FredFarnes

I'm looking at expanding beyond Adsense, and testing some CPA campaigns to generate revenue. I'd like to broaden my revenue sources, expand beyond what I have.

In my research I have read several pdf ebooks etc on this. It seems that most "gurus" encourage you to participate in schemes that seem unethical (probably), or dubious, and also against the CPA network terms of service.

The schemes often involved Craigslist adverts, pretending you have a job to advertise, or replying to Craigslist advertisers with an email and your affiliate link etc..

NeverBlue CPA network (for example) specifically forbids any Craigslist techniques, and also any fake job adverts.

Another aspect is the "get a $250 gift certificate" if you complete one platinum offer, two gold offers, and a handful of silver offers etc.. I spoke to my CPA affiliate manager about these schemes, asking about the methods used to track which consumers made it through all the hoops to get the gift certificate.

His response is that it is just about impossible to complete all the offers required, because it takes time, effort, and the consumer has to supply a credit card etc.. So tracking who gets the reward isn't really a problem!

This was an entertaining revelation to me..

So my questions are the following;

How many of us engage in these Craigslist-type disallowed schemes?
How many of us promote these platinum-gold-silver schemes, knowing that the consumer will probably be charged for something, and never make it to the $250 prize?
Are these techniques really what is required to "make it big" in CPA? Or should we do the standard process of keyword research, posting articles, backlinks etc?

Thanks for your input, it really helps to understand the environment before entering the competition. It's a competitive world, knowing the rules and the competition is vital.

So, you want to sell me another way to easily make "X" dollars in "X" days? ROFL too funny! IM success requires hard work and lots of time. Most newbies do not survive the steep learning curve. Anyone who says otherwise is probably selling you a fantasy.

gundammeister

Personally, I stay away from Black Hat methods that you mentioned. I try to keep things all White Hat.

I'm promoting CPA offers that I have researched and know to be legit.

John2Doe

The best way I can put is that just like in SEO, both white hat and black hat can bring in results. Obviously only one is ethical and generally speaking one of the two tends to bring in results faster but at the same time, the unethical one can get you in trouble in the long run and ruins the Internet's reputation by misleading users. With all that said, it's possible to make money without using unethical CPA tactics, but it will probably require more work however, it should prove more rewarding in the long run and you won't have to worry about breaking any TOS or misleading users.

Hyaku_Man

I tend to think of it in terms of how I would feel if it were done to me. If I wasted 2 minutes filling out a form and then I realized I wasn't going to get a free gift, I wouldn't be that bothered (it's actually happened to me). So I promote those offers right now, even though I will move beyond them when I know how to work with better offers.

But things like hidden rebills that you can't cancel --- that would cause me an insane amount of stress, so I would never promote things like those acai berry scams. I can't inflict suffering on someone like that.

The Craigslist thing is pretty rotton too. In this economic climate there are people desperate for jobs, and to lead them on with false hope just to **** them over is pretty dirty.

At the end of the day you do what your conscience allows. I have no problem with hyping a product a little bit more than is realistic or taking a couple minutes of someone's time, but to screw someone over and humiliate them is not in alignment with my values.

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honestbizpro

I was in a yahoo email account and I could not even read the email without closing a Gigantic Drop Down Advertisement first.

Black Hat comes in all forms but it is up to us to decide that integrity and long term profits and reputation helps you sleep better.

"Free Credit Report" just found out it has to admit its not really free. (next year) But who can even guess how much money they already made.

Now I still must add that some guys are silently raking in a ton of loot and they are not trying to tell you about it, sell it, or share it. That is just the way it is.

Kenster

I agree with Hyaku. I am an above average computer user and if I feel it is possible to get mislead by the offer (hidden fees, astronomical recurring billing after a 'free trial' etc) I will not promote that offer. Unfortunately for me that includes a lot of the offers out there, but I would rather live more than comfortably like I do promoting offers I am comfortable with than rake in 10x as much with offers I am uncomfortable with.

Yes users should read fine print and understand everything before they throw out their cc, but the advertiser should be responsible and sell their product in a salesy way without blatenly misleading.

Its a balance that every marketer must deal with. I dont promote offers that my mom or grandmother may fall for.

fizfaz

Interested in this discussion. I also in dilemma whether want to continue to promote those "free trial offer" or not. I've did some search on google and found that many users are very hard to cancel their CC subscription to those so called free trial offer. I'm felt guilty on that scenario.

Yes I can say it easier to make money through CPA compare to clickbank or others affiliate program that required our visitor to buy, but I think I'm rather preferred to promote clickbank product because they have 60 days money back guarantee and easy for customer to get refund if they're not satisfied with the product.

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kindsvater

I haven't seen too many 'gurus' promoting dubious CPA schemes. Maybe it depends on what you consider to be a scheme?

The reason is that most real 'gurus' would not want to jeopardize their valuable CPA accounts.

My guess is you're confusing 'gurus' with some scam artists more interested in promoting schemes to you instead of actually engaging in such tactics themselves.

Regarding ethics, so long as your promotion is ethical you don't need to worry - or presume what someone else may consider ethical.

If you are uncomfortable with a certain offer, don't promote it. There are a ton of CPA offers you won't have to worry about.

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JimLillig

Ethics and integrity are important, just not for sleeping, but for the entire performance marketing niche online. If Big Brand Advertiser's see that practices mentioned above such as farming Craigslist are yielding low quality returns and costing them to lose brand quality associations enjoyed in other channels, they will just pack in their budgets and go to PPC or display. And that would be a shame as TV budgets are beginning to splinter and the fallout is raining on the online ad space, in which performance is an option.

The Advertiser's themselves though need to also think about how they are giving Performance Marketing a black eye by developing more and more insidious and ridiculous incentivized campaigns. Compare Coke vs Pepsi turns into a 15 page ordeal for the end user to get a non-existent coupon. I fully understand the data model that these Advertisers and their representing Networks work under, but in my experience the data collected and the supposed "behavioral insights" gleaned apply to only a small subset of the data that actually buy anything. Thus the net result is an opt out and an Advertiser that ultimately will not be a long term player.

The decision for a Publisher to run or not to run a campaign will always be subjective. For our part, myself and the MONKS at Offeratti, we screen our Advertisers offers as hard as we do our Publishers. This is why we only offer campaigns where there is a no questions asked refund policy and a clear working Customer Service phone number and email to unsubscribe. Believe it or not, good advertisers really do not want people who do not want their product and are happy to return it without hassle. As a network, we are concerned about intergity and truth in adversing, not only because the FTC is cracking down on deceptive practices, but also the fact that we want to sleep at night knowing that we offer consumers the best choices for their needs and stand behind them. Besides, Advertisers that do not adhere to best practices usually go belly up and end up not paying us which makes it difficult to pay publishers. By screening out for only the best Advertisers (like Shawn Casey, Justin Blake, and others) we sleep at night just fine and our publishers do too.

Hope this helps...

Jim Lillig - EVP - Wheaten & Wheaten
www.adfoundry.com
www.safetynetmedia.com
www.leaddemon.com
Download my book on how to win using CPA networks: http://www.jimlillig.com/state_of_CPA.pdf

Gooddeal86

damn. you are truly a monk when it comes to ethical problem. can i be a monk too? haha

Kenster

Ironic that you are trying to buy a network account in an ethics-related thread. Pretty sure buying an account is not allowed. If you cant get accepted yourself, theres probably a good reason you shouldnt be.

my 2 cents at least

Gooddeal86

whos trying to buy account?

Kenster

Post must have been taken down, sorry

PPC-Coach

LOL too funny.

FredFarnes

Yes, there was a spam post, someone wanting to buy a CPA account. The post has been deleted.

So, you want to sell me another way to easily make "X" dollars in "X" days? ROFL too funny! IM success requires hard work and lots of time. Most newbies do not survive the steep learning curve. Anyone who says otherwise is probably selling you a fantasy.

Mark 2

If you are doing the right things, move ahead with a clear mind know your targets and get paid after a job completion. Every thing gives you satisfaction.

All you need is to set ethical parameters for you.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
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