How ConvertKit Grew Its Sales by 637% in Just One Year
ConvertKit, a company that had been growing steadily for three years, experienced an explosive growth surge in a single year. Their sales skyrocketed by 637%, increasing their monthly income from $98k to $625k. What was the secret behind this remarkable success?
The Magic Wand: A Powerful Affiliate Program
The key to this success was the introduction of a tantalizing affiliate program that paid affiliates a recurring 30% commission for the lifetime of any customer they referred. This innovative strategy turned ConvertKit’s customers into powerful promoters, driving their rapid growth.
Making It Simple to Join
To ensure their affiliate program was effective, ConvertKit focused on simplicity. Here’s how they made it easy for affiliates to get started:
- Easy Registration for New Affiliates
New affiliates only had to sign up—no complicated onboarding processes or barriers to entry. This simplicity encouraged a large number of users to join the program quickly. - Automatic Affiliate Status for Existing Clients
ConvertKit didn’t make their existing clients jump through hoops to become affiliates. They automatically granted their current users the right to become affiliates with no extra effort required. This created a seamless transition for people who already loved the product and were ready to share it with others.
Integrating the Affiliate Program Into Their Drip Strategy
ConvertKit didn’t just offer their affiliate program in isolation; they embedded it into their broader customer engagement strategy.
- They included the affiliate offer as part of their drip strategy for new clients. This made it a natural part of the customer journey and an appealing option right from the start.
Personalized Attention for Every Affiliate
While many companies might overlook affiliates with smaller audiences, ConvertKit took a different approach:
- They gave personalized attention to each affiliate, regardless of the size of their audience. This allowed them to build strong, supportive relationships with their affiliates and create a community of dedicated promoters.
Providing Value Through Webinars
One of the most powerful elements of ConvertKit’s strategy was their approach to webinars:
- Webinars were key to the affiliate program’s success. ConvertKit hosted live webinars for affiliates, providing hundreds of dollars worth of value during each session, while asking for nothing in return.
- The key message during the webinar was: “This is my pledge to you. Today, I won’t ask you to make a single purchase.” This gesture built trust and established ConvertKit as a company that cared about adding value to their affiliates’ businesses.
Seeing Webinars as Long-Term Investments
ConvertKit didn’t view webinars as a short-term sales tool. Instead, they saw them as a long-term investment that would pay off over time. They weren’t seeking immediate financial returns from these webinars—they were focused on building relationships and nurturing their affiliates for sustained growth.
- Free Training and Resources: ConvertKit offered free training and other resources to help their affiliates succeed. They even gave participants a free 30-day trial to test out ConvertKit’s platform, allowing them to fully experience the product before making any decisions.
The Results: Explosive Growth in Just One Year
All of these strategies worked together to produce exceptional results. In just one year, ConvertKit’s monthly income increased by 637%, growing from $98k to $625k. This was a direct result of their well-executed affiliate program and the way they nurtured relationships with their users and affiliates.
Key Takeaways for Your Business Strategy
ConvertKit’s success offers valuable lessons for any business looking to scale quickly:
- Create a Simple and Attractive Affiliate Program: Offering a generous, recurring commission that’s easy for users to join can transform your customers into powerful brand ambassadors.
- Integrate Affiliate Marketing Into Your Existing Strategy: By embedding the affiliate offer into your customer drip campaigns, you can make it a natural part of the user experience.
- Provide Ongoing Value: Focus on long-term relationships and create opportunities for affiliates to continuously learn and benefit from your resources.
- Invest in Your Affiliates: Offering personalized support and free training helps foster a community of motivated affiliates who will drive sustainable growth.
With the right strategy, any business can replicate ConvertKit’s success and achieve similar, impressive results.
Source: leadfeeder.com