Campground affiliate programs, such as Passport America and Good Sam, give park owners the opportunity to supplement the income they already have coming in the door. Although affiliate programs constantly talk about how they can take your campgrounds “from zero to hero” or “save the day” we’re here to dig a little deeper and find out if they’re truly worth it. In this article, we’ll go through the benefits of having an affiliate program, what to look for when selecting an affiliate partner, and why it might not be in your best interest to join one.
What is an affiliate program?
Affiliate programs are relationships between a merchant and a partner site where the merchant site pays to be “affiliated” with the partner site in exchange for a presumed rise in traffic. Some major affiliate sites you may know of include Wirecutter, SnapSort, LucieList, Good Sam and Passport America.
What are some reasons I should join an affiliate program?
Increased Web Visibility
Opportunities for Affiliate Link Commissions
Booth Space at Nationwide Events
Brochure Distribution at Rallies and RV Shows Nationwide
And More!
What to look for when selecting an affiliate program?
There are a few red flags to look out for when selecting an affiliate program to join. If the program charges membership fees, especially those with minimum monthly terms, be cautious about locking yourself into a program that might not pay back your initial investment in the above benefits. Another example would be that the affiliate program you’re looking into doesn’t fall in line with the brand of your campgrounds. It’s important to have the right guests in your park and affiliating with the wrong programs could cause a dramatic shift in the guests that you have at your park. Lastly, if the affiliate program requests a percentage of sales attributed to their links it would be something to be wary of. Depending on your margins and the percentage the affiliate is looking for in return, it might not be in your best interest and could even end up costing you money in the long run.
Affiliate programs during COVID
Yes, in the last paragraph we just said it might not be worth it, but these times are a little different. A lot of affiliate programs offer sign-on incentives such as free advertising for your first month. Why is this especially beneficial now? More people are looking toward traveling but staying outdoors. So, now might be the perfect time to capitalize on the free advertising. Every affiliate program has managers. Try to get them on the phone and see if you can increase the promotions over the first few months to capitalize on the COVID travelers. If you can do this, now might be the PERFECT time to join. Try as hard as you can to not get locked in for a full year, but instead 3-6 months only. Then, you can reassess and perhaps, get more incentives if you choose to extend.
All in all, joining an affiliate program is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly from a business owner’s perspective. Like any move you’ll make in business doing your own research and consulting partners/employees is incredibly important to ensure your program is set up for success. To recap as you move into the next stage of your own research, make sure you aren’t locking yourself into a deal that will end up running your profit margins dry, make sure the affiliate program you select aligns with your brand, and always put your customer experience first.
