While there are multiple ways to define cliché in light of our context here I personally prefer the following one: “A trite expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.” [source]
I’ve added the emphasis/underlining to the above definition on purpose.
Someone said that you never get a second chance to make the first impression. It is in your affiliate program descriptions and outgoing affiliate recruitment emails that you’re making that first impression; and you certainly don’t want to clog your language with clichés there.
Upon an analysis of some 40 different affiliate recruitment emails, and affiliate program descriptions, I have found out that the majority of them are so full of clichés, it isn’t even funny.
Here is my list of the top 10 ones to avoid:
1. “instantly”
2. “ultimate”
3. “easy”
4. “unparalleled”
5. “perfect match”
6. earn/get/make “$X in X days/months”
7. “highest payouts”
8. “impressive conversion rate(s)”
9. “best affiliate program”
10. “number one” merchant/offer/program
You want to flee from using words and phrases like the above ones. They don’t help you, but actually do quite the opposite — making you sound cheesy and unconvincing.
Also, avoid spelling words in uppercase, excessive underlining, and drop those exclamation marks.
Oh man… it’d hard not to use those, but I’m proud to say that I’m barely guilty of this. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
True. And too many fall victim of the mistake (and do use them). But these clichés carry very little meaning, and really only devalue an affiliate program.