Making a robust team in affiliate

In recent times, the task of earning as a solo affiliate has grown increasingly challenging. Eventually, the idea of joining a team or creating one's own becomes an inevitable consideration. Teams are formed not only by adept affiliate webmasters, but also by entrepreneurs with limited knowledge of the intricacies of launching campaigns, yet a desire to invest wisely.

This article is tailored for those aspiring to navigate the path of forming a successful affiliate marketing team—ensuring it thrives, resists downturns, and doesn't migrate to competitors at the earliest opportunity.

Getting started

At the outset, a critical choice lies between a remote and an on-site setting for your business. Each format carries its advantages and drawbacks. Opting for an office setting provides control over buyers and safeguards against cheating. On the other hand, if you are onboarding a team of trusted professionals or possess the confidence to establish a competent expense and income tracking system, remote team building is an option. On the plus side, the remote format expands the pool of specialists. The developments in recent years have revealed that not all marketers are into fixed workplaces, especially as their income starts to pick up in a big way.

Moving forward, the following step involves calculating the optimal budget for your launch. It's essential to bear in mind that during the initial couple of months, there's a strong likelihood that you'll be operating at a deficit. This being a common scenario, it’s crucial to be prepared. Funds are needed for tests, supplies, salary payments, and other regular expenditures associated with launching a campaign. Should you choose the office setup, factor in costs for rent, equipment, and the quintessential supplies like tea, coffee, and biscuits to foster a comfortable environment for your team. Additionally, crafting a motivational system for your buyers and establishing their key performance indicators (KPIs) is a vital task. If, after conducting these financial assessments, you find your resources falling short, consider seeking out a partner or an investor. Initial investments vary widely, ranging from $30,000 to $150,000.

Further on, it's time to define your own role. If your experience in affiliate marketing is limited or you lack comprehensive knowledge, it's imperative to have a dependable individual on your team who possesses a profound understanding of the field. This person can be hired as a manager or brought in as a partner, even if you aim to grasp the field better. Otherwise, if you're a seasoned expert in traffic marketing and possess the desire to personally train and oversee your staff, it's prudent to assess your capabilities. Think twice whether you can effectively manage tasks independently or require assistance with management.

When forming a traffic marketers’ team, it's ill-advised to hinge everything on a single offer or traffic source. Select a vertical (while commencing with several might be more intricate, the decision should be determined by your aspirations, knowledge, and ambitions), affiliate programs, and offers that align with your preferences. While things might evolve along the way, commencing with a familiar landscape is a good idea.

Team building

You can collaborate with your partner or manager (team leader) to determine the required staff number and whether you need them all full-time. The essential specialists for a successful affiliate marketing team include buyers/traffic brokers, designers, copywriters, typesetters, and tech savvies (who handle scripts, landing pages, troubleshooting, etc.). Talent acquisition is better to be entrusted to an HR specialist, especially if you intend to further scale your team. The question arises: where to find professionals who are "in the know"?” Conferences and meetups are great avenues for headhunting. Your connections within the affiliate circle, as well as dedicated online forums are prime sources. In this context, our forum is the first go-to!

Building a robust team is not a race, so take your time and be prepared for some adjustments along the way. Having potential team members in mind beforehand essentially facilitates this process. The use of polygraph tests is a matter of choice, yet increasingly, companies and affiliate teams employ them as a standard practice. When dealing with substantial sums of money, relying on your team members’ honesty, reassurance is a wise measure to take. 

Systematize your workflow. In the case of 3-5 buyers a strict management system might not be required, but as you expand, managing chaos becomes increasingly difficult. Every process should be clearly defined: communication with affiliates and ad services, account farming, funnel creation, testing, and scaling. Roles and responsibilities must be established, detailing who takes charge of what at each stage and how reporting is structured. This approach enables identifying both individual and team strengths and weaknesses.

It’s up to you to go public or not. Some teams thrive without publicity, yet garnering awareness can facilitate future scaling and attractive partnerships with new service providers and affiliate programs. Community recognition fosters credibility.

Scaling and growth

Pros evolve within teams; buyers ascend to team leaders, who can further nurture new buyers. Others advance professionally, and it might be worth considering a reward for their growth: higher rates, larger scope of responsibility. When growth opportunities are provided, the team operates efficiently, not even “looking aside”. Over time, the team matures into a vertical structure: departments led by team leaders, with buyers and arbitrageurs specializing in distinct verticals or traffic sources.

To retain existing team members and attract new talents, offering favorable conditions and a respectful working environment is paramount. 

Self-employed and aspiring affiliate marketers all end up looking for a team, drawn by the chance to earn with startup capital. If your ambition fuels the desire to establish your own team, we wish you the best in this captivating albeit demanding venture! 

The central tenet is that a successful arbitrage team hinges on prudent budgeting, well-structured operational processes, and a team of the right individuals.