Poker Affiliate Programs

There are zillions of online poker rooms in the world, thousands popping up each week and some more even as I write this post. Card room owners spend a fortune to enter this lucrative business hoping that his/her online poker room will be the next BIG thing. Some poker rooms don’t last even six months, some lay dormant for years, few break even and a handful of them rake in billions and achieve what they set out for. The online gaming industry has its share of glitz and glamour but what truly drives the revenues of poker rooms to soaring new heights are the players.

Poker rooms spend millions in marketing money for a few real money sign ups; devise out of the box promotions and develop a poker affiliate program which possibly is their best chance to bring in players. Poker affiliate program is run by a team of individuals headed by an affiliate manager who faces the uphill task of acquiring, servicing and retaining fickle minded yet crucial assets – the poker affiliates.

Some poker affiliates tend to control a massive player database that can propel the fortunes of any card room, but they also can take the players away if they switch the card room. Thus the poker room runs the risk of taking a hit if a bunch of these poker affiliates decide to look for “greener pastures”. Hence no two poker affiliates can be treated the same way and poker affiliate management often turns out to be a daunting challenge. The poker affiliate manager is the general who has to lead by example.

1. Attend Gaming Conferences

Trade shows are great for meeting poker affiliates and this is the best opportunity to sell the poker affiliate program. Affiliate managers at trade show booths must offer special incentives that give affiliates reason to visit and have a look at the affiliate program.

2. Giveaways

Everybody wants them and poker affiliates are no exception. This is a guaranteed medium to entice the usually hard to get affiliates.

3. Differentiate Between the Products and Program.

The affiliate manager has to realize that it’s not the product he is selling but the program. A poker room might have the best poker software but its affiliate program might not be up to the mark.

4. Follow Up

It doesn’t need to be said that following up is critical. Everyone knows this. The timing and means of follow-up, however, can ensure that you either do or do not make it onto an affiliate’s site.

5. Relationships Matter

Yes, relationships do matter and people (especially poker affiliates) are everything. Building and maintaining healthy relations with not only your affiliates but all the affiliates in you niche is essential.

Devising, implementing and running a poker affiliate program is the primary task of the affiliate manager and his team. This team not only includes the associates working with the affiliate manager but also comprises of the affiliates from all across the globe who are part of the affiliate program and herein lies the true test of this demanding job.

~ Channel Marketing Team

~ Online Marketing Content Team