How to Bring More Sales with Affiliate Network

To effectively utilize SaaS affiliate marketing for increased sales, move beyond simply initiating the program. Employ well-structured methods with the intention of influencing results. Our guide offers actionable steps to attract high-quality affiliates to sell your product and produce more sales.

Standing out in the SaaS market requires strategic positioning amidst a saturated landscape with over 30,000 brands. Affiliate marketing is a potential strategy for achieving targeted advertising, although its effectiveness may depend on various factors. The details in this guide will help you enhance your program to achieve maximum impact.

Instead of casting a wide net blindly, focus on developing a targeted recruitment strategy. Instead, develop a profile of your ideal affiliate by asking yourself:

• What is their area of influence (e.g., industry expert, blogger, social media influencer)?
• Who is their target audience (demographics, interests, professional level)? Does it align with your ideal customer profile?
• What type of content do they create (e.g., reviews, tutorials, comparisons, thought leadership)?
• What are their preferred communication channels (e.g., website, social media, email)?
• What are their main engagement metrics (e.g., website traffic, social media followers, email open rates)? Tools such as SEMrush can study traffic volume for potential affiliates.

A comprehensive profile that outlines your target market and recruitment goals could potentially facilitate the identification of suitable affiliates who align with your objectives

Considering the diverse nature of different platforms and formats, providing your affiliates with an array of marketing materials may be beneficial. Think about:

• Banners and creatives: Provide various sizes and formats, especially for notable placements (website, social media, email).
• Landing page customization: Provide pre-built landing page templates with the option for affiliates to adapt them to their unique brand identities.
• Email templates: Design email sequences for each stage of the customer journey (awareness, consideration, decision).
• Social media content: Create social media posts, graphics, and captions optimized for various platforms to share with affiliates (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn).
• Product demos and tutorials: Have videos and written documents that provide your SaaS product’s features and their benefits.
• Case studies and testimonials: Give social proof that builds credibility and trust, like those provided by Canva and Easyship.
• Keyword research and SEO guidelines: Assist affiliates in optimizing their content for search engines to increase organic reach.

These materials should enable affiliates to effectively promote your SaaS product’s value proposition across various promotional properties (website, social, email, app, extension, services and tools, paid display ads, content/blog/media, product comparison, coupon/deal, loyalty, influencer, etc.).

Set competitive commission rates and design incentive programs to encourage affiliate participation. Investigate industry benchmarks and competitors to compare your offer to ensure competitiveness. Think about:

• Commission structure: Higher performance may lead to slightly higher commission rates. This could influence the affiliate program’s overall performance. For example, an affiliate might earn 20% for their first 50 sales, 25% for sales 51-100, and 30% for all sales over 100.
  • ClickFunnels has a tiered commission system with a maximum rate of 40%.
• Wiederkehrende Provisionen: Offer ongoing commissions for the lifetime of the customer subscription (e.g., ConvertKit’s 24-month recurring commission). This design influences affiliate actions to favor acquiring customers expected to remain loyal in the long term. For example, an affiliate could earn 10% of the monthly subscription fee for as long as the customer remains subscribed.
• Bonuses and incentives: Offer performance-based bonuses, contests, or exclusive rewards. This could include offering a bonus for every 100 sign-ups or a higher commission rate for a limited time.
• Product-based commissions: Offer higher commissions for promoting specific products or plans. For instance, you might offer a 30% commission for promoting your premium plan and a 20% commission for your basic plan.

Clearly communicate your commission structure and payout terms to potential affiliates. Many experts cite a 40% commission rate as highly effective for SaaS products, as mentioned in Reddit discussions. ProProfs offers 100% of the first month’s subscription for monthly plans and 40% on annual plans.

Expand your program’s reach by listing it on relevant SaaS affiliate programs within established affiliate networks. Research various networks like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Awin, Impact Radius, Reditus, and Partnerize. Compare main types of Affiliate Networks:

• Partnernetzwerke: Existing since the beginnings of affiliate marketing. The platform’s publisher network includes a broad range of categories, from coupon sites and review blogs to social media influencers. These businesses, with their widespread affiliates and considerable range, could be regarded as a viable initial point for delving into affiliate marketing strategies. However, this also means competition can be fierce, and it might take more effort to stand out and attract top-performing affiliates. Examples include:
  • CJ Affiliate: One of the largest and oldest affiliate networks, known for its extensive publisher base and robust reporting tools.
  • ShareASale: A popular choice for both advertisers and publishers, offering a user-friendly interface and a wide range of promotional tools.
  • Awin: A global affiliate network with a strong focus on performance marketing and technology.
• Specific Industry Networks: Explore industry-specific affiliate networks if your SaaS product focuses on a particular market or customer segment. These networks specialize in connecting businesses with affiliates who have expertise and influence in that particular niche. This targeted approach can lead to higher-quality leads and better conversion rates. However, the pool of affiliates might be smaller compared to traditional networks. Examples include:
  • Impact Radius: A partnership automation platform for B2B and SaaS industries, offering functionalities that allow users to track and prevent fraud.
  • Reditus: A newer platform dedicated to B2B SaaS companies, offers tailored services and a marketplace for connecting with key affiliate partners.
• Sub-Affiliate Networks: These networks act as intermediaries between traditional networks and specific types of publishers, often focusing on influencers or content creators. The tools and resources that help with content monetization involve affiliate marketing. This can be a valuable way to tap into the growing power of influencer marketing, but it’s essential to choose networks with a strong track record and relevant influencers in your niche. Examples include:
  • Skimlinks: A platform that assists publishers in generating revenue through affiliate marketing by converting product links to affiliate links with features like price comparisons and newsletters.

Network Comparison:

Choose the networks that best align with your target audience and budget. Consider factors like audience fit, commission management capabilities, fraud prevention, reporting, merchant support, integrations, pricing, and reputation.

audience interacts; actively participate in these communities and provide valuable insights while subtly introducing your affiliate program when relevant. Consider the following platforms where you can publish your affiliate program/offers:

• Industry-specific subreddits: r/SaaS, r/marketing, r/startups, r/webdev, r/Affiliate
• Forums: Indie Hackers, Warrior Forum, Stack Overflow
• Facebook groups: SaaS Growth Hacks, SaaS Revolution, Cloud Computing & SaaS, Affiliate Marketing
• LinkedIn groups: SaaS Professionals, Cloud Computing, Software as a Service (SaaS) – The Definitive Group
• Blogs and online publications: Reach out to relevant blogs and publications in your niche, such as SaaStr, TechCrunch, The Next Web.
• Affiliate program directories: OfferVault, Affiliate Seeking, etc. (search for “affiliate program directory” to find more)

Tailor your message to each community and highlight how your SaaS product addresses their specific needs. Targeting niche affiliates such as accountants and bookkeepers can be effective, as demonstrated by Xero.

Many Americans rely on Finder.com, using the site as a source for product comparisons and reviews before making purchases. Reviews.com, alongside other platforms, emphasizes the importance of time-saving product reviews.

Partner with relevant SaaS influencers to promote your product. Collaborate on sponsored content, product reviews, or tutorials. Consider different types of influencers:

• Mega-influencers: are often celebrities or personalities with massive reach across various platforms. Their high follower count translates to broad awareness but can sometimes come with lower engagement rates and audience trust compared to other types. For example, Marques Brownlee (tech), MrBeast (general);
• Macro-influencers: typically have a substantial following within a specific niche or industry. Their established credibility & audience engagement can be observed in figures like Neil Patel (marketing) & Pat Flynn (SaaS).
• Micro-influencers: have a smaller but highly engaged audience within a specific niche. While their content often leans towards authenticity and relatability, the extent to which this affects trust and conversion rates remains unclear. SaaS-focused YouTubers tend to attract audiences that are smaller in size but highly engaged with the content.

Influencer Type Comparison:

Tailor your influencer marketing strategy to each influencer’s audience and content style.

It’s worth considering providing additional tips, guides, or updates to affiliates, both new and existing. It’s essential for your affiliate program to provide adequate knowledge and helpful resources so that affiliates can effectively promote your SaaS product.

• Provide comprehensive product training: Give detailed benefits of your SaaS product’s features, advantages, and use cases. Create video tutorials, webinars, and downloadable guides.
• Create marketing guides: Give best practices for affiliate marketing, including content creation, SEO, social media promotion, and email marketing.
• Offer sales resources: Provide affiliates with sales techniques, objection handling strategies, and customer success cases to convert leads into paying customers.
• Offer dedicated support channels: Provide a responsive support system for affiliates, such as email support, live chat, and a dedicated affiliate manager. Be sure to address their concerns promptly and effectively.
• Keep your affiliates updated: by regularly communicating with them openly and transparently.
  • Share newsletters: Give updates on program performance, new product functionality, new promotions, and industry news.
  • Create dedicated communication channels: Establish a forum, Slack group, or other channel so affiliates can connect with one another and your team. This facilitates interaction and participation within a shared context.
• Affiliate engagement strategies: Implement personalized email campaigns that recognize individual contributions, offer performance-related feedback, and provide targeted support initiatives. Establishing and nurturing strong partnerships, emphasizing their significance for both parties, is a vital outcome of this strategy.

Never just set and forget your affiliate program. Keep them engaged and motivated with regular promotions and contests.

• Reward increased commission rates for a limited time. This creates a sense of urgency and encourages affiliates to promote your product more actively. For example, offer a 10% discount to customers who sign up through an affiliate link in the first month.
• Give out bonuses for achieving specific targets. Set them for the number of sales, lead generation, or other desired actions, and reward affiliates who reach those goals.
• Hold contests with attractive prizes. Foster friendly competition among affiliates by awarding prizes for the top performers. This can incentivize them to go the extra mile in their promotional efforts.
• Run seasonal promotions. Schedule your promotions with holidays or key events to capitalize on customer interest and spending. For example, offer a 20% discount for Black Friday or a free month of service for new customers who sign up during the holiday season.

You can also try incorporating loyalty programs and train affiliates on how to use them to incentivize repeat business and customer retention:

• Cash Back: Customers win back a percentage of their purchase as cash rewards (e.g., Rakuten offers such services).
• Non-cash rewards: Customers earn points or other prizes for their purchases.
• Give exclusive service oder access to a closed group, some premium benefits, or rewards.

Affiliates consider the user experience on your website, so:

• Be sure your landing pages are enhanced for clarity: Use clear and simple language, provide key benefits, and make it easy for shoppers to understand your SaaS product’s value proposition.
• Design for mobile responsiveness: A large portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Make sure your landing pages are optimized for different screen sizes and create a seamless mobile experience.
• Optimize performance: Loading times affect user behavior, with faster speeds associated with improved user engagement such as decreased bounce rate and abandoned cart. Experimenting with different layouts and elements on your landing pages could influence both loading speeds and search engine rankings.
• Use strong calls-to-action: Direct visitors towards your desired action, whether it’s signing up for a free trial, scheduling a demo, or completing a purchase. Use strong language and highlight the benefits of taking action immediately.
• Regularly analyze your conversion funnel: Determine potential areas where users are dropping off. Examine user behavior using analytics to identify potential areas for improvement in your funnel.

Put robust tracking mechanisms in place to accurately measure conversions and monitor affiliate performance.

• Use affiliate tracking software: Invest in reputable affiliate tracking software that provides reliable data on clicks, conversions, and revenue generated by each affiliate.
• Analyze key metrics: Track metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, customer lifetime value (CLTV), and return on ad spend (ROAS) to understand the effectiveness of your affiliate program and individual affiliates.
• Sustaining top affiliate performance: Evaluating potential methods for recognizing and incentivizing your high-performing affiliates can contribute to maintaining their engagement and continued contributions.
• Understand channel performance: Analyze which channels and promotional methods are driving the most valuable traffic and conversions.
• Regularly review your data: Make data-driven decisions to optimize your affiliate program, adjust commission structures, and refine your marketing strategies.