Affiliate Marketing Services

Overview

Let's be clear on one thing. Affiliate marketing is big business. The UK market for Affiliate marketing is now worth more than the UK search engine marketing, email marketing platforms and services, web analytics, usability and accessibility sectors combined (E-Consultancy 2009 Affiliate Marketing Buyers Guide). Not bad for what was once seen as the preserve of back-bedroom geeks using less-than-transparent methods to generate less-than-valuable web traffic.

Indeed, if they ever did exist, the wild-west days of affiliate marketing are long gone and it is now a multi £billion industry that is the life blood of many small and large brands alike. Cagey Media maximises the complex relationships between affiliates, affiliate networks and our clients to ensure that your campaign stands out from the rest and generates results that exceed your objectives.

So Just What is Afiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing practice whereby affiliates/partners promote the products or services of merchants/clients and get remunerated for every sale, visit or subscription sent to the merchant. In simple terms, web publishers generate leads and sales for you and, in return, they receive a bounty.

Industry Stats
As estimated in the 2009 E-Consultancy Affiliate report, the UK market for affiliate marketing grew by 22% in 2008, taking the total value of affiliate online sales in 2008 to £3.82bn. The 2009 Affiliate market is expected to exceed £4bn, and that's taking into account the current recession.

To put this in context

The UK market for Search Engine Marketing was worth an estimated £2.75bn in 2008.

The UK market for Email Marketing Platforms and Services grew to an estimated 24% to a value of £274m by the end of 2008.

During 2008, combined UK Usability and Accessibility markets were estimated to be worth £214m.

The value of the UK market for e-commerce technology is likely to be around £78 million through 2008.

Not only does affiliate marketing generate large sales volumes but it is also an ideal marketing tool for the current recessionary times, as Alex Burmaster at Nielsen Online stated: "In a tight economy, advertisers need to show results and prove that they're spending ad budget wisely - it's easier to do with CPA because advertisers pay only for leads or sales, not just whenever people view the ad or email creative".
The 2007 E-Consultancy report showed merchants spend an average of 16% of their online budget on affiliate marketing, which is responsible for 18% of their online sales. So, the affiliate marketing industry is very big and it’s very effective.
The main client concerns with affiliate marketing however have been the lack of brand control traditionally associated with affiliates, and the amount of time and effort involved in managing client relationships. Which is why our clients need us.

Is it right for me
In theory, an affiliate marketing programme will work for any advertiser.
Regardless of whether you use an agency to help, you need to ensure your site is ecommerce enabled and of a high standard. As affiliates are remunerated based on sales they will assess your proposition against the competition. They'll check product, price, promotion and place. If you do not meet their expectations, they will choose to promote one of your competitors.
Affiliate marketing involves strategic and effective management of the affiliates themselves. Affiliates need to be encouraged and paid a fair bounty for the leads and sales they generate. The right affiliates need to be provided with the right marketing tools at the right time. The branding impact of affiliates must be closely monitored. It can all get quite hectic, and that’s why we suggest you speak to us about your affiliate programme.
The benefits of affiliate marketing are
Cost effective customer acquisition via outsourced marketing teams. Affiliate Marketing often delivers lower CPAs than any other marketing medium.
Accountability & high ROI. All sales are tracked from source, so you know which affiliates are delivering.
Branding Benefits and Visibility. Affiliate relationships can help you 'own' your space on the search engines, affiliate emails and display ads on affiliate sites can benefit your brand.
Combined effectiveness. Affiliate marketing can help lift the performance of your other digital marketing when properly managed.

So why do you need cagey media

Help in getting over the 'barriers'
Many companies have issues with internal resource, affiliate marketing knowledge, maintaining control of brand and tracking. We advise on the correct strategy to take and then implement that strategy for you.
Integration
Yucca will help you take a holistic approach to digital. We'll integrate affiliate marketing with your other online & offline activity to realise the greatest results.
Innovation
Affiliate marketing is a complex sector that requires companies to draw up an innovative affiliate strategy if they want to succeed and generate extra business.
It all boils down to...
Work
We will... develop your strategy, provide competitor analysis, program administration and reporting, tying these in with KPI's. We'll also resolve technical issues, enhance your tracking capabilities, keep in touch with current affiliate partners and develop new relationships, help maintain control of your brand, generate fresh, creative marketing to differentiate you from the competition, approve affiliate applications and answer the inevitable affiliate questions. There's quite a bit to do.
We might stop for a cup of tea occasionally but you can rest assured that, even as the kettle boils, we’ll be thinking of ways to fine tune your affiliate marketing.