While affiliate marketing has been around since the early nineties, we are now seeing more and more companies getting smart about their affiliate program management. What exactly does this mean? Brands are taking affiliate marketing seriously as a means of customer acquisition. They are investing more in this strategy; they are spending more time and resources to understand best practices; and most importantly, they are shifting how they manage their campaigns.

With marketers adopting more personalized strategies, like nurturing via email workflows or developing a partner program, B2B buyers are looking beyond traditional methods of engagement and are pursuing building relationships with organizations.

The rising need for influencer marketing software that can keep up with digitally savvy marketers can no longer be ignored. With 92% of 18-to-34 year-olds saying they seek recommendations from friends and family when considering a product purchase1, it's no shock that leading-edge marketing teams across industries are leveraging an influencer marketing platform to automate and optimize this referral-generating channel.

A simple search query for "affiliate marketing tips" will, without a doubt, result in thousands and thousands of posts primarily directed towards affiliates. But what about marketers looking to employ affiliate marketing strategies to benefit their businesses?

Gaining new customers for your business can be an expensive challenge, but with these customer referral program ideas it doesn't have to be! Before we jump in, let's back up and talk about the benefits of referral marketing.

When it comes to increasing leads, how can brands ensure their B2B affiliate marketing program is driving pipeline growth? Here are three ways to leverage affiliates in your overall marketing strategy.