Whether you’ve been running an affiliate program for several months or several years, regular auditing is crucial to the success of your program. It allows you to check the currency of your promotional messages, materials and resources, the effectiveness of your commission structure and the relevance of your marketing strategies. The audit also helps you identify which partners are excelling and which are underperforming. With this valuable information, you’re better equipped to make the necessary optimizations and maximize the effectiveness of your affiliate program. To guide you, we’ve compiled the main reasons to audit your affiliate program, explained how to go about it, and included a link to download a quick checklist.
Why audit your affiliate program?
Updating messages and media
- Up-to-date messages:
As a brand, it’s your responsibility to provide up-to-date, relevant messages that your publishing partners can then relay. Whether it’s highlighting your commitment to the environment, your philanthropic initiatives, your made-in-France positioning or your support for diversity, make sure your message is accurate and up-to-date. - Relevance of creative and promotional materials:
Your materials must not only be up to date with your brand’s image, but also seasonally adapted. Consumers are looking for brands they can connect with, and a delay in adapting to current trends can lead to a loss of market share.
Partner selection and commitment
- Engaging with relevant publishers:
It’s crucial to understand the interests of your target audience, and to choose publisher partners who share those interests. This allows you to maximize the engagement and effectiveness of your program. - Fair compensation for partners:
As affiliate marketing is performance-based, it requires a balance between motivating your partners sufficiently and staying within the limits of your marketing budget. Also check that commission rates are correctly applied to avoid over- or under-compensation.
How to audit your affiliate program
To carry out an audit of your affiliate program, follow these steps:
- Review official documents:
Review your program description, terms and conditions, and welcome emails. This will help attract the right partners and clarify the terms and conditions of your program. Consider including an FAQ to clear up any ambiguity. - Review of creative elements:
Ensure that all visual and textual elements used by your partners are current and aligned with your brand objectives. - Partner performance audit:
Evaluate the effectiveness of each partner in terms of traffic generated, revenues and expenses. Check that the links and messages used are appropriate. - Review commission rates:
Confirm the accuracy of commissions allocated to your partners. Use dynamic tracking tools for more accurate commission management.
To get a checklist for auditing your affiliate program, download our checklist here. For more information on optimizing your affiliate marketing efforts, contact our team. By regularly auditing your affiliate program, you’re not only ensuring its compliance and effectiveness, but also optimizing your chances of long-term success.
Audit guide for your affiliate program
Optimize the performance of your affiliate program! Download the guide!
