Congratulations, you’ve just signed up to be a gambling affiliate promoting some of the hottest online casinos on the Web! So what do you do next?
As you probably know, signing up for the program was the easy part. Actually digging in to figure out how everything works and how you might actually make some money on the deal is the tough part.
If you’re just getting started in the business, here’s a few things you’ll want to check off your list before you ever start promoting.
Read the Terms & Conditions
When we suggest reading the affiliate terms and conditions (T&C) document we really mean, “go over the T&C with a fine-toothed comb. If there was ever a time to read the fine print, this would be it.
We’d also caution new affiliates not to ignore e-mails announcing retroactive changes in their T&C’s. Some affiliate operators add predatory terms to their contracts that can change the way you get paid from players you’ve already converted. (These are the companies that get labelled as, “Rogue.”)
Get to Know Your Affiliate Manager
As soon as you sign up as an affiliate partner, you’ll be assigned an affiliate manager who serves as your contact with the operator. This is the person you can turn to with questions about payments and other technical matters.
Affiliate managers can also help you develop customized promotional plans that fit your exact demographic and marketing needs.
You and your affiliate manager are, for all practical purposes, business partners so you’ll want to develop a friendly personal relationship with him or her. You don’t have to go overboard here, but you don’t want to be strangers either.
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Get to Know Your Products
If you’re going to be promoting an online casino, it would behoove you to actually spend a little time on the site. The more you can see the site the way players see it, the better you’ll be able to convince them that it’s the one they should be playing on.
(And as an added bonus, this will make writing FAQ’s and how-to articles about the site a lot easier.)
Create a Content and Promotions Calendar
Creating content – or having someone create it for you – is going to take up a lot of your time, so you’ll want to get on top of it early.
We suggest creating an editorial and promotions calendar that lists upcoming events such as the Super Bowl or World Series of Poker, as well as promotions from your affiliate operator. You can start filling in content ideas around these events and build out from there.
(And if you’re not comfortable with writing, take a look at the freelance writers offering their services in the CAP forums.)
Finally
Once you’ve started promoting you’ll get a pretty good idea about what techniques are hitting and which ones are missing the mark.
If you’re adaptable to new circumstances, and patient in the beginning, you’ve got a good shot at success.
What are some of your tips for new casino affiliates? Share your insight in the comments section below.