Let’s face it, a lot of people who get into affiliate marketing do so because they don’t want to have to spend all day talking to people in the real world. However, if you want your business to reach the next level, then there are a few communication tricks you can use to get the most out of people you do speak to.
Regardless of who you are or what you do, you are going to need to have some basic level of communication skills if you want to be successful. However, not everyone wants to spend all day communicating and for some it can be a struggle, especially if you aren’t speaking in your native language. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your life a lot easier when trying to get something you need or want.
The first thing to remember when trying to communicate with people in the marketing world is that everyone is in it for themselves. Therefore, if you are trying to get people to do something for you, make sure you have something to offer in return. Nobody is going to help someone who takes and never shares. Remember, communication is business and it takes time. If you expect to be rewarded for that time, make sure you understand that the person your communicating with is in the same position.
You should always consider the art of the deal when talking to your affiliate managers. If you want your network to pay you more money, simply saying: “Hey, can I have more money?” , probably isn’t going to get you very far.
You need to provide clear reasons and incentives as to why people should help you out. Instead, consider the following:
“Hi there, I’m currently running a slightly profitable campaign but I would like to be able to invest in it further. Another network offered me $X more, but I like working with you guys. If you give me $X it will enable me to scale my campaign and I’ll keep my traffic with you.”
By doing this, you give your network a clear reason why you want the extra money and you give them a clear reason why they should give it to you. Remember, asking for more is fine, but make sure you have a good reason and that you let your affiliate manager know it.
Don’t be afraid to talk to people about things which are not work related. This goes mostly for other affiliates that you work with rather than your affiliate managers. Unfortunately, due to the high number of affiliate inquiries, it’s not always possible for affiliate managers to shoot-the-breeze. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to build meaningful relationships with other people who can help you.
Finding common ground and interests with people allows us to build trust and quite often, showing some level of weakness can also play to your strength.
In the hit TV series Mad Men, Roger Sterling advises Lane Pryce on how to get people to come to an agreement using personal information. In the scene, Sterling is advising Pryce how to get Jaguar to give him the information they want to hear to seal the deal. Here is the transcript from the show:
Sterling: “Within reason. But I find it’s best to smile and sit there like you’ve got no place to go, and just let them talk. Somewhere in the middle of the entrée, they’ll throw out something revealing. And you want to wait until dessert to pounce on it. You know, let him know you’ve got the same problem he has, whatever it is. And then you’re in a conspiracy. The basis of a ‘friendship.” Then you whip out the form,”
Price: “What if I don’t have the same problem?”
Sterling: “It’ll probably just be something like he drinks too much, he gambles. I once went on a five-minute tear about how my mother loved my father more than me. And I can assure you that is impossible,”
Price: “Very good then. And if for some reason he’s more reserved?”
Sterling: “Just reverse it. Feed him your own personal morsel,”
The thing to take away from this is that it can be very useful to offer up some personal information to show that you are human. 99.9% of people will be more cooperative if they know they have something in common and often weaknesses are far better than strengths. Why? Boasting about strengths can lead to competition and animosity, and whilst competition is good in business, you don’t want to boast that you’re the kind of person who has everything, otherwise others may not wish to see you have more. Therefore you should aim to elicit mutual understanding and compassion.
Don’t go too far however, otherwise you’ll stray into the realms of pity and no-one likes self-pity. When presenting yourself to others, try to hit a level where you are competent, yet things aren’t always easy. A level where you can cope, but outside pressures sometimes make it difficult. Happen you’ve had a difficult year and things haven’t always gone to plan. Maybe your partner left you or you broke your leg and that held you back for a little while, and now you’re trying to get back on top of everything again. Remember, don’t feel sorry for yourself, but rather consider your shortcomings as hurdles you need to get over. If you present them in this way, people are far more likely to want to help you overcome them.
In the world of business, it’s important to keep the upper hand and power plays can be everything. However, don’t mistake cockiness for power! Power doesn’t meant dominating the person you are speaking to, it means being in control of the flow of dialogue and having the ability to take it wherever you want it to go.
The easiest way to command any conversation is to lead with questions. Asking questions about the other person takes the focus off of you and makes the person you are speaking to feel more important. It’s always nice to know that someone cares, so care. You don’t have to go so far as to lick their wounds, but showing a general interest in something that they are saying will help win them over.
If they start to talk passionately about an interest or hobby that you have no idea about, don’t change the subject immediately, instead, ask a few questions and, before your next conversation, find out more about it. This will give you a massive advantage over your next conversation and will show them that you were genuinely interested in what they had to say. It will also help you to send those all important emails out after you meet people at conferences as you’ll be able to say things like:
“…I had a look into the beetle fighting championships you mentioned! They look epic. I wonder how they manage to train them to do that.”
You’ve now opened the conversation back up and they will respond, if only to tell you that the beetles aren’t trained but that they use their natural instincts to overpower their opponents. ;)
Building up this kind of rapport is vital and will also help you to remember who is who. Do this well, and you will be able to get the advice and help you want. What’s more, people will like you, and they will be more likely to introduce you to others who can help you, even if they can’t.