3 Factors to Consider: Affiliate Marketing Compliance

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According to the Affiliate Marketing Benchmark Report 2022, the affiliate marketing industry is set to grow from $13 billion in 2022 to an estimated $15.7 billion by 2024. In other words, the market is absolutely booming.

And, with more and more marketers cashing in on the action that affiliate marketing has to offer, compliance advice is being consistently updated to keep us safe. As more and more regulatory laws and amendments to current rules and regulations are introduced, affiliate marketers must be sure that they’re compliant with them to avoid some, quite severe, penalties.

As with any kind of marketing, there are a few compliance staples that wouldn’t go amiss throughout your strategy. Having worked with a diverse mix of marketers across various industries, I’ve picked up a few key factors to keep in mind when ensuring full regulatory compliance to protect your brand and business.

So, here are three key factors to consider to keep your affiliate network compliant.

Keep your eye on fraud.

From URL hijacking and click spam to cookie stuffing and blatant misrepresentation, there’s a wealth of ways non-compliant affiliates try to increase their commissions.

These tactics not only put your affiliate network’s reputation at risk, but it also embezzles the network out of commissions that were earned illegitimately. A lose-lose. But, luckily, you don’t have to just stand by and watch - there’s something that you can do about it…

The best way to keep your eye on fraudulent activities on your network is to monitor your affiliates’ IP addresses. This can help you track any suspicious activity or fraudulent methods that might be being used to drive sales and earn higher commissions.

Remember that tech is your friend, not your foe.

It’s easy to lose track of the constant developments in the tech industry. But, it’s important to keep up to date with the tools and platforms that have been designed to ensure full compliance with regulatory laws.

Trust me, there’s a lot of them.

Right now, affiliates have countless compliance management systems right at their fingertips. Many come equipped with features such as detecting compliance violations and providing real-time notifications to reduce the risk. Even better? These kinds of tools can be paired with internal initiatives formed by your network to achieve full compliance. Now that’s what you call a winning partnership.

Establishing your brand as reputable goes a long way.

Now, this is easier said than done - but, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

As an affiliate marketer, ensuring regulatory compliance not only safeguards your consumers, but also preserves your brand, and by default, your reputation. And, as your affiliate network grows, it can become harder and harder to keep track of all of your affiliates. That’s where your reputation can fall.

So, how can you ensure that your reputation stays up to scratch? A brand style guide. By outlining activities and behaviours that are prohibited by your network’s terms and conditions, your affiliates are much more likely to be honest and open.

Before you get started, though…

These factors are applicable to keeping your affiliates accountable when it comes to compliance with the terms and conditions of your affiliate program and network, as well as any laws and regulations related to advertising and marketing.

It’s important to remember that you keep up-to-date with the laws and regulations that apply to your business and keep your eyes peeled for best practices in your industry. This way, you can ensure that both you and your affiliates are keeping compliant and doing everything above board.

If you’d like some insight into how to keep your business accountable when it comes to affiliate marketing compliance, let me know and I can take a deep dive into the subject in a future newsletter!

If you want more insights into the affiliate marketing industry, why not sign up for a place in my upcoming AMPP program?

AMPP is a 12-week live training program for Affiliate Managers who want to launch scale and grow successful affiliate programs. And, the next cohort starts SOON - on the 27th of July 2023!

So, if that sounds right up your street, find out more about the program and register here.

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