I have mentioned this in my presentation at the Affiliate Summit today, but let me reiterate it here again. I believe that there is no such thing as “affiliate management”. If such a phrase (and moreover, such an approach) exists in your organization/team, it’s time to get rid of it! The reality has proven that management does not work with affiliates. You can manage an affiliate program, but not these born-to-be-free marketers. Leadership is what is required when we’re talking about people (affiliates). And the rest is affiliate program management.
Affiliate leadership should be understood as a ‘two-way street’ whereby the leader (affiliate program manager) facilitates the affiliates’ success by providing them with all necessary information, knowledge and methods, and stays open to affiliate feedback, constantly perfecting his/her own styles and approaches under the influence of his followers.
Affiliate Management >> Affiliate Leadership + Affiliate Program Management.