iGB Affiliate 70 Aug/Sept | Page 41

INSIGHT ZERO TO HERO Launching an affiliate programme requires a clear strategy but if you really want to get ahead of the game, you need in-the-know input from specialist marketers. Lee-Ann Johnstone offers her tips for success OVER THE YEARS I’ve had the opportunity to work with multiple brands to launch and develop a variety of affiliate programmes. I’ve also had the unpleasant task of cleaning up mismanaged or neglected programmes that have negatively impacted operator cost and profit margins because they were not set up to perform correctly at the start. Planning an affiliate programme requires strategy and is a definitive marketing skill. As one of the largest acquisition channels for igaming operators you can’t afford to go into it blind. New brands coming into the market need to do their homework, invest in expertise to get their proposition right and put effort into defining a winning strategy that meets company revenue objectives. An affiliate programme should develop clear USPs and have a solid structure (terms and conditions) and marketing guide in place to avoid potential fraud or financial losses from mismanagement. You wouldn’t go to a dentist when you needed a doctor and now that affiliate marketing has evolved into a more complex and spe