Platform Pick 1: Win Stakeholder Support

Introduction

Feeling like your affiliate marketing channel needs a boost, or you don’t have one yet? You’re on the right track! The first step is getting stakeholder buy-in. In this article, we’ll help you assess your current setup (or start from scratch), identify pain points like messy tracking, high costs, or missing features, and build a strong case for upgrading to a new platform. This is part of a series on how to pick the right platform for your needs.

Platform Pick 1: Win Stakeholder Support
Platform Pick 2: Create a Checklist
Platform Pick 3: Create a Feature Comparison Table
Platform Pick 4: Define Your Needs Clearly
Platform Pick 5: Hunt for the Right Platform
Platform Pick 6: Send Out Requests for Proposals
Platform Pick 7: Demos with Vendors
Platform Pick 8: Check Pricing and Value
Platform Pick 9: Choose Your Top Favorites
Platform Pick 10: Business, Legal, and IT Prep
Platform Pick 11: Integrate and Test it
Platform Pick 12: Rollout

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Take a Look at Your Current Affiliate Setup

First thing you need to do is take a long, hard look at your current affiliate program (if you have one). What’s working? What’s not? Maybe you’re not even using affiliate marketing yet, and that’s okay! If you are, though, what’s giving you headaches? Is it messy tracking that’s making your affiliate program and commissions look uncompetitive? You could be paying the same commissions as competitors but only tracking a fraction of the traffic (thanks, cookies). Or maybe your current solution is way too pricey, especially if you’re dealing with big volumes (hello, affiliate networks taking a 25% cut just for sending one email to affiliates per month).

And let’s not forget about missing features – like, does your current setup support lead generation or other things that could help you grow? Or is your IT team buried in work? Whatever the problem is, it’s a good idea to write it down first. Understanding these pain points is the key to making the case for upgrading your affiliate platform.

Build Your Case for the Platform

You’ve got to show to your stakeholders why it’s necessary to start or upgrade to a new platform. Start by highlighting the benefits. If tracking is a mess, explain how the new platform will make tracking simple and accurate, so you can pay affiliates fairly and keep them delivering results. If payments are a headache, a better platform can automate the process, reduce mistakes, and save you loads of time.

Is your current solution burning a hole in your budget? A new platform could give you more value for the price. It might be cheaper (your finance team will love it) or offer better features that help you make more money. If your affiliates are not interested in what you’re offering now, a new platform with advanced features might get them excited. New features and improved flexibility could be exactly what you need to win them over and supercharge their performance.

If your IT team is overloaded and the current platform is taking up all their time with technical problems, a new one could take care of that, letting them focus on more important things.

But, most importantly, frame it in a way that resonates with the people you’re pitching to. Show how this change will solve their problems, make things more efficient, and ultimately support the company’s goals. Get everyone on board by showing them that investing in a new platform is a win-win!

Important Details to Cover

Affiliate marketing is growing globally by 10% year over year. It accounts for 16% of total revenue worldwide, and for some businesses (especially service providers), it can be as high as 50%. How much of your revenue comes from affiliate marketing? If it’s less than that, something’s wrong.

Take a look at your competitors – are they using affiliate marketing? How big is it for them?

Don’t forget to check in with your affiliates too. Ask them what they wish you were offering. It’s not always just about higher commissions (though that can be a result of bad conversion tracking and paying just for the traffic since you don’t track the other part). Often, affiliates are missing key features or other benefits.

And here’s the most important part – don’t just react to what your competitors are doing. Think bigger. How can you dominate your market with affiliate marketing? Think about how it can truly help you stand out.

Get Everyone Onboard

When presenting to stakeholders, keep it short, simple, and to the core of things. Remember, they’re not affiliate marketing experts and may not even know that something like that exists. So, start slow.

Focus on Each Department’s Needs

Keep it focused on what matters most to each department:

• For IT, it means less technical work and fewer headaches.
• For Finance, it’s more cost-effective solutions and better ROI.
• For Marketing, it provides a new traffic source of customers.

Show them how investing in the platform aligns with their goals and supports the business as a whole.

Include Affiliate Insights

To strengthen your case, gather insights from current or potential affiliates.

• If you already have affiliates, ask them: “What’s working for you, and what could be better?” or “What features do you wish we had to make your job easier?”
• If you don’t yet have an affiliate program, reach out to larger affiliates you’d like to attract. Ask questions like: “What would convince you to join our affiliate program?” or “What tools and features do you need to maximize your performance with us?”

Their responses will provide valuable insights into what your affiliate program needs to succeed.

See our related article

Emphasize Long-Term Investment

Finally, emphasize that this is an investment in the future—long-term growth and scalability. Reassure them that while the start or switch to a new platform may seem complex, the benefits will outweigh the challenges in the long run. Keep the conversation grounded in practical terms and avoid technical jargon to make sure everyone is on the same page.

The Sooner You Start, The Sooner Your Affiliate Channel Grows

Don’t wait for the perfect moment to pitch the idea. The sooner you present the benefits of a new platform to your stakeholders, the sooner you can start seeing those long-term results. Now is the time to act—start laying the groundwork for a new affiliate platform and get everyone onboard. With the right platform, you can increase your affiliate revenue, make your program more competitive, and set yourself up for growth. Don’t just follow your competitors, lead the way. The future of affiliate marketing is in your hands!