It’s not a secret – building a successful Partner Program isn’t just about launching a product and hoping people will sign up.

At Tradedoubler, we make it easy for Brands to test and launch a Partner Marketing program quickly — without needing a developer or technical setup. Our platform is designed for speed, simplicity, and scale, helping you get started with minimal resources.

Through the Tradedoubler solution for SMEs, you can access a self-serve solution built specifically for startups, side hustle, and small teams — making it possible to drive sales across thousands of websites with just a few clicks.

The real magic happens when you attract the right Partners and keep them engaged for the long term.

One way to do that is by having a dedicated Partner Marketing program (also known as affiliate marketing program). Partner Marketing programs are key to attracting Publishers and boosting engagement.

That means marketing strategies to attract Publishers and boost engagement. It means nuance. And it means tailoring your approach to your specific audience - whether you’re a startup looking to scale, an agency balancing client goals or a side hustler looking to generate passive income.

At Tradedoubler we’ve been driving Partner Marketing success (affiliate marketing success) for over two decades through strategic partnerships, actionable content and data-driven decision making. Here’s what we’ve learned. 

Why Partner Marketing (Affiliate Marketing) Works 

Unlike paid ads or SEO, Partner Marketing (affiliate marketing) on Grow lets you pay only for results, and you can launch in minutes, not weeks. With the right strategy including link placements, content strategy and marketing efforts, Brands can reach targeted audiences and drive sales resulting in high converting partner sales.

And the numbers back it up. Global affiliate marketing spend is growing year on year because of its ability to deliver measurable revenue and strong conversion rates. In fact, affiliate marketing spending reached $9.56 billion in the U.S. in 2023, highlighting the increased interest and investment in this area by both brands and marketers.

But attracting engaged Publishers requires a thoughtful approach. That’s where top Partner Marketing strategies (affiliate marketing strategies) come in.

Startups using Grow have seen results in as little as 2 weeks — using our automated publisher recommendations and built-in tracking to scale without needing an in-house marketing team.

SMEs: Credibility Is the Conversion Catalyst 

Build Trust with High Quality Content 

Use blog posts, video marketing and testimonials to show you’re a profitable business worth promoting. Success stories and case studies help Partner prospects imagine themselves as a successful marketer. However, keep in mind that SMEs don’t want to build content strategies from scratch — they need fast access to proven materials. Ensure assets like videos, testimonials, and success stories are ready-made and easy to deploy. 

Provide Competitive, Transparent Commissions 

Structure your partner program with clear tiers, flexible payout options, and transparent use of each affiliate link.

Highlight the importance of competitive and transparent commissions. Show your affiliate revenue potential and back it up with real metrics. 

Make it simple: preloaded commission benchmarks, instant ROI calculators, and default payout settings reduce friction and speed up decision-making. 

Create Seamless Onboarding 

Support your marketer onboarding with email welcomes, FAQ libraries and resource hubs. Attracting potential publishers is key so make sure the onboarding process is seamless and inviting. Make Partner Marketing campaigns (affiliate marketing campaigns) easy to launch with prebuilt landing pages and creative assets. 

Above all, SMEs value a setup process that’s fast, clear, and doesn’t require technical expertise. Provide a guided setup wizard, optional onboarding call, and integrations with major eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to go live in minutes. 

Use Social Proof 

Publisher website logos, Publisher performance reviews and feedback from your top Publishers to reassure new joiners. Affiliate networks can provide valuable metrics and insights to help showcase these performance reviews and feedback. 

To build trust instantly, feature high-performing Publisher profiles and industry-specific case studies prominently in your dashboard. 

Tip: Integrate native advertising and search engine optimization (SEO) to increase organic traffic and visibility across social media platforms. 

Accelerators & Incubators: Opportunity-First Approach 

These ecosystems thrive on partner relationships on that scale. 

Position Your Network as a Launchpad 

Feature co-branded opportunities, highlight Partner Marketing income (affiliate marketing income) earned by startups and align with industry trends. Promote Publisher products in these co-branded opportunities to increase visibility and drive sales. 

Incentivize Referrals 

Encourage sharing through social media posts and email marketing. Provide discount codes to Publishers to incentivize referrals and boost engagement. Gamify your partner engagement with bonuses for each recruit. 

Support Cohort-wide Setups 

Offer toolkits and group sessions that reduce onboarding friction. Integrate the partner experience with the merchant’s site to create a seamless experience. Build partnerships that feel like part of the merchant’s site experience. 

Startups: Speed, Storytelling and Strategy 

Startups are agile, resource-constrained and looking to grow. They want Partner Marketing tips (affiliate marketing tips) that deliver results fast. 

Highlight Innovation 

Showcase your product as exciting and high impact. Show how it’s perfect for affiliate marketing success. 

Leverage Micro-Influencers 

These creators often own tightly focused partner sites with passionate followers. Equip them with swipe copy, visuals and strategically placed affiliate links to promote the partner product. Implementing effective strategies, such as choosing relevant products and creating valuable content, can significantly enhance their promotional efforts. 

Offer Early Mover Rewards 

Joining new programs early within the Tradedoubler Partner Network can give you a competitive edge. First-mover bonuses, increased commission potential, and greater visibility in the network can significantly enhance your performance. A well-structured Partner Marketing strategy (affiliate marketing strategy) that leverages early-mover opportunities and keeps pace with the latest trends in Tradedoubler is essential for maximizing your ROI and staying agile in a dynamic market environment. 

Make It Visual 

Use video marketing, infographics and gifs to communicate clearly across social media channels. 

Side Hustlers: Friction-Free Earning 

Flexibility and simplicity are key to winning over busy individuals looking to generate income on the side. 

Instant Activation 

Enable fast approval, provide templated assets and instant payout options. Having a well-designed partner site is crucial for instant activation as it ensures a professional appearance and user-friendly experience. These users are often exploring unattached Partner Marketing, so ease of use is critical.  

Successful marketers focus solely on creating a seamless experience to target specific audiences for better conversion rates. 

Ready-to-Use Content 

Offer plug-and-play banners, links and relevant content formatted for Publisher websites and social media platforms to promote partner products. 

Create Community 

Support forums, Discord groups and Slack channels can spark connection and keep Publishers engaged. Involved (Partner Marketing) affiliate marketing, where marketers have a close connection to the products or services they promote, is crucial in these community support channels. Building a loyal audience through these channels is key to building trust and higher conversion rates. 

Highlight Income Potential 

Use calculators and testimonials to show Partner Marketing Income (affiliate marketing income). Focus on ROI over vanity metrics. 

Agencies: Results and Reporting 

Agencies need scalable, client-friendly Partner Marketing Strategies (affiliate marketing strategies) that can be replicated across multiple campaigns. 

Offer White-Label Options 

Allow agencies to integrate your flexible partner program into their offering with branding flexibility and shared analytics access. 

Prioritize Data 

Advanced Google Ads tracking, keyword research tools and Publisher performance dashboards are must-haves. Gathering valuable insights through these tools is key to understanding your audience and optimizing your strategies. 

Tiered Rewards 

Make sure high-performing marketers see increasing returns through tiered commissions, exclusive content and access to beta products. 

A partner network can provide these tiered rewards and exclusive content, offering dashboards and tools to track and manage marketing efforts. Integrating the Publisher experience with the Brand's site is crucial, as it encourages traffic and engagement, ultimately driving more conversions. 

Dedicated Support 

Assigning an affiliate manager or success leads to help with onboarding, integration and campaign optimization. 

Remember: Many agencies use content marketing so make sure your program fits into their wider funnel strategy. 

Cross-Sector Marketing Tactics That Work 

No matter your business model these marketing strategies work for partner engagement: 

• SEO-Optimized Content: Use relevant keywords and tools like Google Trends to drive traffic and attract high quality traffic that converts. 

• High Quality Content: Educational blog posts, tutorials and explainers reduce friction. 

• Email Marketing: Segment by persona and drip useful Partner marketing tips to improve activation. 

• Paid Advertising: Retarget website visitors and use PPC and other paid ads to attract new Publisher sites. 

• Landing Pages: Dedicated, persona-specific pages drive stronger conversion rates. 

Final Thoughts: One Size Doesn’t Fit All 

Whether you’re scaling a Partner Marketing career (an affiliate marketing career) or leading a Brand with big digital marketing goals, your approach to partner engagement should reflect your audience. 

• For SMEs: Build trust, simplify setup, educate often, and explore personal finance content through engaging platforms like podcasts and webinars. 

• For Startups: Drive momentum with rewards, innovation and shareable stories. 

• For Side Hustlers: Focus on frictionless income and automation. 

• For Agencies: Deliver performance, white-label options and scalable strategy. 

• For Accelerators: Align with grant-driven timelines and offer ecosystem-wide solutions. Stay ahead of the curve in partner marketing. 

At Tradedoubler we believe in partnerships that deliver. Try these out to keep your Publishers connected. 

Create your first partner program in 5 minutes with our solution — no dev required.