DEFINITION
Email affiliate marketing is a strategy within affiliate marketing where affiliates promote their partner’s products and services using email campaigns.
Email affiliate marketing is a strategy within affiliate marketing where affiliates promote their partner’s products and services using email campaigns. Affiliates curate a subscriber list to whom they dispatch emails containing promotional content and partner offers.
Table of contents
How does email affiliate marketing work?
The foundational principle of email affiliate marketing mirrors that of standard affiliate marketing, with the primary distinction being the utilization of email as the main communication medium. Affiliates collaborate with advertisers, curate or leverage an existing subscriber list, craft email content spotlighting the advertiser’s offerings, and embed affiliate links in these emails. The affiliate system monitors conversions and activities, attributing commissions to the corresponding affiliate.
Benefits of email affiliate marketing
Beyond generating passive income for affiliates and augmenting sales for advertisers, email affiliate marketing offers the advantage of subscriber segmentation, enabling content personalization. Tailored email content, aligned with subscriber preferences, often yields higher conversions.
Advantages and disadvantages of email affiliate marketing
Advantages:
- Precise targeting of content to delineated demographics.
- Enhanced efficiency – studies confirm email as a potent sales conduit.
- Amplified trust in the promoted entity – subscribing typically follows some level of familiarity with the content creator, inherently fostering trust.
Disadvantages:
- Potential spam risks – non-compliance can tarnish reputation and invoke legal repercussions.
- Diminished trust in brands promoted via unsolicited emails.
- Exploitation – affiliates might deceive subscribers to capitalize on offers.
- Waning engagement – persistent, value-devoid promotions might deter subscribers.
Legal stipulations surrounding email affiliate marketing
Email affiliate marketing necessitates adherence to legal frameworks, both nationally and globally. Notable regulations include the CAN-SPAM Act (U.S.) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
CAN-SPAM:
- Emails must transparently identify the sender.
- Subject lines should be genuine and non-deceptive.
- A legitimate return address is mandatory.
- Emails should explicitly signify their promotional nature.
- An easy opt-out mechanism for subscribers must be present.
- Content should be pertinent to the recipient.
GDPR:
- Marketing emails demand active consent from recipients.
- Recipients reserve the right to demand data deletion.
- Transparency regarding data collection, processing, and utilization is obligatory.
- Senders must ensure robust data protection measures.
- Non-compliance may result in substantial fines.
When and why should one employ email affiliate marketing?
This strategy is apt when an affiliate possesses a trusted subscriber base, especially if the email list is thematic, aligning with the promoted offerings. The allure of this model lies in content personalization, often elevating conversion rates. Many email service providers offer free services up to a certain subscriber count, rendering this promotional tactic virtually cost-free. Moreover, the longevity of emails ensures that a single dispatched message can influence conversions over extended durations.
