*This is a guest post from my affiliate manager Geofferson Marcy at Advaliant, my personal favorite network. If there is better support from another affiliate network out there, I am yet to find it. Make sure to sign up with Advaliant, amazing honesty, integrity, and support from everyone over there!

As an affiliate manager, one of the most common questions I get asked from my affiliates is “can I get a payout increase on XYZ campaign?” While it’s understandable that everybody in the industry wants to get the max payout on the campaigns they are running, the reality is that most affiliates out there aren’t getting top payouts. That being said, there are some things you “the money hungry affiliate” can say and do in order to get that payout boost. Note: “Because my mom said so!” is not a very convincing reason. So coming from the performance based marketing world I live in, at a CPA network called Advaliant - here are the key things I always consider before approving payout increase requests from my publishers.

1.  Account History – Past performance is a big factor I look at when making a decision whether to give you a bump. If you’ve been getting traction on an offer by producing consistent quality leads, then you are sending positive signals to me that you are a performer and to be taken seriously. Time your request once you have some momentum and stats to back up, and not until then. As long as the traffic you’ve been sending is quality, I’ll always want to help get more volume on it with you. Bottom line: once you have a proven track record, it’s a lot easier to ask for more.
   
2. Future Potential – I often look at the “perceived potential” of an affiliate to evaluate whether or not they deserve an increase. If I know that you do a lot of business at other networks or if you come highly recommended from a trusted source, I’ll be more receptive to your requests. If you are a new affiliate with me, you might want to prove your worthiness by showing me examples of what you have done elsewhere on other networks. For example; I’ve had affiliates send me screenshots of their activity on their search accounts or network rankings. Not saying you need to do this, but you will have to show and prove some kind potential if you have a weak or non-existent history with me and are basically coming out of nowhere. Bottom line: put yourself in my shoes, and ask yourself what the future potential of “you” is…
3. Goal Oriented Requests - It helps a lot to link your request to a specific outcome. For example, let me know that if I give you a “x” payout bump on a campaign, you’ll be able to likely drive “y” in increased lead volume and therefore “z” more in revenue. Be reasonable and logical with your calculations here in terms of what you are realistically capable of. If you are a search affiliate and have limited budgets for each campaign, let me know how the increase will help you crank more volume. Bottom line: whatever you request, don’t create a big expectation gap or you’ll have an even harder time getting an increase in the future.
4. Campaign Competitiveness – If you know another reputable network has the same campaign at a higher payout, you can use this as leverage in your negotiation with me. We always want to play on a level playing field with other networks out there on the same campaigns. But, I don’t want to hear that some shady network out there offered you a higher payout, when behind the scenes you are getting scrubbed like crazy. Just make sure you compare apples to apples when naming other networks out there with the same campaign. Bottom line: The more information/intelligence you have about a campaign, the better you can present your case to me.
5. Relationship Status – I’m not talking about whether you are single, married or on the prowl here. What I mean is essentially “how good is our relationship together?” The strength of our relationship will play a significant role when considering all of your requests, including payout increases. When the relationship is founded on trust with a longer term focus, I’m more apt to think of the big picture with you. This means I’ll be more willing to fight for you to get whatever you want. It’s not uncommon for my “inner circle” affiliates to get extra things from me – like high level tips, extra focus, more access to me (like my cell phone number and evening support), custom gifts and more! Bottom line: Spend some quality time building relationships with people that have an influence on your success – like your affiliate manager!

Keep in mind, that whether or not you are successful with getting a payout increase, there are other things you can ask for from your affiliate manager. These include better payment terms, custom creative and landing pages, detailed performance data and a genuine kick in the pants. We’re here to help you make as money as you can (in the shortest amount of time) and our success is hinged upon yours! If you ever get the opportunity to meet your affiliate manager in person at a conference or event, take it. (And the bill is always on us by the way!)

All the best this year,

Geofferson M

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