Q4 Survival Guide: Five major hurdles and how Awin’s tools can help you beat the rush

Q4 is a whirlwind - advertisers want to be seen, publishers want to promote the best offers, and everyone’s racing against the clock. The key to thriving in this chaos? Using the right tools to stay ahead. Here are five common Q4 challenges and how Awin’s solutions can help you tackle them head-on.

1. Getting discovered: Finding the right partners, fast

When time is money, you can’t afford to waste hours searching for the perfect partner. In Q4, it’s all about efficiency - connecting the right advertisers with the right publishers quickly. 

• For advertisers: Awin’s Partner Discovery and Goal-Based Partner Recommendations make it easy to find affiliates that align with your brand. Whether you’re hunting for niche content creators or high converting cashback affiliates, these tools help you discover partners that match your goals.

• For publishers: The new AI-Driven Publisher Profile Description feature helps you stand out. By optimizing your profile with smart descriptions, you increase your chances of being discovered by advertisers looking for your exact audience, bringing in partnerships that matter.

2. Tracking and attribution: Knowing what and who is really working

In the whirlwind of Q4, understanding what’s driving results is crucial. Accurate tracking and attribution help you make informed decisions to achieve better results. 

• For advertisers: Use Awin’s Funnel Report and Benchmark Reporting to gain insights into which affiliates are driving the most value. These tools help you easily find top performers, reward them appropriately, and ensure you stay ahead of the competition. 

• For publishers: Work with advertisers who have robust tracking setups. Use Awin’s Directory to filter advertisers by key tracking features like app tracking, minimal reliance on third-party cookies (coming soon), Gold Standard adherence, and mobile optimization. This helps you partner with advertisers who offer accurate attribution and stronger performance insights for your campaigns. 

3. Securing the best spots: Mastering your ad placements

As the holiday rush hits, premium ad spots get snatched up fast. Both advertisers and publishers need to lock in their placements ahead of time to avoid the stress. 

• For advertisers: Use Awin’s Exposure Planner to secure top-tier placements ahead of time. This tool helps you organize, plan, and pay for premium ad space in advance, ensuring your campaigns shine during peak competition. 

• For publishers: Exposure Planner lets you coordinate your content placements efficiently. Align with top advertisers and manage your slots to ensure your content reaches the right audience at the right time.

4. Rolling with the punches: Adapting to last-minute changes

Q4 is unpredictable - consumer behavior can shift in an instant, and both advertisers and publishers need to react quickly to seize opportunities. 

• For advertisers: When plans change last minute, Awin’s Incrementality Report helps you pinpoint which affiliates are truly driving results. Double down on those performers while adjusting or cutting underperforming partners - saving you both time and money. 

• For publishers: The Awin Publisher App lets you update links and swap offers on the go. Whether you’re an influencer posting on social media or a content creator pushing a last-minute promo, the app ensures you’re always ready to adapt to the changes.

5. Tweaking commissions and offers on the fly

In Q4, flexibility is everything. Whether it’s adjusting commissions or sharing last-minute offers, being responsive can make or break your results. 

• For advertisers: Awin’s Commission Flexibility feature gives you the power to tweak commissions quickly. Need to adjust incentives for high-demand products? Done. Want to offer better rates to top publishers? Easy. You’re in control, right when it matters most. 

• For publishers: The Chrome Extension makes it easier than ever to grab the right links and share the latest offers with your audience. No need to login to the Awin platform – simply join new programs or generate the affiliate links you need as you go.  
   

Make Q4 your best season yet

Q4 doesn’t have to be a stressful race against the clock. With the right tools, both advertisers and publishers can navigate the madness, stay flexible, and hit their goals. Whether it’s adjusting to last-minute changes or securing the best ad placements, Awin’s got you covered - so you can focus on making this Q4 your best one yet. 

Check out Awin's partner checklists to ensure a successful Q4 and to keep tabs on all our latest tech and tools, bookmark our Seasonal Release page. You’ll find info on all of our latest products there and discover what else has been built to make affiliate marketing even easier for you.