Choosing The Right Affiliate Marketing Agency

Choosing The Right Affiliate Marketing Agency

If you have made the all-important choice to work with an affiliate marketing agency, you now approach the task of choosing an affiliate agency. Choosing the right agency for your business is a critical decision that can significantly impact your growth and success. It’s essential to approach this choice with careful consideration and due diligence. Here are some of our top points to consider when researching affiliate agencies:

  • Ensure that the agency you select specialises in the specific services and expertise required to meet these goals effectively. If you’re looking for an agency that requires expertise in your business sector, make sure you look for agencies that have the relevant experience to drive performance. 
  • Assess the agency’s track record by reviewing case studies, client testimonials, and industry reputation. An agency with case studies, testimonials and a real reputation within the industry shows that it is knowledgeable and will be able to drive real results for your business, not just promises. 
  • Look for an agency that not only has a proven history of delivering results but also aligns with your brand’s values and culture. It’s important that an agency’s culture aligns with your business culture to ensure you are getting the most out of a partnership. 
  • Make sure that the agency delivers reports that will be suitable for you as a business. Each business will have different needs, so whether you need weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly reports, make sure any potential agency can accommodate your reporting needs.
  • Consider what tools and tech different agencies have available to them. If you need an agency that uses a specific platform or network, look out for this information on their website or contact them if you cannot find it. 
  • Ask what level of resources the agency is equipped with. Every agency is different, some will be quite new and have different levels of resources to a well-established agency whose employees have years of experience in their field. 
  • Open and transparent communication is key to a successful agency-client relationship, so choose an agency that prioritises collaboration and keeps you informed every step of the way. 
  • Finally, find out how long the agency’s contract commitment terms are. For any business, if you are just starting out in the world of affiliates, you may be wary of a long-term commitment without knowing how that agency will perform for your business. If you want a long-term relationship for continuity or need a short minimum term, make sure the agency is aware of this in early discussions.
choosing the right affiliate agency
choosing affiliate agency

WHY SYYCO?

Imagine a world where your business not only survives but thrives, where you can focus on what you do best, knowing that a dedicated team is working behind the scenes to boost your brand. That’s the world SYYCO opens up for our clients. Let’s discover why SYYCO is the partner you’ve been searching for.

1

a culture of flexibility and affinity

First and foremost, let’s address the financial considerations. Opting for an in-house team entails an abundance of financial responsibilities, including pension contributions, National Insurance obligations, holiday pay, and contingency plans for sickness cover. Additionally, you’ll need to allocate substantial resources to staff training and development to ensure they stay ahead in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

On the other hand, an affiliate marketing agency offers an alternative that presents both flexibility and cost-effectiveness. By partnering with an agency, you gain access to a dynamic team of professionals, each skilled in their respective fields. This flexible approach allows you to scale your operations up or down based on your specific needs, without the burden of the associated in-house costs.

2

economies of scale and negotiating power

One size fits no one in the world of affiliate marketing. That’s why SYYCO prides itself on offering a truly bespoke service. We understand that your business is unique, with its own goals, challenges and opportunities. Our approach begins with listening. We take the time to understand your brand, your audience and your vision. 

Once we’re on the same page, our team of experts crafts a customised affiliate marketing strategy tailored exclusively for your business. From choosing the right affiliates to optimising campaigns for maximum ROI, we’re with you every step of the way, ensuring that our efforts align seamlessly with your objectives. 

3

clients first, always

We don’t just say we put clients first; we live it. Your success is our success. Our dedicated Client Managers and Partnership Managers are more than just contacts, they’re your partners in growth. We believe in transparent communication, keeping you in the loop every step of the way. If you have a question or concern, we’re just a call or an email away, ready to provide the answers and solutions you need.

Our commitments extends beyond the day-to-day tasks. We’re constantly monitoring industry trends and refining our strategies to keep your business ahead of the curve. When you partner with SYYCO, you’re not just gaining an affiliate marketing agency, you’re gaining a team of experts who are as invested in your success as you are.

 

4

Navigating the complex world of affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing can be a maze, but with SYYCO as your guide, you’ll navigate it with ease. We bring years of experience and a deep understanding of various industry sectors to the table. From identifying the most promising affiliates to optimising conversion paths, our experts are on top of it.

We stay ahead of industry shifts and algorithm updates, ensuring your campaigns remain effective and compliant. With SYYCO, you can focus on your core business operations while we handle the intricacies of affiliate marketing, driving results that matter.

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

In a world where success is defined by digital capabilities, affiliate marketing is the beacon guiding businesses to success. But not just any affiliate marketing – SYYCO’s approach is distinct. Our remote team, our dedication to your unique needs, our client-first ethos, and our deep expertise make us the partner you can rely on

Your business deserves nothing less than the best, and SYYCO is ready to deliver. Let’s embark on this journey together, where your success is our mission. Contact us today, and let’s write the next chapter of your business’s success story, with SYYCO by your side.

To read more about whether an affiliate marketing agency is right for your business, please click here.

To read about the benefits of social media in affiliates, click here.

 

syyco affiliate and partnerships agency
Why Work With An Affiliate Marketing Agency?

Why Work With An Affiliate Marketing Agency?

81% of brands rely on an affiliate marketing agency to grow their business. Some companies even dedicate around 15% of their marketing budget to affiliate marketing. Therefore, in the bustling world of business, where every click counts and every conversion matters, developing an affiliate programme is essential to grow your business and increase revenue. 

However, ensuring that your affiliate programme is achieving its full potential requires a lot of time and resources. For many businesses, it often makes more sense to outsource affiliate management to an agency. Affiliate marketing agencies can provide resources, contacts and insights to scale a programme more efficiently than you can in-house.

In this blog, we will explore whether an affiliate marketing agency is the right choice for your business, including just some of the many advantages of working with an affiliate agency. We will also look at choosing the right agency.. Most importantly, we will explore why SYYCO may be your first choice when partnering with an affiliate marketing agency.

Is An Affiliate Agency Right For Your Business?

Knowing if an affiliate marketing agency is the right fit for your business is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your digital marketing success. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating whether partnering with an affiliate marketing agency aligns with your business objectives:

1. ASSESS YOUR BUSINESS GOALS

Begin by assessing your short-term and long-term marketing objectives. An affiliate marketing agency is well-suited for businesses aiming to expand their online reach, increase sales, or optimise their digital marketing strategy. If your goals involve leveraging affiliate partnerships to drive growth and revenue, then an agency’s expertise may be what you need.

2. evALUATE YOUR RESOURCES

Micro-influencers are individuals with 10,000+ followers within a specific niche. While they may have fewer followers compared to mega-celebrities, their impact should not be underestimated. Micro-influencers often boast a loyal and dedicated audience, leading to higher levels of trust and authenticity. By partnering with micro-influencers, brands can tap into niche markets and connect with potential customers on a more personal level.

why work with a partnerships agency
reasons to work with a partnerships agency

3. COMPLEXITY OF AFFILIATE MARKETING

Affiliate marketing can be intricate, involving various elements such as affiliate recruitment, tracking, compliance, and performance optimisation. An agency’s specialised knowledge can simplify the process and ensure your program is well-executed and compliant with industry standards.

Ultimately, if an agency demonstrates expertise, a strong track record, and a commitment to your success, it may be the ideal partner to help you achieve your digital marketing goals.

 

TOP 5 REASONS TO WORK WITH AN AFFILIATE AGENCY

1

COST-EFFICIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY
First and foremost, let’s address the financial considerations. Opting for an in-house team entails an abundance of financial responsibilities, including pension contributions, National Insurance obligations, holiday pay, and contingency plans for sickness cover. Additionally, you’ll need to allocate substantial resources to staff training and development to ensure they stay ahead in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

On the other hand, an affiliate marketing agency offers an alternative that presents both flexibility and cost-effectiveness. By partnering with an agency, you gain access to a dynamic team of professionals, each skilled in their respective fields. This flexible approach allows you to scale your operations up or down based on your specific needs, without the burden of the associated in-house costs.

2

economies of scale and negotiating power
One of the compelling advantages of engaging an agency lies in its economies of scale and formidable negotiating power. Agencies operate on behalf of multiple brands, giving them significant leverage when it comes to securing favourable terms and rates. Their industry-wide perspective provides them with insights into market norms, enabling them to distinguish between advantageous and unfavourable deals.

3

adherence to best practices and industry dynamics
The digital marketing arena is in a state of perpetual flux, characterized by ever-evolving trends, legislation changes, and emerging best practices. Staying abreast of these developments can be a formidable challenge for any brand. Here is where the expertise of a specialist agency comes into play.

By collaborating with an affiliate marketing agency, you gain a trusted advisor well-versed in industry intricacies. We keep a vigilant eye on emerging trends, shifts in legislation, and evolving best practices, ensuring that your affiliate program remains compliant and adaptable to the changing landscape.

4

LEVERAGING PUBLISHER RELATIONSHIPS
Affiliate marketing thrives on partnerships, particularly with publishers and affiliates who amplify your brand’s reach. Building and sustaining relationships with an extensive network of affiliates can be a daunting task for an in-house team.

However, an established agency such as ours enters the partnership with a wealth of pre-established relationships. We have cultivated strong connections with a diverse array of relevant partners and publishers over time. These relationships facilitate seamless collaborations and open doors to opportunities that your brand can leverage to achieve its objectives.

5

COMPETITOR ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKING
Running your affiliate program in-house can inadvertently lead to operating in isolation, devoid of insights into industry-wide performance and competitor activity. This limited perspective hinders your ability to make informed strategic decisions.

In contrast, an affiliate marketing agency operates within a broader context, enabling them to provide valuable insights and benchmark your brand’s performance. We analyse your results in light of industry standards, sharing invaluable insights that can help your brand refine its strategy and stay competitive.

 

In the competitive digital landscape, partnering with an affiliate marketing agency isn’t merely a choice; it’s a strategic imperative. Our commitment to cost-efficiency, industry expertise, and strategic vision ensures that your affiliate program not only thrives but evolves in harmony with the dynamic digital ecosystem. Let us be your trusted ally in navigating this complex terrain, propelling your brand towards sustainable success.

WHAT NEXT?

In conclusion, the world of business today demands a strategic approach to digital marketing, and affiliate marketing has proven to be a valuable avenue for growth. Considering the significant statistics, it’s evident that businesses are increasingly turning to affiliate marketing agencies to harness the full potential of this strategy. The advantages of working with an agency are clear. From cost-efficiency and flexibility to industry expertise and invaluable insights, partnering with an agency is not just a choice but a strategic imperative in today’s competitive digital landscape.

If you have decided that an affiliate marketing agency is the right choice for your business, now you need to choose an affiliate marketing agency. Click here for the next part of this blog where we go through how to choose the right affiliate agency for your business. 

To read about how an affiliate programme can help your travel business, click here.

why work with an affiliate agency
The Power of Performance Influencer Partnerships

The Power of Performance Influencer Partnerships

In today’s digital age, Influencer Marketing has become an indispensable aspect of any successful online business. Brands are increasingly recognising the value of working with influencers to promote their products and services. However, a new approach called Performance Influencer Partnerships is emerging as a powerful way to drive actual sales and traffic. At SYYCO, we’re at the forefront of this exciting trend, helping our clients integrate influencers into their affiliate programs to achieve tangible results.

In today’s blog, we dive into “Performance Influencer Partnerships” – a dynamic approach to influencer marketing that focuses on real, measurable results like traffic and sales. Discover the different types of influencers and why working with them can elevate your affiliate marketing game. To illustrate the power of Performance Influencer Partnerships, we will explore a compelling case study featuring a successful collaboration between SYYCO and a London-based brand.

Types of Influencers in Affiliate Marketing:

When it comes to affiliate marketing and Performance Influencer Partnerships, it’s crucial to recognise the different types of influencers and how they can contribute to your brand’s success:

1. Nano Influencers:

Nano influencers typically have smaller but highly engaged audiences, often ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand followers. Their authenticity and genuine connections with their followers make them valuable brand advocates. Nano influencers are relatable and approachable, giving them the ability to create meaningful and personalised content.

2. Micro-Influencers:

Micro-influencers are individuals with 10,000+ followers within a specific niche. While they may have fewer followers compared to mega-celebrities, their impact should not be underestimated. Micro-influencers often boast a loyal and dedicated audience, leading to higher levels of trust and authenticity. By partnering with micro-influencers, brands can tap into niche markets and connect with potential customers on a more personal level.

power of performance influencer partnerships
performance influencer partnerships

3. Macro-Influencers:

Macro-influencers are well-known personalities with a significant social media following, often in the hundreds of thousands or millions. Collaborating with macro-influencers can help brands reach a larger audience and increase brand exposure. However, it’s essential to ensure that the influencer’s values align with the brand to maintain authenticity and credibility.

4. Celebrity Influencers:

Celebrity influencers are famous personalities, such as actors, musicians, or athletes, with massive followings on social media platforms. While working with celebrity influencers can undoubtedly boost brand visibility, it may not always guarantee high engagement or conversions. Careful consideration should be given to the relevance of the celebrity to the brand’s target audience.

Why Work with Influencers in Affiliate Marketing?

1

Trust and Authenticity

Influencers have the power to establish strong connections with their followers through authentic and relatable content. By partnering with influencers, brands can benefit from this sense of trust, as followers are more likely to trust recommendations from someone they admire and relate to.

2

Increased Reach

Influencers have dedicated followers who actively engage with their content. This engagement translates to increased reach for the brand’s products and services, exposing the brand to a wider audience.

3

Targeted Marketing

Different influencers cater to diverse niches, allowing brands to target specific demographics and markets effectively. This targeted approach ensures that marketing efforts reach the right audience, maximising the potential for conversions.

4

Content Creation

Influencers are skilled content creators who know how to produce engaging and visually appealing content. By collaborating with them, brands can access high-quality content that can be repurposed across various marketing channels.

A Glimpse into the Success: Chelsea Peers & SYYCO

Let’s delve into a case study that exemplifies the potency of Performance Influencer Partnerships. Meet Chelsea Peers, a London-based clothing brand committed to redefining loungewear. Despite already collaborating with influencers through their affiliate program, the brand struggled to generate measurable revenue from these efforts.

That’s when SYYCO stepped in. Armed with over ten years of experience in the affiliate and partnership management arena, we saw an opportunity to turn the tide for Chelsea Peers. The game plan was clear – leverage influencers not only for traffic but also for driving actual sales.

Segmenting the Influencers:

SYYCO divided the influencers into three key segments:

Gifting Partners: This subset of influencers focused on CPA (Cost Per Action) campaigns, ensuring a well-targeted approach to driving sales.

Influencer Sub-Networks & Platforms: A curated group of influencers from different niches, each with a strong social following, expanding Chelsea Peers’ reach to new audiences.

Exclusive Code Partners: By testing exclusive codes with gifting partners, SYYCO identified the ones with the highest follower-brand affinity, setting the stage for peak performance offers.

chelsea peers x syyco case study

THE RESULTS: A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The impact of the Performance Influencer Partnerships was nothing short of spectacular. In Q4 of 2022:

  • Social Content publishers emerged as the top-performing segment for traffic and ranked second for revenue.
  • Two social content partners claimed spots in the top ten revenue-driving publishers, with one securing a position in the top three.
  • The revenue pipeline continued to flourish in 2023, providing long-term benefits to the brand.

Quantifying the Growth:

The numbers spoke for themselves:

  • Traffic: An impressive YoY increase of 1,751%.
  • Revenue: An astounding YoY surge of 2,857%.

Influencers have evolved from mere partners to indispensable assets within the Chelsea Peers program. Their revenue contribution had become significant, bolstering the brand’s market presence and profitability.

Embrace Success with SYYCO

 

SYYCO’s passion for delivering exceptional results knows no bounds. As an affiliate and partnership management agency, we have been instrumental in transforming the way medium-sized businesses, particularly in the travel and retail sectors, approach affiliate marketing.

If you’re ready to embark on a journey that unleashes the full potential of Performance Influencer Partnerships, SYYCO is your guide. Our experience and expertise across multiple sectors make us the ideal partner to take your brand to new heights. Click here for our blog on Choosing The Right Affiliate Marketing Agency.

If you would like to read more on the role Social Media plays in the Affiliate Marketing industry, click HERE.

Click HERE to book your free programme review, or email info@syyco.co.uk.

Eliminate Affiliate Fraud and Protect your Brand

Eliminate Affiliate Fraud and Protect your Brand

Brand protection and fraud prevention are vitally important to any successful affiliate programme, with threats like Ad Hijacking becoming ever more sophisticated and hard to detect.

We spoke with, AdPolice, on how to mitigate this risk, as well as SYYCO’s own compliance expert, Sarah Webb, who shared her seven top tips, to help brands along the way.

We may all gravitate towards looking for ways to increase revenue, or drive efficiencies, but if compliance is ignored, all that good work can be undone. It’s widely accepted that the overall rate of fraud in affiliate marketing is 9%. This figure is far lower than ad fraud rates in other channels, but according to online brand protection specialists, AdPolice, it is a very conservative estimate.

They reference a study by the University of Illinois, which estimated that 38% of partners in the Amazon Associates programme had engaged in fraud at one time or another.

Bad actors that violate terms and conditions can gain an average increase of 10-50% in commissions, as well as negatively affecting brands’ own marketing activities, like paid search. So crime does pay – unless you take steps to prevent it.

For Ad Police, one of the main threats is Ad Hijacking. This is where affiliates impersonate the brand by running paid search ads that look identical to the brand’s own ads. As AdPolice put it, “Customers have no idea that they have clicked on an affiliate ad, and the affiliate is paid commission for conversions that the brand would have got anyway.”

Ad Hijacking, like a lot of fraudulent activity is hard to identify, due to savvy fraudsters masking their referral through a series of redirects. Without the help of specialists like AdPolice, or support from an agency or network partner, it can be a massive problem for brands.

To find out more about how brands can protect themselves from affiliate fraud, we spoke with SYYCO’s resident compliance expert, Sarah Webb.

Sarah Webb, Publisher Manager, SYYCO

Partner compliance covers a wide range of unwelcome activity, including (but not limited to) brand bidding, cookie stuffing, ad hijacking, cloaking, bots and inappropriate content.

adpolice what why & now
sarah webb from syyco

Sarah Webb, SYYCO

The good news is that as an industry, we have come on leaps and bounds at detecting and eradicating unacceptable promotional methods.

Back in 2009, I worked in the Network Quality department of a large international affiliate network, and discovered a wide range of infringements and foul play. As an industry we were too reactive. Low quality sites built up momentum before compliance issues were discovered and action taken.

These days, the performance marketing industry has really upped its game, and compliance is taken very seriously, alongside growing revenue for clients.

Providing an affiliate programme is well managed, by an agency or performance marketing expert, most compliance issues can be easily dealt with.

Having said that, as the affiliate industry has matured and become more sophisticated, so have the fraudsters.

Here are my seven top tips to ensure your affiliate programme stays fraud-free and squeaky clean:

1

Set Clear Programme Terms
Take the time to ensure your programme terms are up to date, clearly defined and visible in your affiliate network.
When a publisher joins your programme, they are agreeing to these terms, so you are fully protected if you ever need to cancel commissions or take corrective action. Clear terms also act as a good deterrent to avoid unwanted activity. Show any would-be fraudsters that you mean business.

2

Know your numbers
It goes without saying that any good account manager will know their clients numbers and top performers in detail. This knowledge means that any unusual activity or spikes in key metrics are investigated and corrective action taken.

3

Monitor the Search Space
Trademark bidding, in its many forms, is one of the most common types of affiliate fraud. Regularly search for your brand’s keywords, particular brand + voucher terms, and see which ads appear.

Try to monitor this outside of office hours too and use a VPN or Google’s Ad Preview tool to see ads showing in different locations or languages, or on specific devices.

4

Don’t rush your approvals
Another benefit of having an expert manage your affiliate programme is that publisher applications will be scrutinised carefully, on a regular basis.

Unfortunately some “problem” publishers manage to bypass network compliance checks, and it’s important to ensure that they don’t gain access to your programme.

If your are suspicious of a particular publisher, decline their application, or reach out to them for more information before accepting.

5

Trust your judgment
If something looks odd, for example, the numbers don’t make sense or the publisher is evasive about showing you how they generate traffic for your brand, then something is most likely amiss.

In these cases, you are well within your rights to stop working with them, and focus on publishers that are bringing incremental value to your brand.

6

Look out for red flags
There are certain patterns and types of publisher which we should be extra vigilant for. In particular look out for weak looking content sites that don’t match the publisher’s details e.g. name and address in the network.

Be wary of low quality coupon/voucher sites, which look poorly put together or with strange sounding URL’s. Also ask sub networks for detailed reports on which partners are driving the traffic. Transparency is key!

7

Utilise tools
Remember that just because a publisher has registered a certain URL there is nothing to stop them hosting your links elsewhere. As well as SEM monitoring, make use of some of the fantastic reporting and insights tools we now have access to as an industry. E.g. referral reports, AdPolice, BrandVerity.

As a specialist affiliate and partnership management agency, we are in regular contact with the top networks, to constantly improve network quality, including raising awareness of any larger scale infringements, so action can be taken swiftly.

syyco partnerships agency

I would like to see more open and frequent communication between compliance teams at networks and agencies/clients. Prevention is better than cure and networks (and SaaS platforms) should continually improve the vetting and registration process of new publishers so that less bad eggs get into the system in the first place.

Providing an affiliate programme is managed ethically and meticulously, advertisers can rest assured that any non-compliant partners are dealt with before they become an issue.

One thing is certain, the longer fraud is allowed to go on, the bigger an issue it becomes.

To find out more about how working with an agency could help protect your brand, click HERE or email info@syyco.co.uk.

 

If you are considering working with an affiliate marketing agency, please click here. You can also read about the benefits & risks of social media in affiliates via this link.

SYYCO Shortlisted in the 2022 Performance Marketing Awards

SYYCO Shortlisted in the 2022 Performance Marketing Awards

performance marketing awards

Here at SYYCO, we like to think we’ve been one of the UK’s best under-the-radar affiliate management agencies, for a number of years.

But, this year, we decided it was high time for us to start shouting about all the great work we’re doing, alongside our clients and partners. And where better to do that, we all agreed, than at the 16th annual Performance Marketing Awards?!”

As a brand-new entrant to the awards, we were delighted to see SYYCO clients nominated in, not one, but two categories. Our client, KIDLY, only made their affiliate marketing debut last year, with their launch on Awin, so it was fantastic to see them shortlisted in the “best programme launch or migration” category. While London Theatre Direct’s brilliantly executed bounce-back from the pandemic was recognised in the “best managed (SME)” category, in conjunction with impact.com – receiving a high commendation in the process.

Best Managed Affiliate Programme SME

SYYCO, impact.com & London Theatre Direct: A Comeback Story

Awarded a High Commendation

Best Programme Launch or Migration

KIDLY and SYYCO, we have lift-off: Launching an impactful and diverse affiliate programme

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for our work with KIDLY and London Theatre Direct – especially on the High Commendation. Both of these brands really resonate with our team and it’s been exciting to see how their affiliate programmes have grown.”

Jon Weatherall, Managing Director, SYYCO

Join the London Theatre Direct affiliate programme on impact.com: HERE

Join the KIDLY affiliate programme on Awin: HERE

About SYYCO

SYYCO was founded in 2011 and operated as a specialist affiliate management agency, for travel and leisure brands, for a number of years. While these are still very strong areas for us, in recent years, we have diversified our client base and now work across all major verticals, in multiple markets.

Click here to hear about SYYCO’s response to the pandemic in CEO Simon Terry’s own words, from the July 2021 edition of Awin talks: “How SYYCO responded to the travel slump.”

If you would like to find out more about how working with SYYCO could benefit your brand, click here to get in touch with our Head of Sales, Nicola Bufton, and book a free, confidential programme review.

Click here to read about why you should work with an affiliate agency. If you want to learn more about choosing the right affiliate agency, click here.