Now, we all know there are a few affiliates out there who – while driving many genuine sales – have one or two little tricks up their sleeves to claim a few additional sales that they didn’t work very hard to generate.

It’s very annoying and can leave the merchant in a bit of a dilemma – do you continue to work with the affiliate because of the hit you’ll take in affiliate sales or do you take a moral stance and strike them off your list (or at least threaten to if they don’t change their ways) giving your affiliates who genuinely drive quality traffic and sales the opportunity to claim a bigger stake in your programme?

Save the channel from cheating affiliates

I’m a firm believer that all affiliates who ask to be on a programme should make the effort to promote the brand. Don’t ask if you don’t want to do it or are going to cheat your way through it! I’m very firm in my belief and won’t stand for other affiliates losing out because of a few individuals who want to make an easy buck.

That said I can’t, unfortunately, overrule my clients decision to keep an affiliate on the programme – only advise the client and make affiliates aware that I’m fully aware of what they’re doing and will start to refuse those commissions where I can prove they’re cheating!

I do fully believe in the power of affiliates – I wouldn’t be an affiliate manager otherwise – but I’m also aware that like every other industry there are a few bad eggs and I will do everything in my power to weed them out and make them known.