Design

• U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi...
  • Affiliate marketing is the same as any other business
  • Success comes from a professional appearance
  • How many affiliates disregard merchants with poorly designed creates and websites?
  • How many super-affiliates are scared away because they don't think they can convert?
  • Competition is fierce, what is your edge?
    Affiliate marketing is a business like any other. And like any business, to be successful you MUST have a professional appearance. Affiliates: how many merchants have you passed by because their creatives and their website were poorly designed? Merchants: how many super-affiliates are looking at your website and saying, 'Hmm, good offer, but darn, I don't think that anyone would enter their credit card number into that site? I know I wouldn't.' 
    
    Affiliate marketing is becoming more competitive by the day. The one-time edge that large dinosaur type merchants had is slipping away to smaller merchants who are willing to put more into their presentation. The time has come to bite the bullet and redesign. What are you waiting for?
    
    
    
    
• Design=trust=$$$...
  • Can bad design build trust?
  • Does your design help your affiliates sell trust?
  • Customers decide within seconds if they trust you
  • Earned trust equals loyalty and a better brand
    Do you think it's possible to build trust with a customer if your website is poorly designed? A few years ago, sure, maybe. But nowadays, with heavier competition and more advanced websites, can you really afford to not build trust with your customers? Furthermore, will you attract affiliates who don't believe that their customers will trust your offerings?
    
    The fact of the matter is, your customer determines the level of trust they are going to give you within seconds of looking at your website. Earn their trust up front, and reap the rewards of loyalty later by offering a good product and/or service.
    
    
    
    
    
• You can put lipstick on a pig...
  • Cosmetic changes often don't solve the problem
  • It's scary to think about a redesign...costs, time, etc...
  • Web design costs are low
  • Outsource it to TeamAffiliate!
    And you still have a pig, or a slightly overweight muppet named Miss Piggy. The point is, cosmetic changes to your poorly designed website or interface do not solve the problem in most cases. Sometimes, the only answer is to start from scratch. Sure, I know this scares a lot of merchants and affiliates alike. You're worried that the cost is too much, or that your current customers won't like the changes, etc... These are all common reasons for not wanting to surge forward with a new design.
    
    But the truth of the matter is that web design costs are lower than ever, and the longer you wait, the easier it is going to be for your competitor to move in and swipe some of your business away while you play catch up. 
    
    At Kowabunga, we have a service called Team Affiliate. Team Affiliate provides consulting and management services for merchants. With our consultation, we are able to persuade some merchants to redesign their websites and programs, if needed. So far, the results have been amazing growth for those that have redesigned. Remember, this is a business of immediacy. The web leaves no room for slow growth. 
    
    
    
    
    
• You don't call a plumber to fix your roof...
  • Hire an expert for an expert result
  • Finding a web designer is easy as pie
  • Go for a template
    Of course you don't. So why would you have an intern or a programmer try to design for you? You shouldn't. Let an expert do their job and reap the rewards. Nowadays, there are several options for merchants and affiliates. For one, web designers have become a commodity. Large groups of very skilled designers are out there practically begging for your business at rates lower than ever. Try posting your project on a website like www.elance.com and watch the bids come rolling in.
    
    You may also have noticed that many professional template designs have become available online. Although I frown upon the use of templates, sometimes it is the only way...mostly because of the cost, which can range from $30-100 for a professionally designed html website and artwork file. Remember though, a template is just that, a template. There is a chance that you could end up looking just like someone else. Tread cautiously. Hint: a good place to scope out some fantastic templates is www.templatemonster.com.