The expression “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is a marketing mantra, especially when that marketing is being done on an affiliate level. As an affiliate, the best tools at your disposal are the relationships you build.

By building a relationship with your affiliate manager, you are that much more likely to get access to special promotions and personalized support. Because they know who you are, they know that you won’t abuse terms and conditions, and are more likely to offer you special promotions when they’re available.

Trust is the by-product of relationships. In the case of an affiliate program, you trust that you’ll get paid, because that brand has a relationship with the marketplace and other affiliates. That relationship is enough for you to trust that brand that you’ll receive commissions on any players you send them.

And since the program makes money when you make money, affiliate managers that know you will often provide invaluable advice on how you can improve your marketing efforts. By working closely with your manager, they will get to know your channels (e.g. sites, newsletter, etc.), and will provide feedback on what you can do to optimize these channels. They’ll also think of you when an upcoming promotion is particularly suited for one of your channels.

All in all, building a strong relationship with affiliate managers just makes good business sense. Just as there are hundreds of affiliate programs out there, there are also thousands of affiliates. If you work hardest for the program that helps you the most, it only stands to reason that a program manager is going to work harder for you if you actively collaborate with them.

Working closely with your affiliate manager can reap a number of benefits. Try building a relationship with your affiliate manager. You might just find you’re getting access to personalized support and special promotions that you wouldn’t otherwise know about!