BLM Quantum has launched an innovative ‘social affiliate’ tool, a widget designed to merge both social media and affiliate marketing.
Domino’s Pizza in the UK is the first brand to trial the tool, which enables anyone with a personal web space — such as a social network page or blog — to host advertising from nominated brands.
“The tool complements more orthodox affiliate marketing strategies, which use ‘professional affiliates’, by enabling any consumer to promote products or services within a framework of designated brand guidelines,” says the company.
Using the tool, internet users can earn revenue whenever a sale is driven from their social network or blog page.
How does the service work for retailers? “The retailer would contact Quantum and request to use Quantum’s Social Affiliate tool,” the company told Internet Retailing. “They let us know what terms they would like to offer and then Quantum seeds that in to the coding behind the widget. Quantum then build and design it and once approved begin a programme of blogger outreach work to build up awareness. There is some technical work to link up with a site’s back end, and the process is faster if someone is already set up with tracking or feeds for affiliate marketing.”
Quantum’s dashboard plugs into the Affiliate Window network reporting system but consumers do not need to sign up for an Affiliate Window account in order to add the widget to their pages. When, and if, they earn commission, says BLM Quantum, “they go through to a simple to use interface which connects with the Affiliate Window system who process the payment.”
“Our ‘Social Affiliate’ tool will open up affiliate marketing beyond typical channels to anyone who has a web space,” says Dan Clays, managing director of BLM Quantum. “Brands benefit by aligning with sites run by fans who are more likely to drive a sale, while site owners can generate revenues from their Facebook page or blog.”
