Onboarding and activating affiliates are vital in a successful SaaS affiliate marketing strategy. Effective affiliate onboarding is the foundation for a thriving affiliate program, setting the stage for long-term success.
Much like the steps your customers go through in product onboarding and activation process, the same concept can be applied to your affiliates.
The key ‘aha’ moment, for example, is attained when they make their first sale or receive their first commission.
By dedicating effort and resources to enhancing your affiliate onboarding and activation process, you can gain a competitive edge over many affiliate programs that allocate minimal attention to these critical steps. In this guide, we will delve deep into how to set your affiliates up for success.
Affiliate onboarding is about educating and communicating with your affiliates. You need to inform the basics of how your program runs and how to sell your product. For instance, provide guidance on product descriptions and promotion channels. This can significantly enhance their chance to succeed.
The affiliate onboarding process typically begins with completing a sign-up form on your website. The form serves a dual purpose: data collection and initial filter to cross out unsuitable affiliates. It’s recommended to design a quick and easy completion form that requests relevant information only (e.g., website details, tax information, country, and preferred payment method). For more insights about this, check our guide on How to Define Your Ideal Affiliate Profile.
It’s also important to establish a dedicated email cadence for your affiliates, so they’ll receive all the information they need on auto-pilot. The first automated email (sent after a signup) should be personalized. It should include the basic details of your affiliate program like the login information and the commission structure. You can also add a warm welcome and a short how-to reach-out message.Â
An email drip campaigns tool like Mailchimp or ConvertKit can be incredibly effective for this purpose. You can further personalize the emails to include:
To equip your affiliates more effectively, consider sharing the following resources as well:
By offering clear, comprehensive information, your affiliates are empowered to succeed. They will understand your product better and can promote it more effectively.
As your knowledge of product promotion and what works best for your affiliates evolves, it is essential to refine your affiliate onboarding process continuously. This ensures that it remains aligned with the current best practices relevant to your business.
While affiliate onboarding is a necessary first step, the real win comes when your affiliates start actively selling. Therefore, activating dormant affiliates or those who signed up but haven't started promoting is equally important. You can nudge them by sharing relevant video products or training materials along with their unique referral links.
Take a Personalized Approach
When starting an affiliate program, it’s always good to take a high-touch approach. Get on calls with each affiliate, understand their promotion plans, and offer individualized support. This could later be scaled up to webinars with groups of affiliates or pre-recorded webinars that can be viewed on-demand.
Celebrate Affiliate Success
Celebrate your affiliates' significant milestones, such as their first sale or reaching specific benchmark (e.g., acquiring one hundred referrals). This will not only add a personal touch but also strengthen your relationship with them and enhance the chances of a successful onboarding.
Remember to Stay in Touch
Affiliates are your sales partners, and like any partnership, regular communication is key to long-term relationships. By consistently checking in, offering support, and sharing the latest updates, you underscore their significance to your business. This approach keeps your brand at the forefront of their minds and encourages them to promote your products actively.
Launch Co-Marketing Campaigns
Co-marketing with your affiliates is an excellent strategy to motivate them and enhance sales. For a deeper understanding of these strategies, their advantages, and correct execution, consider reading our guide on Co-marketing and Coordinating Promotions.
Affiliates are a primary source of top-of-funnel traffic. Thus, educating them to pitch your product successfully is crucial. The more you invest in the relationship, the likelier they will effectively onboard and activate within your affiliate program.
By implementing a strategic approach, you establish an efficient and scalable system, ensuring your affiliates are adequately equipped to promote your brand. This, in turn, contributes to the success of your SaaS business.
