Q: I need to cut commissions — how do I do it without an exodus?

Q: I need to cut commissions — how do I do it without an exodus?

Never cut silently or retroactively, and give real notice. Affiliates have margin models too. A surprise rate cut doesn't just lower their earnings, it tells them your program is unstable, and they'll diversify away faster than the cut itself costs you.

How to do it cleanly:

— Give 30 days' written notice before any reduction takes effect.
— Never touch already-earned or in-window commissions. Changes apply to future clicks only.
— Explain the why in one honest sentence, and pair the cut with something: faster payments, a new tier, better creatives.

Caveat: protect your top 10-20 partners individually. A blanket cut that hits a partner sending you $50k/month to save a few points is penny-wise and program-foolish. Grandfather them or negotiate one-on-one. The affiliates who'll quietly accept the cut are rarely the ones you can't afford to lose.

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