Have you ever pondered what affiliate managers spend their days doing? Perhaps you’ve encountered the term online or in meetings but are unsure what the role entails. Or maybe you want to employ one but aren’t sure what responsibilities they can handle. 

In this blog post, we’ll go over an affiliate manager’s main responsibilities, and what they do all day, so you can better understand, if you need one or not.

But first…

What exactly is an Affiliate Manager?

An affiliate manager manages affiliate publishers on an advertiser’s account. 

They are responsible for finding new affiliates, handling onboarding, and ensuring their audiences are similar to your target market. 

They also communicate with existing affiliates to answer their inquiries, address their concerns, and resolve any issues that may arise. An affiliate manager also develops and implements the agreed-upon plan with the advertiser. Based on best practices and experience, they will recommend the best method to handle a campaign and maximize results.

What types of activities or projects do they undertake?

Affiliate managers will be responsible for initiatives relating to the effective execution of affiliate campaigns. This could include creating new programs for an advertiser, proposing appropriate terms for affiliates to follow, and creating marketing content such as links or banner images. 

The role also has a coaching component, as affiliate managers frequently advise affiliates on maximizing their click-throughs. They accomplish this by advising them on copywriting techniques, the most effective promotional platforms, and other marketing strategies.

Affiliate managers handle daily queries from affiliates and implement promotional campaigns that generate consistent referral traffic for programs already in place. 

They are also in charge of reporting, evaluating what is functioning well, and identifying areas for improvement. If they work for a dedicated affiliate marketing company, they also manage accounts and assist advertisers with their requirements.

What Does a Typical Day Entail?

As with most roles, duties vary, so there is no such thing as a “typical day.” Most affiliate managers, however, will have a variety of responsibilities, such as;

  • Overseeing the day-to-day administration of affiliate campaigns in order to maximize ROI.
  • Recruiting and training new affiliates to optimize the quality and quantity of their referral traffic. Launching new campaign ideas, including program incentives and bonuses.
  • Creating affiliate marketing tactics that achieve predetermined sales volumes.
  • Analyzing program and campaign action to find areas for improvement.
  • Reporting on affiliate marketing to advertisers and top management.
  • Making certain that commissions and invoices are received on time and accurately.

Are Affiliate Managers Actually Necessary?

Affiliate managers perform a critical role in campaign success. Many people believe that by merely adding affiliate links to their websites, they will begin to receive commissions

However, a significant amount of optimization is required for this to occur – and this is where affiliate managers come in. They will train and support affiliates to optimize the quality and quantity of referrals, resulting in the best possible results for advertisers. Without an affiliate manager, achieving the desired results cannot be easy because you depend solely on the publisher’s ability.

The affiliate manager also takes much of the labor out of channel management. They respond to all email inquiries and new applications and troubleshoot any issues that may occur. 

This person is also responsible for upholding the program’s terms, such as not bidding on branded keywords. They handle these details so that your campaign produces highly profitable revenue for your company. 

Need Help with Affiliate Management?

Do you want to take your affiliate marketing to the next level? Check out our affiliate marketing management software! Our partner software makes managing your affiliate partners and tracking your commissions easy. With Scaleo, you can quickly see which partners are performing best and adjust accordingly. You can also use our software to keep an eye on your marketing progress and find new marketing opportunities. 

Don’t miss out on the benefits of our affiliate marketing software—sign up for a free trial today!

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Last Updated on January 17, 2024

Author

Elizabeth is a Senior Content Manager at Scaleo. Currently enjoying the life in Prague and sharing professional affiliate marketing tips. She's been in the online marketing business since 2006 and gladly shares all her insights and ideas on this blog.