If you want to start an affiliate program to boost your online sales, there are several tools that you will need. Obviously, you will need to start by selecting the right affiliate tracking software. An affiliate recruitment and management strategy is also essential. (If you haven't chosen a tracking software yet, visit Affiliate Software HQ's Affiliate Program Software Comparison Chart – the smart way to start an affiliate program. )
If you already have the software, there several other tools that you will certainly find essential to the success of your program, and banner ads are at the top of the list. Banner HQ takes a closer look at the most effective and affordable options.
Why Banner Ads?
All the top-earning affiliate programs provide pre-made banners ads to their affiliates. Affiliates are encouraged to place the banners on their websites as a way to earn commissions when their visitors click on the ads.
In actual fact, it is not strictly essential to offer banner ads but, with the possible exception of digital products like those marketed through Clickbank, they are a standard part of most affiliate programs. Affiliates are attracted to affiliate programs that offer banner ads because they make life easier for them.
A Trade Secret
Here's an insider's tip that everyone should know before they start an affiliate program: Banner ads are actually a pretty ineffective method of affiliate marketing. Every experienced affiliate manager examines their stats closely and knows that text links attract a much higher click-thru rate than banner ads. Unfortunately, when many businesses start their affiliate program, they make the error of investing too much time and money into a large range of eye-catching banner ads, when these are not the most essential thing at all.
So don't be intimidated by the big-time affiliate programs that offer dozens of banner ads in different shapes and sizes. This is far from necessary for a business just starting their affiliate program. Begin with a set of 3-5 banners in the standard sizes. You can then track the click-thru rates and see for yourself whether it's worth investing in more banners.
Another Benefit of Banners
Although many affiliate programs try to lure affiliates with promises of attractive banner ads, the reality is that banner ads are much more beneficial for you, as an advertiser, than for your affiliates. Your affiliates are basically giving you low-cost advertising real estate on their websites, and this can be great exposure for your brand, even if there are not many clicks.
Just think, thousands of advertisers buy space on popular websites on a CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) basis. Affiliate programs are often paying much less for the same kind of exposure for their banner ads.
However, you didn't start an affiliate program just to promote your brand. You want sales! Therefore, you should encourage your affiliates to use your banner ads in combination with the more lucrative text links. If they have to make a choice between the two options, text links should win every time. More info about guiding your affiliates towards greater sales can be found in our Affiliate Management HQ.
In conclusion, in starting your affiliate program, you do need some simple, attractive banners ads, but there is no need to go overboard. 3-5 banners is plenty.
The simplest cheapest way to get some cheap, professional banners is through 20dollarbanners.com.