Affiliate marketing for beginners: the first 10 steps

Before recruiting partners, calculate what you can afford to pay for a sale while remaining profitable. Look at your gross margin and set a target cost-of-sale that aligns with your other marketing channels.

Decide if you want to focus on new customer acquisition, total revenue growth, or clearing specific inventory. Your goals will dictate which publishers you approach and how you structure your commission.

Select an affiliate network or software provider that fits your technical capabilities and budget. Ensure the platform supports server-side tracking to future-proof your measurement against browser changes.

Place your tracking scripts and run multiple test orders across different devices and payment methods. At DIKKE KASSA, we recommend testing a full return cycle to ensure commission is correctly cancelled on refunded orders.

Create a clear set of rules covering brand bidding, coupon code usage, and content standards. These terms protect your brand and provide a legal basis for rejecting low-quality or fraudulent traffic.

Be specific about what is not allowed, such as bidding on your brand name in search engines or using misleading ad copy. Clear boundaries prevent misunderstandings with your partners later on.

Publishers need high-quality imagery, logos, and product data to promote you effectively. At a minimum, provide a clean product feed and a set of standard banner sizes for seasonal promotions.

Include a list of your unique selling points (USPs) that partners can use in their copy. The easier you make it for them to write about you, the faster they will go live with your brand.

Identify the top 20 publishers in your niche and reach out to them with a personal pitch. Explain why your brand is a good fit for their audience and offer a competitive starting rate.

Once they join, follow up to ensure they have everything they need to start driving traffic. A signed-up partner who doesn't generate clicks is a missed opportunity for growth.