Keeping an affiliate site relevant isn’t easy. You have to make sure your site visitors find your site and its content fresh, and that they keep coming back. As an affiliate or publisher, you have relationships with merchants who expect a certain level of activity (clicks and the ultimate purchases) in order for your relationship to continue long-term. This requires many little changes over time, and some larger ones on a regular basis, at least once a year. After all, you’ve put in all this effort, why not maximize your gain?

So, how do you fine tune and keep your site the place your users go back to for authoritative information, and merchants like because of your access to their target market? Poll your site users. Ask them what they like and what’s missing. What they used to like but no longer find relevant. See if the look of you site and its navigation still have the right “feel” for them. Just because it was fine, or even cutting edge a year ago, doesn’t mean it is doing all it can for you now. See what they think of your affiliate offerings, and what they’d like to see. You can use check boxes regarding parts or features of your site, but be sure to ask them to tell you what they think by providing a free-form comment box.

Why will people tell you what they think? Some will do so simply because they feel a part of your site. But others need an incentive. You can offer something free – a downloadable tips booklet, a discount at a relevant business, something small and highly relevant to their interests. It’s worth the expense and effort.

Karen Kari's articles and more information on the affiliate business can be found at:

http://www.affiliatebandit.com
http://www.advertisingcellar.com
http://www.billionfreeads.com