5 Ways To Handle Affiliate Issues

We all want to assume that affiliate programs will honor their agreements and pay up when their affiliates deliver sales for them. There are plenty of affiliate programs that do everything possible to reduce their affiliates’ commissions and avoid paying up. You certainly do not want to work with those programs. At the same time, sometimes even the largest affiliate programs fail to fully pay their affiliates. It’s easy to get stressed out and freak out over these incidents. But if you want to get paid, you want to keep a cool head.

Reputable affiliate programs are often easier to work with in these situations. They care about their reputation, so they do respond if you file your claim. Some large networks do take some time to get back to you, but if your case is valid, you are going to get paid. What you don’t want to do is pick a fight with your merchant. That could have terrible ramifications for your business.

If you have not been paid by your affiliate company, it does not mean that you won’t get paid. You just have to approach things calmly. Here are just a few steps you need to take to solve your non-payment issues:

1. Don’t panic: no matter how much money you have lost, losing it is not going to help you solve your issues. You may need your commission check to stay afloat, but you do not want to make rash decisions without thinking through your strategy first.

2. Be polite: always, and I mean always, be polite with your affiliate manager. A lot of people assume that if they raise their voice on the phone or write a nasty e-mail, they are going to get more attention from their partner. Nobody likes a nasty person. You are more likely to get the help and attention you need by being polite and nice.

3. Explain & follow up: clearly explain what has gone wrong and why you believe you should be paid for your efforts. Do not assume the worst case. Put all the facts on the table and follow up with your merchant.

4. Stay professional: your affiliate relationship is not some sort of information friendship. Remember, you are running a business. If you treat your business like a business, others will treat you more seriously. Write and speak like a professional when communicating with your partners.

5. Don’t burn bridges: in some cases, you may not get your way. I suppose it’s OK to lose it in that situation, especially if you never intend to work with that partner ever again. Sharing your experiences with the world and publicizing your situation with a company may help other affiliates avoid the same mistakes. If you intend to work with that partner ever again, you may want to think twice before burning all your bridges.

6. Further Action: if you happen to have been wronged and lost lots of money in the process, you can always consider a lawsuit or legal action against your merchant. You want to make sure you have tried everything before taking this approach as this is a costly approach. Don’t forget, your partnership could be dead as soon as you in this route.

I have had many non-payment issues in the past. Except in one case, every partner that I have worked with has paid up. You’d be surprised what you can achieve by being nice to your partners.