Helpful Tips to Have a Great Q4

By Yitzamery Mendez
LinkShare Corporation

The 4th Quarter has historically been the top producing quarter for most of the advertisers in the LinkShare network. With the holiday season in full swing, consumers are looking online for ways to save on gifts for the holidays. As a result, publishers are more motivated then any other time of year to build and maintain successful partnerships. It is very important that you position your program to take advantage of this opportunity. Below, we have listed tips that should help your program have a breakout 4th Quarter.

Set Your Q4 Revenue Goals
Now is the time to set your revenue goals for 4th Quarter. Once your goal has been established, let your top producing publisher’s help you hit your target. One way to successfully achieve this goal is to extend private offers to your top producing publishers. Run a Sales and Activity report to determine your top five publishers and give them their own specific goals. For example, you could give them a bonus or another incentive for 10% YOY sales increase for the each month of the 4th Quarter.

You can also cater to your publishers outside of the top five (mid and core-tier) publishers through growth and activation contests. Segmenting your publishers and offering each set unique opportunities and incentives is extremely important in building successful publisher partnerships.

Use Q4 Newsletters to Promote Your Program
Another way to generate buzz about your program in the 4th Quarter is to communicate more regularly with your publishers. Publishers in general, especially those who are not your top-tier publishers can get complacent and lose interest in your program quickly. This does not mean that they would not do a great job promoting your products, but sometimes you have to put the opportunities in front of them. During the 4th Quarter, you should consider sending out bi-weekly newsletters. Be sure to include special consumer promotions, popular gift items, shipping deadlines, and any other promotions that may arise in your newsletters.

Extend Q4 Promotions to January
Keep in mind sales do not stop after December 25. In January 2007, we noticed significant sales carried over from 4th Quarter 2006. You should consider extending offers that run until the end of January to help get your program off to a great start in 2008.

LinkShare Q4 Deal Dispatcher and Special Emails
Again this year, LinkShare will be putting together special issues of the Deal Dispatcher and emails to our top-tier publishers. These communications will focus on free shipping offers, gift card commissions, last ship dates, trademark bidding and popular holiday items. Watch for more news on our Publisher Holiday Promotions in the September issue of The Link.

Please make sure you reach out to your LinkShare Contact about your Q3 and Q4 workplan for additional tips to have a successful 4th Quarter!