Seasonal promotions via affiliate: Black Friday and the holidays

Start your holiday planning at least three months in advance. Many top-tier publishers sell out their premium placements for Black Friday as early as September.

Review your performance from previous years to identify which partners and offers drove the most revenue. Use these insights to build your seasonal strategy and budget allocation.

During peak periods, standard links aren't enough. Negotiate for homepage features, newsletter inclusions, and social media shout-outs to ensure your brand stands out in a crowded market.

Be prepared to offer increased commission rates or 'tenancy' fees for these high-visibility spots. At DIKKE KASSA, we help clients negotiate these deals to ensure the best possible return on investment.

Ensure your product feed is updated multiple times a day during peak sales. Nothing damages a publisher relationship faster than sending traffic to a sold-out product.

Highlight your holiday bestsellers and seasonal gift guides in your communications. Make it easy for publishers to find and promote the items that are most likely to convert.

Use temporary commission bumps to incentivise partners during key dates like Cyber Monday or the final shipping deadline. These short-term increases can move you up the priority list for many publishers.

Consider offering a bonus for partners who exceed their previous year's performance. This encourages your best affiliates to put extra effort into promoting your brand.

Once the rush is over, conduct a thorough review of your seasonal performance. Look beyond total revenue to metrics like new customer rate and return rate per partner.

Use these findings to start planning for the next major peak, such as the January sales or Valentine's Day. Affiliate marketing is a cycle, and the best brands are always looking one step ahead.