After managing dozens of programs across every vertical, the same five problems kill performance. The good news: every problem is fixable within 90 days.
1. Set-and-Forget Management
A brand launches, approves publishers, then leaves it on autopilot. Successful programs require daily attention: monitoring, optimising, recruiting, nurturing. We routinely see 200-400% growth within six months of implementing active management.
2. Wrong Commission Structure
Flat commission across all products fails to incentivise the behaviours you want. Build tiered architecture: higher commissions on high-margin products, acquisition bonuses, performance tiers, and promotional boosts.
3. No Active Recruitment
The most valuable publishers are being courted by dozens of competitors. Identify ideal profiles, research targets, and conduct personalised outreach. Generic mass outreach doesn't work.
4. Stale Creative Assets
Old banners, incomplete feeds, and poor landing pages kill performance. Fresh banners quarterly, accurate product feeds, co-branded landing pages, and seasonal campaign kits.
5. Poor Publisher Communication
Monthly newsletters, dedicated channels for top partners, advance calendar sharing, and easy support access make the difference. Programs treating publishers as genuine partners consistently outperform.