Networks – Invest in Your Affiliates and Your Affiliates will Invest in You

Last week I was treated to an all expenses paid trip to Nevada courtesy of an intermediary network and their partners which my husband, Craig, uses as an independent mortgage broker.

While we were in Las Vegas we stayed at the AAA Five Star Wynn Resort hotel, took a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon and even watched Tom Jones live at the MGM Grand. They spared no expense.

My husband and I were invited on the trip because Craig was one of the top fifteen performers for the network during 2007. At one point during the weekend, I told Craig that we should feel very lucky that we had been given the opportunity to experience Las Vegas in such style. Craig turned to me and stated, “It’s not luck Sinead. I and the other guests on the trip made the network and its lenders a lot of money last year by putting our business through them. The commission they have made as a result of our hard work and efforts has paid for this trip.�

Craig’s comments made me think about how our own affiliate networks and merchants reward their top performing affiliates. How often have they pushed the boat out to say thank you to their top performing affiliates who show commitment and loyalty time after time?

I asked Craig and other independent mortgage brokers on the trip if they would continue to work with the network and they all said they would. Well, why wouldn’t they? Even though they were all in agreement with Craig that they had made the network a lot of money last year, they were impressed by the efforts that the network and its sponsors had gone to, to make them feel valued and rewarded.

The partners (money lenders) who sponsored various events throughout the week said it had given them the opportunity to speak directly with the people who are out there promoting and selling their products. The weekend had also provided an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the sponsors among those who may not have used them previously.

Finally, Directors at the network told me they also felt the weekend had been a roaring success. Not only had everybody had a whale of a time, but it had incentivised their top performers to aim high again in 2008 and renewed their commitment to both the network and its partners.

I think this is a lesson to all networks regardless of which industry they are in. A network relies on its sales force to continue to promote and sell partner/merchant products and services. Without its sales force the network would not make any money or be valued among partners and merchants. The networks and their partners should be looking to reinvest profits made through their sales people/affiliates by rewarding and proving that they appreciate and value them.

I would be interested to hear whether any affiliate reading this has ever experienced anything like the above? Has an affiliate network ever gone to such measures to make its top performing affiliates feel truly valued? Or are you sitting infront of your PC laughing at the thought of you being rewarded in such a way for your efforts? You are welcome to post your thoughts below.

Coming Soon: Lateral Group’s Sales Director Adam Mangan gives a fascinating insight into email marketing trends. Subscribe to updates.