social marketABILITY

How to Use Twitter In Your Affiliate Marketing Strategy

This is a very pressing question for some that are searching for a definitive answer on the subject -to tweet or not to tweet an affiliate link.  The linkability of Twitter as a platform makes it wonderfully convenient to assume that you should – at will – tweet whatever you like.

I must admit that you can win some over by tweeting your affiliate offers and redirecting to a sales page, but is that the best practice?

People Love To Choose

If you tweet your affiliate link you strip away some of that power from a follower.  The same way you should follow the double opt-in standard with email marketing, why not confirm that you have permission to market the offer to the Twitter follower.

Does Following = Permission?

No, often times if the relationship or connection is new you are taking time to get a gauge the value of the person’s tweet.  As a marketer you want to gain the trust of the follower and encourage them to visit your website and explore your content.  Why would you break that trust by baiting them with a link in your tweet?

In the Long Run

The link is going to skew your conversions.  In reality someone is more likely to buy from someone who has presented the offer with benefits, and a personal message, than a random tweet.  You should still present the prospect with an offer page or landing page prior to presenting the option to view the affiliate offer. 

I do use twitter for promotion of affiliate offers, but I try to connect with the person first and present my reasons for supporting the offer.  A simple disclosure is needed in the process keep everything transparent. 

I’d love to know what are YOUR thoughts on the matter. 

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affiliate marketing, marketing strategy, twitter