“The success of our affiliates measures our success” – Edvinas Cernevicius
Darlene
Edvinas Cernevicius, Chief Executive of Clickmate, joins the latest series of affiliate interviews on Affiliate Grand Slam
Edvinas Cernevicius of Clickmate, Exhibitors at AGS Dubai, approach business like close family. Working exclusively with large and established affiliates, they can offer some of the highest CPAs and guaranteed conversion rates in the market. This is topped with daily payouts, stable account solutions, and unique offers – follow his story below.
When and why did you start considering affiliate marketing business as a career?
My career began in the financial services sector in London and I transitioned to Affiliate Marketing about six years ago. It was a high-growth sector with low entry barriers that resembled a true meritocracy – businesses succeeded based on talent. Affiliate Marketing is an industry where innovation brings significantly higher returns than in other sectors.
How did Clickmate take off?
We first became one of the largest financial affiliate companies and then decided that the current business model of Affiliate Networks is outdated and thus launched Clickmate. Initially, it was a safe place to distribute our traffic, ensuring the highest possible Conversion Rate. Subsequently, we opened it to close friends and later transitioning to become a private Affiliate Network.
Tell us a bit more about your business model, concept, and culture.
We approach business like close family. Affiliates that work with us know that we always have their backs and so do the Advertisers. We pride ourselves on working with the largest companies in the market, and it is a result of delivering the highest returns and full-package solutions. We look not just after our partner’s traffic but also help them with Financial, Tax, Legal, Account, and any other solutions that they may need.
What are the key attributes that made Clickmate a leading affiliate network?
Since we work exclusively with large and established affiliates, we can offer some of the highest CPAs and Guaranteed Conversion Rates in the market. That, topped with daily payouts, stable account solutions, and unique offers, made us a hit.
Why should I choose Clickmate?
Have you given up on earning more from your traffic? If you haven’t and you’re not working with us yet, then this is your chance. The only reason you should choose us is to earn more. Unless you don’t like that. In which case it’s… weird.
By which KPIs do you measure your success?
The success of our affiliates measures our success. Success for us is when Affiliates:
- Immediately get more conversions by switching their traffic to us;
- Grow their month-on-month conversions using our resources available to them.
Can you explain briefly what, in your view, is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate Marketing means generating sales for other company’s existing products or services without any involvement in the actual creation, execution, or shipment of the aforementioned product or service. It’s an outsourced marketing department that is paid a success fee for each sale.
How can affiliate marketing help someone’s business?
One of the ways a business can increase its sales is through affiliate marketing. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is an excellent tool in the toolbox for many Business-to-Consumer firms.
How do affiliate networks make money?
Affiliate networks, such as Clickmate, take a small commission for each sale of the product.
Is social media activity an important part of affiliate marketing?
Paid social media ads are the primary traffic source for most affiliate marketing niches. We don’t see organic social media activity as being of much use, given that a few percentage points see the organic content of the page’s following.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most in-demand skills. Why in your view?
Simply because of the earning potential. Every business wants to sell more, and affiliate marketing is enabling them to do precisely that.
What makes a successful affiliate marketing campaign?
Creativity. If you’re copying someone else’s ads and funnels – you already lost. The truly successful affiliates make unique creatives and then earn seven or eight figures from those campaigns. By the time someone copies them, they are no longer working well.
How can affiliate marketing improve?
I believe, again, creativity. Half of the things we see online are copy-pasted. New creatives always give users better experiences.
How does technology play a part in your day-to-day?
Without it, we would most likely be doing print ads, and that’s not fun. On the other hand, it would be easier to explain what we do to my Grandma.
What are the benefits of AI in Affiliate Marketing?
Currently, only a minuscule fraction of the industry uses AI in Affiliate Marketing. At Clickmate, we have AI implemented for traffic distribution. Machine learning algorithms make calculated decisions where best to send a specific lead for the highest return.
I believe significant changes will come about when AI can create unique ad creatives for each individual so no two ads will ever be the same. I think we’re at least 5 to 10 years away from that.
How do you see the future of affiliate marketing? How much growth is predicted for the affiliate industry?
Affiliate Marketing is becoming much harder for newcomers. 6 years ago, you could have copied almost any funnel, and it had a high chance of working, but that’s no longer the case. As it’s becoming a mature marketplace, more prominent companies with creative departments are starting to succeed, leading to fewer small affiliates.
I believe that the future will be more of the same. Ad prices are rising, compliance is getting stricter, and there is more competition. Those who survive will have to persevere in no small part through creativity and innovation.
As for the growth, it’s always hard to predict. A lot depends on traffic sources and their regulatory/compliance requirements, and with Apple leading the way in preventing third-party-app pixel tracking, the landscape is changing.
Are you contemplating bringing in investors to scale or grow your business? Or, with such a big M&A market, have you ever contemplated selling the business?
We’re not looking for investment, but we’ll gladly invest in someone’s business for a majority stake!
Tell us a bit about yourself – after all, business is done with people, not just companies! Your hobbies, favourite book, favourite quote, etc.
Surprisingly, the most challenging question. Most of my time is spent working on the company, and my hobbies are unfortunately pretty common. I do think, though, that pineapple tastes good on a pizza, and I was once bitten by a pony. If you’re looking for life lessons, I suggest reading Principles by Ray Dalio and if you are looking to improve your campaigns, read Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini.
About AGS Dubai
The 3-day Affiliate Grand Slam event kicks off in one of the UAE’s most progressive emirates on the 24th of May, 2021 with a series of networking and registration events – before a content-rich conference and buzzing expo floor take over the city’s luxurious Intercontinental Dubai Festival City hotel on the 25th and 26th of May. The unique event is geared towards bringing together thousands of like-minded delegates, such as content marketers, lead generation specialists, media buyers, affiliates, SEO gurus, and influencers for an immersive conference experience. Visit our website to register your interest or for more information.
