Do you know that the text of your affiliate denial email can actually hurt your recruitment efforts?
Here’s a scenario:
You are running a blog for your affiliate program, which attracts good targeted traffic (affiliates interested in promoting your product/service), and lands affiliate sign-ups. You are reviewing applications manually [good for you!], and when finding affiliates whose websites do not suit your vertical/audience, you decline their applications. When an affiliate application is declined, you are sending them a blanket email which tells them that unfortunately their application was denied on any of the below-quoted reasons.
The above-described case is a situation where your denial email hurts your own affiliate recruitment. How? You’re not giving them a chance to explain why they have applied to your program in the first place!
Give the applying affiliates the benefit of the doubt. Even when declining their applications, do not burn bridges. Here’s a brief text you can use to show them that you’re open to communicating with them, learning more, and reevaluating your decision:
We are sorry, but the website(s) listed on your profile do(es) not meet our approval criteria. We have therefore declined your affiliate application.
If, however, you feel that we have overlooked your potential, we would like to hear from you. Just email us a brief explanation of how you were planning on marketing our product/service, and we will gladly reconsider your application.
You never know which of them will become the next super affiliate.
Tags: affiliate denial email, affiliate management, Affiliate Program Management, affiliate recruitment
As a note to affiliates who may be on the receiving end of those emails/notices. Make contact with the merchant or manager and ask why you were declined. Give a very quick outline of why you want to join the program and ask for reconsideration.
I was just auto declined by a merchant, I emailed the manager and got a reply that a pending offer was waiting for me to accept. Merchants and their managers usually want to work with you on their program. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them.
Very good advice, Steve. “Merchants and their managers usually want to work with you on their program” and e-mailing them back in response to denial emails (if you have a clear idea of how you want to promote them) is definitely something that affiliates should do. It’s business, and a two-way communication channel is a must.