Create A Forum For Your Affiliates
5 Reasons to Create a Forum for Your Affiliates
If you operate an affiliate program, you should be in close contact with your
affiliates. It is they who help you generate sales. In some instances, they are
the backbone of your company. Their ability to advertise and sell your products is
what leads to increased sales. These sales, in turn, increase your profits. That
is why good support and help is advised, but how do you get it? With an online
message forum.
As nice as it is to hear that you can and should setup an online message forum,
otherwise known as a message board, for your affiliates, why? What are the
benefits? Continue reading on to find out.
1 – Your Affiliates Can Help Each Other
What is nice about online message boards is that internet users are able to
communicate with each other. Some post a question, suggestion, or a complaint and
others can read it. Not only that, but they can respond with an answer. If you do
not have the time to answer questions from new affiliates, an online message board
is your best option. You created an online community. Your affiliates will help
each other.
2 – It Shows You Are Interested In What They Have to Say
Often times, affiliates feel ignored. They post a question or make a suggestion to
the affiliate manager and never hear a response back. This is not what you want.
In fact, it may cause affiliates to leave the program. No one wants to wait days
or never get a response. Having a message board for members, especially one that
you visit on occasion, shows that you care about your affiliates. You are truly
interested in what they have to say.
3 – Online Message Boards Are Easy to Setup
When it comes to operating an online message board, you have many options. The
easiest is to head online and search for a software program. You purchase a
program and upload the message board format to your website. Most cost less than
$100 a year. A few clicks of the mouse here and there and you should be ready to
go. It is very easy to setup a message board. In fact, if you can operate a
functioning affiliate program, setting up a message board will be a walk in the
park. Just make sure your forum settings are set to private and require membership
to keep only your affiliates inside.
4 – They Limit Your Work
As previously stated, you should visit your online message board on occasion.
Answer lingering questions affiliates have or join in on discussions that have no
responses. With that said, only 10 minutes a day is enough. Moreover, since your
affiliates are able to provide each other with help and support, it leaves fewer
questions for you to answer by phone or email. It significantly reduces the time
and money spend on training or helping new affiliates.
5 – You Can Sticky Posts
Most online forums have posts that stay at the top of the page; these are known as
“Sticky,” posts. You can create your own. Use these messages to help new
affiliates. Have posts that show affiliates how to navigate the website, get
links, and share moneymaking tips. Better yet, create a post just for frequently
asked questions. Take the most common questions you are asked and answer them.
New affiliates can visit the frequently asked questions section and find the
answers to most of their problems, without needing to contact you.