Don’ts Affiliate marketers can boost earnings through email, but must follow best practices to stay effective and
compliant. Below are key dos and don’ts
✔ Do provide value and balance content. As GetResponse advises, don’t bombard your list with constant sales pitches. Aim for roughly an 80/20 split – four emails of helpful, educational content for every one promotional email . This “give, give, give, ask” approach builds trust and engagement. For example, share tips or a case study in most emails, and only occasionally include an affiliate link or offer .
Over time this trains subscribers to open your emails (expecting useful info), which in turn improves deliverability and long-term income . ✔ Do use strategic email sequences. Plan your automation carefully. For affiliate promotions, start with a welcome email, then follow with a series that educates the reader on their problem and how a solution (your affiliate product) helps. A good sequence might be: 1) Welcome, 2) Pain points content, 3) Helpful tips,
nurtured before ever seeing a pitch, which increases conversion and trust. ✔ Do segment and personalize. Not every subscriber is the same. Use email segments based on interests, past purchases, or behaviors . Tailoring content ensures you only send affiliate promotions to those likely interested. For example, if someone signed up for fitness tips, don’t spam them with gadget deals. As Adspyder notes, sending irrelevant offers can erode trust and engagement .
Personalization (using names, referencing past interactions) further improves relevance and response rates. ✔ Do comply with laws and guidelines. Always include clear unsubscribe links and only email people who have opted in. Make an explicit affiliate disclosure : the FTC requires that subscribers know you’ll earn commissions on links. For instance, a short note like “I may earn a commission if you buy through this link” is sufficient. Adspyder emphasizes legal compliance (CAN-SPAM, GDPR) as critical .
Using misleading subject lines or hidden links can get you flagged as spam; be transparent in your intent. ✖ Don’t overload emails with affiliate links. A common mistake is cramming too many promo links into one email. Adspyder warns that this makes emails appear “sales-driven” and spammy . Instead, place54 links sparingly and contextually. Ideally, each email has one primary affiliate link or CTA. Surround it with valuable content (tips, stories) so the link feels natural.
This keeps readers’ trust and improves click-through. ✖ Don’t neglect list quality. Keep your email list clean. Remove inactive or unengaged subscribers regularly to maintain high deliverability. Monitor hard bounces and spam complaints. Also, avoid renting or buying lists: always build your own opt-in list for better engagement and legal compliance. ✖ Don’t spam or mislead. Don’t blast daily offers or use clickbait. Not only is this annoying, it violates best practices.
According to Adspyder , sending the same generic promo to everyone usually fails . Always be honest in your subject lines (avoid “Re:” or “FWD:” tricks unless genuine). Maintain a consistent email schedule so your list knows when to expect you. ✖ Don’t skip testing and metrics. Finally, do test different subject lines, copy, and timings. Track opens, clicks, and conversion rates. According to resources, affiliate campaigns should optimize around conversions (sales) and click-through, not just opens .
Adjust based on what content resonates with each segment. By following these guidelines, affiliate marketers can use email ethically and effectively. Focus on building relationships through useful content first, then introduce your affiliate products in a helpful context. This approach “trains subscribers” to open your emails and creates a loyal audience – a formula for long-term affiliate success .
- Natural introduction of affiliate product, 5) More info and final reminder . This way subscribers are