Best Affiliate Marketing Software for eCommerce

What are Affiliate Marketing tools?

Affiliate Marketing needs to be treated as a science – not an art. Affiliate Marketing apps can help you achieve a sharper, data-driven understanding of your programs, track key performance indicators, help to nurture existing relationships and create well-aligned new partnerships.

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Why use Affiliate Marketing software?

If affiliate marketing is a significant component of your business, it is critical to have an app to help you manage the program and report on its short and long-term effectiveness.

By gaining more control and insight into the performance of your programs, you’ll learn more about their success as you track commission payouts. They also give you a better understanding of your margins, helping you to keep you on top of the efficiency and impact of your affiliate or influencer programs at all times.

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When should you invest in Affiliate Marketing software?

Ask yourself – how developed is your affiliate marketing currently? If things are just getting off the ground, wait until you’ve built up a better understanding of how your affiliate program is working for you. In order for investment in affiliate marketing tools to make financial sense for your eCommerce business, you’ll need to have programs that are robust enough to merit more detailed analysis and tracking.

If you’re just getting started in this field of affiliate marketing, there’s less chance of you needing the additional control offered by these apps. But if you’re simply looking to add “polish” to a basic referral program, apps within this category can also help achieve this for a fairly low overhead.

Many affiliate marketing tools offer access to a network of vetted influencers or can connect you to existing customers, which reduces the risk of fraud.

Who in your team is managing Affiliate Marketing software?

In terms of app selection and implementation, your Head of Marketing, or (if one exists) dedicated Partner or Affiliate Manager will likely take the lead. And you’ll want someone with a good understanding of your program to undertake ongoing management.

What are the most important features to consider when buying Affiliate Marketing software?

Affiliate marketing apps should be helping your programs gain real traction, so assess your current set up to identify where you need most support. Do you fall short when it comes to partner communication, or is the initial step of partner discovery your weakness? Are you struggling to see the opportunities for improvement when it comes to your current campaign management? Are you getting the press attention you’d like to see?

All of these questions can be answered with the right affiliate marketing tools, so it's a case of setting your priorities for improvement and ensuring that the correct assistance and tracking is available to you. 

Above all else, look for dependable scalability. If you’re finding success with these programs, make sure your support can handle the acceleration it helps to generate.