exclusive Coupon Code

  • Foreign Currency

  • Shipping

  • Custom Parameters

AvantMetric Reporting

• Advanced Click-Stream Analytics

  • View all online marketing channels involved in a single sale & gain insights into how your various marketing channels interact with one another.

Advanced Commission Splitting

• Bypass the traditional last-click-wins payout model and award multiple affiliates involved in the sale, based on where they fall in the click-stream.

Sales/Payments:

• Merchants pay one monthly invoice.

• All affiliate commissions & any bonuses are included on this invoice.

• AvantLink handles distribution of commissions to the affiliates on the merchant’s behalf. 

AvantLink's Rate Card:

• One-Time Integration Fee: This is a one-time flat fee. In working through Verde, our client’s receive a discount on this fee.

• Base Commission (paid to affiliate): TBD by client (Network Average is 7.5%)

• Network Commission: 3% of total sales, by working through Verde, our clients receive a discount on the commission.

• Account Management Fee (Optional): The team at Verde is happy to set up and manage this program for you. Please contact us for a management estimate.

If you are interested in hearing more, please contact us.