How not to pitch for business – part 2

Following on from this post, here is part 2 of my occasional tips on how not to pitch for affiliate business.

Don't send potential affiliate emails like this one:

...by signing up to crappyaffiliateprogram.com you can earn commissions simply by placing a banner on your site! You will then be associated with a top ranking website like ours and earn commissions on any sales generated from your visitors...

Am I the only one who gets emails like this on a daily basis? I usually get a few a week and they are all along the same lines.

So affiliate managers out there - why is this type of email all wrong?

Here's why:

1. Your emails are impersonal, they are always addressed to "Dear Sir", "online marketing manager" or something similar. Do some research and find out my name, its not that hard, these guys did it, and with some level of style.

2. Even worse than not addressing your emails to me personally is not to even mention the website you want to promote your program on. And you bulk send the email so I can't see the email address you have sent it to.

3. Do you really think that placing a banner on a webpage is what affiliate marketing is all about? Yeah, maybe in 1993. Come on guys I *know* you can do better than that. You are dealing with sophisticated online marketeers here so treat us like it.

Honestly I get loads of emails like the one above and I just bin them all. If you can't be bothered to send me a personalised email me that actually has something of relevance to me in it then don't bother.

What I'm listening to right now: T Pain featuring Kanye West – "Buy You a Drink" (Remix)

Affiliate Marketing