A very common question from Merchants is “How can I make sure Affiliates can find our program?”. The answer? Be sure to use the available Search Keywords listed in your program’s Edit Settings page.
There are a number of ways Affiliates go about seeking new Merchant programs, but one of the most common is by utilizing the “Search by Keyword” function within the Affiliate interface. Creating a set of search terms and phrases that are relevant to your program is an important step in creating visibility for your program. For anyone that might be unsure of how to best go about determining what might be the best keywords to use in your allotted 255 characters, fear not! Today I bring to you some tips on how to go about doing keyword analysis for your program.
You can add Search Keywords for your affiliate program by going to MY ACCOUNT > Affiliate Communications and clicking Keywords on the dynamic slider.
Your Search Keywords must be entered in a comma-separated list (ex: keyword1,keyword2,keyword3) for Affiliates to find your program. You do not have to add a space after each comma, as spaces will actually count as one of your allotted 255 characters. You may edit/change your Search Keywords at any time, and we recommend using single-word keywords/terms - as opposed to multi-word keywords/terms - as this will allow you to include a more diverse range of keywords.
Building your search Keyword List:
Tip #1: Put yourself in the shoes of your customer. Think about how your customers currently find your website via search. The same terms and phrases your customers use are most likely going to be the same key terms potential Affiliates will use as well. So take the most popular phrases and terms from your own website analytics and apply that to your list.
Tip #2: Create a test Affiliate account for yourself. Signing up as an Affiliate is free and having an Affiliate account will allow you to see the interface through the eyes of your Affiliate partners. Once you have the account set up, use the “Search for Merchants” function to locate your program. See how your program ranks amongst other similar programs in the keyword search results. Or test to see if there are specific phrases you may not be currently using, but should.
Tip #2.5: Notice that Affiliate keyword search results are not only ranked based on the Merchant’s key word list but also the Organization Name, Web Address, Program Bio, Product Match (Datafeed). So once you have maxed out your allotted 255 characters in the keyword list, you can use the content of your program bio as an “overflow” to include any additional key phrases or terms.
Tip #3: Enlist the help of free keyword building tools found on the internet such as: Google Adwords, Compete.com, and SemRush.com. These tools provide an insight on targeted keywords or phrases used to bring traffic to the website. The goal is to find the keyword match with the highest search volume and those that will be useful from an Affiliate’s point of view.
Tip #4: You can always go back and edit. So don’t be afraid to continually tweak and test your list.
Finding the right set of keywords takes brainstorming and analysis of both your website and related websites within the same niche. But once you have that solid list of keywords, you will have the visibility that is imperative for Affiliates to find your program within the ShareASale network!