I read an interesting post by Shawn Collins this morning over at the website magazine blog. Shawn discussed the results of the results of a 2009 Affiliate Summit AffStat Report (conducted during Q4 of 2008).

Some of the affiliate remarks really stuck out to me;

‘“Notification of a ‘Big Weekend Sale’ on Friday night isn’t going anywhere. Get us the information in time to fit it into a busy schedule.” ‘

As an affiliate I really feel this way. On my ‘mom blog’ I write many posts up to three months in advance. If I join a new affiliate program it can take me up to three months to plan appropriate themes and content related to an affiliate program.

I balance motherhood, and a full time career as a single parent. Give me at LEAST two weeks notice to promote an ‘incentive’ and make sure you provide the tools I need to promote it.

‘“I hate it when I reply to an unsolicited manager e-mail because it has relevance to me, and then the manager does not reply. I have quit programs over this. If you aren’t going to respond to me why bother sending me mail? Also, stop treating Canadian affiliates (and non-U.S. publishers for that matter) like second-class citizens. Some of us perform much better than ‘homeland’ based publishers while honestly working within your service agreements. This is a global industry — keep this in mind and you will find some amazing markets out there.” ‘

Yes yes yes. My mom blog is more then 85% American readership. This blog is primarily American as well. Affiliate managers and PR REPS if you are not including international affiliates you are missing out on potential opportunities for your clients.

If you are in Canada and looking for quality female targeted affiliate programs you should contact Her Affiliate Manager.

Of course not all affiliates want ongoing contact but every new relationship should be developed to ensure you know what level of communication and support your new affiliates needs.

‘ “My main compliment to good affiliate managers goes to those who are willing to work with me on my level. They don’t assume I know everything and are willing to let me learn. My biggest complaint goes to those affiliate managers who send me invitations to join their program ‘after looking at my site’ and then reject me when I apply to their program. Or they approve me and then delete me after a month or so because of ‘poor performance,’ but they never contact me to work with me.” ‘

Shawn’s post has a few other surprising revelations made by the affiliates they surveyed. Particularly interesting are the results around affiliate cookies.

You can read the post State of the Affiliate Marketing Industry – 2009 here.