When looking to build a successful gambling affiliate business, having the right operators as your partners can make a huge difference in how well you do. But with so many brands out there, sifting through the bad to get to the good can be a challenge.
While there are plenty of red flags you should keep in mind, knowing the positive signs of a good partner is just as important. In this article, we’ll outline the top five things you should look out for in an operator partner.
A Professional Affiliate Manager
Any major operator worth its salt will have a professional affiliate manager. It’s easy to think this doesn’t matter too much, but having someone with the right knowledge and experience in the field makes a huge difference.
Besides looking for good deals from an affiliate program, make sure that you’ll be given a dedicated manager. This will give you someone you can go to if something goes wrong, along with more reassurance that you’ll get the most out of your partnership.
Modern Link Tracking
Link tracking is one of the most important aspects when you’re part of an affiliate program. However, it can become infuriating when your partner doesn’t have the necessary capabilities in place to provide clear and accurate insights into the traffic you are sending them.
When you sign up for an affiliate program, ask them about their link-tracking features. You’ll want a modern portal that has up-to-date information as this will enable you to make better decisions and – ultimately – drive more traffic.
Fair Terms and Conditions
One area where many affiliates can struggle is the terms and conditions attached to their commercial deals. If you’re new to the industry, we can understand the desire to quickly sign the contract and get things done – but doing so could be a fatal mistake.
When negotiating an operator partnership, check for any hidden fees. Also, check whether you are required to send a set number of FTDs each month for the deal to remain active. You should also be aware that in some cases, operators can and do change their T&Cs without any notice.
Commercial Deals That Work for Both Parties
Commercial deals must be fair for the relationship between the operator and the affiliate to work in the long term. If the operator is getting much more out of this than you are, you’re being taken advantage of.
When negotiating a deal, consider things like whether you want a CPA, revenue share, or hybrid and if you want to be able to offer your players a unique welcome offer. In return, the operator may ask for specific page positioning and that players make a minimum deposit for the CPA to trigger.
Ultimately, it is all about having an open and honest discussion with your account manager, but don’t be afraid to negotiate hard and stick to your guns.
Long-Term Relationships
Ultimately, business is all about relationships. But you should be focusing on the long term, as opposed to working with operators only interested in you for a short period of time.
Before signing any deal, ask questions about where the operator sees themselves in the months to come. You should look to see how you fit into the overall picture, too.
Casino Affiliate Programs lists the industry’s best programs, helping you find the best operator partners. Sign up today and find out for yourself!