Launching an Affiliate Marketing Program: A Checklist

Who doesn’t want to see their stats of new customers, sales, and return on investment (ROI) skyrocket? Thanks to affiliate marketing, this reality is more attainable than ever — as long as you put in the time and effort to launch your program properly. 

But first, a quick recap of affiliate marketing: It’s a tactic where other businesses or influencers promote your brand and products in return for a small percentage of the sale or a flat fee. In other words, it’s a win-win situation — your business enjoys more customers, and your affiliate partner is financially rewarded.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky, though: If you don’t put in the necessary work and research for a successful affiliate program, you might actually see your profit margins shrink. The process also gets tough when you realize there’s no set playbook for affiliate marketing. What works for a competing brand may not guarantee success for you. 

Ultimately, your strategy is determined by who your competitors are, what industry you’re in, and how you incorporate your affiliate marketing program with the rest of your tactics and channels. 

We’re here to help you navigate the complicated world of affiliate marketing with this checklist. Whether you’re using an affiliate marketing platform to support you with the essentials or are tackling this challenge from the ground up, make sure you check off all the boxes as you go along. The last thing you want is to start from scratch because you skimped on the basics. (Or, even worse, waste money on affiliates who make no sense for your brand!) 

Read on for our ultimate checklist to help you launch a next-level affiliate marketing program. 

Last updated on January 5th, 2022.