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Best Marketing Method for Unusual Offer?

by srumsley
20 replies
Hi all.
I'd appreciate a bit of guidance here from marketing-savvy experts, please. No, I'm not asking the general, very vague questions of just "what's the best form of marketing?" or "what's the best traffic source?" - these obviously will vary depending on niche, audience, even ticket size - I get that. My dilemma is this: I have paid someone handsomely to do what I called a 'sales letter', but what he called an 'affiliate recruitment page' to go up on my new website as a landing page. Fine. (And he has done a good job on the draft.) But our site is a membership site and we require that members do join up (be it for quite a modest cost) before they are eligible to engage in the affiliate activity. So.....

His take is that affiliates shouldn't have to pay for the privilege of promoting our site, and that they need to be able to join for free. While that sounds reasonable, our take is that we are providing a method, a program, and access to an easy income stream. I mean, here on WF people pay money (usually) for a WSO or a similar program / method of making money online, right? And wouldn't folk be happy to pay a small figure to tap into a method that has no learning curve, provides a small but growing recurring income, etc, etc, like they pay for a WSO? So I am for marketing our membership as a paid product with the benefits of also making money online, but my copywriter thinks that affiliates won't want to pay to promote us. Am I marketing wrong? Or is it all tied up in the term "affiliate"? Am I pre-setting expectations of "free" here just by using that term, and therefore should I market differently?

I hope that makes sense - this is my first professional site and I don't want to hamstring it through ignorance. Marketers, what would you do?

Thanks,
God bless,
Sue
#marketing #method #offer #unusual
  • Profile picture of the author Gambino
    Personally, I think it's stupid to force someone to pay to make you money. Granted, they will themselves be able to make money (however, a small amount as you said). So, the question is, why would I pay you to promote your product when I could promote a million or more other products for free.

    What do you provide that the others don't that make it worth buying? Track record? High conversions? Guaranteed system?

    Are you selling anything other than just the right to promote your product(s)? Seems like an unnecessary and self-created roadblock to a successful affiliate campaign.
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Gambino View Post

      Personally, I think it's stupid to force someone to pay to make you money. Granted, they will themselves be able to make money (however, a small amount as you said). So, the question is, why would I pay you to promote your product when I could promote a million or more other products for free.

      What do you provide that the others don't that make it worth buying? Track record? High conversions? Guaranteed system?

      Are you selling anything other than just the right to promote your product(s)? Seems like an unnecessary and self-created roadblock to a successful affiliate campaign.
      Hi Gambino,
      Okay, I think I didn't explain this too well. I didn't want to get too specific and make it sound like I'm just underhandedly promoting here.
      Let me clarify: The site sells a subscription membership to those interested in the "product". Nothing unusual so far. The "product" is a bit outside the mold - it is membership to a donating platform that uses the bulk of members' subscriptions to donate directly to top rated child sponsorship programs in the developing world. Normally sponsorships cost $35-$50, but the site combines small contributions and donates these on behalf of all members. So we are using a business model (membership site) to generate income for charity. Again nothing unusual in that - where I live many charities also run businesses like thrift shops. But to keep costs low and donate-able funds high, instead of paying high online advertising and marketing costs, we wanted to instead pay our own members a bonus to invite others to sponsor children in this affordable way. They therefore become the "affiliates", but they are already paid-up members, so in effect it has "cost" them to become affiliates. Is this wrong?
      Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    In the US, I'm not sure it's legal to force someone to pay to sell something if no other value is offered. I could be wrong, but you should check into this.
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      In the US, I'm not sure it's legal to force someone to pay to sell something if no other value is offered. I could be wrong, but you should check into this.
      Hi Kurt,

      I have to admit that I'm confused by this comment, though I realise it was helpfully meant. Obviously noone "forces" someone to join any program. But for the last 15 to 20 years I have taken part in dozens of work-from-home programs (I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mum), such as Herbalife, Juiceplus, FX systems, a coffee franchise, and so on, all of which I paid a join-up fee for, plus annual registration, for nothing but the privilege of selling their products. Yes, they were all MLM style programs, but I assure you that none were illegal, and none were free to join.

      Sue
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by srumsley View Post

        Hi Kurt,

        I have to admit that I'm confused by this comment, though I realise it was helpfully meant. Obviously noone "forces" someone to join any program. But for the last 15 to 20 years I have taken part in dozens of work-from-home programs (I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mum), such as Herbalife, Juiceplus, FX systems, a coffee franchise, and so on, all of which I paid a join-up fee for, plus annual registration, for nothing but the privilege of selling their products. Yes, they were all MLM style programs, but I assure you that none were illegal, and none were free to join.

        Sue

        As I said I could be wrong. However, I do remember reading about this on this very forum and had an affiliate opportunity that was only available to paying customers. After reading about this, I dropped the condition that only paying customers could become affiliates.


        And I wouldn't be surprised that the MLM offers you posted as examples found some sort of "loophole" or I'm forgetting more specific details. But I will say, you can eliminate any possible legal troubles by not making people pay to become affiliates. And I wouldn't simply dismiss my comments because of your examples. I'll bet a coke they discussed their specific offers and contracts with lawyers.
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        • Profile picture of the author srumsley
          Kurt,
          No I wasn't dismissing your comment at all - I appreciate your helpfulness. I am trying to find the ethical pathway through here. Yes, no doubt those companies would have to have lawyer-informed contracts, etc, and so have we. Clearly many of them (Herbalife, Amway) have existed for decades, so the priciple itself is sound enough (paying a joining fee for the privilege of selling their products). Our site is completely legal, and most of the existing members are happy to also use the affiliate program. It is the marketing method I should use to communicate this program that I am trying to pin down, specifically how to present this copywritten page to visitors. I am thinking it should be a sincere, no-hype, serious sales page, consistent with the niche, prospecting for members. And members can also benefit as affiliates. Is this wrong?

          The WF, for example, is currently a free-to-join community, but I do remember at one point (way back) there was a bit of a poll testing the response to a small membership cost. And I think I paid to join the WarRoom. And we are given a referral code on our profile page and encouraged (not forced) to promote WF. Which all seems reasonable to me. Our site members do not have to promote - it is a benefit of membership that they can take up or not. So should I be just marketing to prospective "members" and not "affiliates" then? Should I avoid that word?
          Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author Andre Slater
    You can charge but, it is all going to depend on how much value you are providing... What do they get for for the affiliate charge? If nothing then how much are you providing them to help them promote your business...

    Graphics, articles, banners, tracking, etc...

    How big is the commission? It has to be large if your going to charge a hefty fee...

    No one will pay to make tiny commissions.

    You act like your doing affiliates a favor by "allowing" them to promote your business???

    Remember the best form of marketing is AFFILIATES promoting your products and you paying them commission for it...

    They are providing you with traffic and sales, they are building the funnels, the sites, backlinking, etc...

    So why not treat them like that?
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Andre Slater View Post

      You can charge but, it is all going to depend on how much value you are providing... What do they get for for the affiliate charge? If nothing then how much are you providing them to help them promote your business...

      How big is the commission? It has to be large if your going to charge a hefty fee...

      No one will pay to make tiny commissions.

      You act like your doing affiliates a favor by "allowing" them to promote your business???
      Hi Andre,

      Yes, I agree, put like that it sounds a bit arrogant. That's why I am trying to explain why it is, as I indicated in the thread title, an "unusual" offer. The site provides a place for folk who could not otherwise afford to sponsor a child (at the full price of $35 to $50 per month, as mentioned earlier), but who have a heart for wanting to do that (nptrust.org quotes an average US household 2014 figure for charitable giving at well over $2,000 per year, so people WANT to give). So for a much smaller contribution ($9) they can do that. When people donate, they are not looking for "value" in the normal sense of the word, but they are looking for integrity and effectiveness. This is a startup, only just finished marketplace testing, but we do understand our "customer". The 30c a day membership could not be considered a "hefty charge", and commissions are necessarily small out of so small a cost, (to keep the donations high) but we have geared it so that the small commissions are spread over many tiers so that the compounding factor does mean, over time, a significant passive income. This becomes "value", and this is what I would want whatever marketing method we settle on to get things rolling, to communicate.

      So, is affiliate marketing the wrong avenue, or is it just a question of the term "affiliate" bringing a different set of expectations? Could I call it something else? If this was a WSO with a small price tag, (or even free, on the understanding that membership to the affiliate "club" has a small cost if one was to join), would that make more sense then? We want win-win for both promoter and the charities. I am listening.
      Thanks,
      Sue
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      • Profile picture of the author webmarke
        Originally Posted by srumsley View Post

        Hi Andre,

        Yes, I agree, put like that it sounds a bit arrogant. That's why I am trying to explain why it is, as I indicated in the thread title, an "unusual" offer. The site provides a place for folk who could not otherwise afford to sponsor a child (at the full price of $35 to $50 per month, as mentioned earlier), but who have a heart for wanting to do that (nptrust.org quotes an average US household 2014 figure for charitable giving at well over $2,000 per year, so people WANT to give). So for a much smaller contribution ($9) they can do that. When people donate, they are not looking for "value" in the normal sense of the word, but they are looking for integrity and effectiveness. This is a startup, only just finished marketplace testing, but we do understand our "customer". The 30c a day membership could not be considered a "hefty charge", and commissions are necessarily small out of so small a cost, (to keep the donations high) but we have geared it so that the small commissions are spread over many tiers so that the compounding factor does mean, over time, a significant passive income. This becomes "value", and this is what I would want whatever marketing method we settle on to get things rolling, to communicate.

        So, is affiliate marketing the wrong avenue, or is it just a question of the term "affiliate" bringing a different set of expectations? Could I call it something else? If this was a WSO with a small price tag, (or even free, on the understanding that membership to the affiliate "club" has a small cost if one was to join), would that make more sense then? We want win-win for both promoter and the charities. I am listening.
        Thanks,
        Sue
        Let me get this straight. You are going to charge people who can't afford to give normally a fee to join your membership site so that they can give to people in need.

        Maybe I am out of my mind...But this sounds ridiculous to me.

        Why not just create a non profit membership site that is free to join and extract your admin fees from the donations (just like other non profits do it)

        I guess you idea is to make a profit from something that is not intended to be profitable. I think it's morally wrong to set up a MLM in the quise of helping people in need.

        It seems that you are trying to profit off of people good intentions and the misfortune of others.

        You mention " looking for integrity and effectiveness" but I don't see how you can bring that up while making a multi level income system that makes money by using the less fortunate as bait!

        And besides...If a person is giving out of the goodness of their heart, I really don't think they want to give a donation in order to make a MLM income.

        Again..I could be out of my mind and be misreading what you have stated. But it looks like that to me.
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        • Profile picture of the author srumsley
          Originally Posted by webmarke View Post

          Let me get this straight. You are going to charge people who can't afford to give normally a fee to join your membership site so that they can give to people in need.

          Why not just create a non profit membership site that is free to join and extract your admin fees from the donations (just like other non profits do it)

          I guess you idea is to make a profit from something that is not intended to be profitable. I think it's morally wrong to set up a MLM in the quise of helping people in need.

          It seems that you are trying to profit off of people good intentions and the misfortune of others.

          You mention " looking for integrity and effectiveness" but I don't see how you can bring that up while making a multi level income system that makes money by using the less fortunate as bait!

          And besides...If a person is giving out of the goodness of their heart, I really don't think they want to give a donation in order to make a MLM income.

          Again..I could be out of my mind and be misreading what you have stated. But it looks like that to me.
          Hi webmarke,

          Thanks for the response. It is actually important to me to realise the ways in which folk can misunderstand how/why this website is to function in order for me to be much clearer in our presentation (as I said, it is an "unusual" offer and doesn't fit conventional molds, so it is potentially wide open to be misunderstood). Let me help here.
          To clarify, the site is deliberately not a registered charity nor a non-profit, but a registered business created for the express purpose of generating funds for registered charities, and specifically child sponsorship. A minimum of 95% of tax-paid revenue goes straight to the charities every month, the financial reoprt is uploaded to the site monthly and the business is independently audited annually. We have worked with several of the charities involved on a personal level for years, and have wanted to do more for them than we could manage as a family, so we have gone corporate. These are highly rated charities (according to Charity Navigator), and the first one we have partnered with to support corporately has checked our system and is thrilled with the potential we bring to help increase their reach. The membership fee per member is small and affordable (30c a day) and this is the funding that we are giving to the charities (less costs, obviously) which is all documented on the site for the public (not just members) to see.

          Yes, the affiliate payments are tiered (we have been through the legals and this is not MLM), but we are talking about a 5c commission per level beyond direct (first level) which is $1.35, if members choose to take part in the affiliate program. There is no necessityfor them to do so, it is just the mechanism we have put in place to help promote growth, and folk can cover the cost of their own membership this way. We went this way (membership subscriptions) because when it comes to sponsoring children, what is needed is not "one-off" donations when someone has a giving fit, but a consistent, stable, growing income because commitment to these sponsored children is for their entire childhood and education. I'm sure you'd agree that $9 a month is a more affordable contribution to charity than $40, and by inviting friends to do the same, the original giver benefits from a "buy five get one free" membership, ie, they have their own contribution covered. We are looking for stability and growth so that the charities can depend on us, and we want to extend an almost painless (30c a day) way to help the unfortunate to those who may not have realised that even small contributions will do big things for children in sponsorship programs. Affiliates also have the option to donate back if they wish.

          Our goal for our website is to sponsor 3,500 new children around the globe in the first 12 months (we have just completed pre-launch testing with a beta group).

          Is this morally wrong?

          Sue
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          • Profile picture of the author webmarke
            Originally Posted by srumsley View Post

            Hi webmarke,

            Thanks for the response. It is actually important to me to realise the ways in which folk can misunderstand how/why this website is to function in order for me to be much clearer in our presentation (as I said, it is an "unusual" offer and doesn't fit conventional molds, so it is potentially wide open to be misunderstood). Let me help here.
            To clarify, the site is deliberately not a registered charity nor a non-profit, but a registered business created for the express purpose of generating funds for registered charities, and specifically child sponsorship. A minimum of 95% of tax-paid revenue goes straight to the charities every month, the financial reoprt is uploaded to the site monthly and the business is independently audited annually. We have worked with several of the charities involved on a personal level for years, and have wanted to do more for them than we could manage as a family, so we have gone corporate. These are highly rated charities (according to Charity Navigator), and the first one we have partnered with to support corporately has checked our system and is thrilled with the potential we bring to help increase their reach. The membership fee per member is small and affordable (30c a day) and this is the funding that we are giving to the charities (less costs, obviously) which is all documented on the site for the public (not just members) to see.

            Yes, the affiliate payments are tiered (we have been through the legals and this is not MLM), but we are talking about a 5c commission per level beyond direct (first level) which is $1.35, if members choose to take part in the affiliate program. There is no necessityfor them to do so, it is just the mechanism we have put in place to help promote growth, and folk can cover the cost of their own membership this way. We went this way (membership subscriptions) because when it comes to sponsoring children, what is needed is not "one-off" donations when someone has a giving fit, but a consistent, stable, growing income because commitment to these sponsored children is for their entire childhood and education. I'm sure you'd agree that $9 a month is a more affordable contribution to charity than $40, and by inviting friends to do the same, the original giver benefits from a "buy five get one free" membership, ie, they have their own contribution covered. We are looking for stability and growth so that the charities can depend on us, and we want to extend an almost painless (30c a day) way to help the unfortunate to those who may not have realised that even small contributions will do big things for children in sponsorship programs. Affiliates also have the option to donate back if they wish.

            Our goal for our website is to sponsor 3,500 new children around the globe in the first 12 months (we have just completed pre-launch testing with a beta group).

            Is this morally wrong?

            Sue
            Thanks for clarifying your mission. Your explanation makes your previous statements more understandable.

            Let me see if I understand clearly what you are trying to do...
            1. You made the company for profit so that you could recruit affiliates.
            2. You want to recruit affiliates in order to get them to recruit more members, so that you can help more children.
            If I am correct in my new assessment, then I think it's a good idea.


            That being said...I fear that most people will come to the same conclusion that I first did, if you try to promote it as a money making opportunity.


            My suggestion would be to promote it solely as a way to donate monthly to children in need and introduce the rewards program, in the members area, after they sign up.


            Notice...I said "rewards program". The reason you should replace the term "affiliate program" with the term "rewards program" is because it will make the site seem more about spreading the word than about making money.


            In my humble opinion, if you try to promote your site to people as a way for them to make money, that's morally wrong.



            Of course...This is just my opinion.
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            • Profile picture of the author srumsley
              Originally Posted by webmarke View Post

              Thanks for clarifying your mission. Your explanation makes your previous statements more understandable.

              Let me see if I understand clearly what you are trying to do...
              1. You made the company for profit so that you could recruit affiliates.
              2. You want to recruit affiliates in order to get them to recruit more members, so that you can help more children.
              If I am correct in my new assessment, then I think it's a good idea.


              That being said...I fear that most people will come to the same conclusion that I first did, if you try to promote it as a money making opportunity.


              My suggestion would be to promote it solely as a way to donate monthly to children in need and introduce the rewards program, in the members area, after they sign up.


              Notice...I said "rewards program". The reason you should replace the term "affiliate program" with the term "rewards program" is because it will make the site seem more about spreading the word than about making money.


              In my humble opinion, if you try to promote your site to people as a way for them to make money, that's morally wrong.



              Of course...This is just my opinion.
              Hi webmarke,

              Yes, you've hit it, that is exactly what we are trying to do, and your reply has been more helpful than you know - thanks! I have had the dilemma of how to posture what we are trying to do without giving a wrong impression, but at the same time making provision for a way to encourage growth. "Rewards Program" does sound less grasping than "Affiliate Program" and reflects better our idea of a sort-of loyalty program that fosters social spreading of the the word about our project. I think I'll use the term Rewards Program on our site (thank you!) - I feel much more comfortable about that. Naturally we are happy to welcome folk with affiliate/marketing skills - getting awareness out there for a new site is challenging, as we all know!
              Thanks again!
              Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Many people expect to get a tax break by donating to a charitable cause. You have several charitable causes, but you are not set up to be able to give your donors, subscribers or affiliates tax deductible donor status.

    I think you're making this overly complex and confusing and I would suggest you employ competent legal counsel. It seems to me you are either a for profit business simply making contributions to charity or you need to rethink your business intent to be able to offer tax deductible charity contributions to your donors. I don't think it wise to pay affiliate commissions with "donor" funds.

    Personally, I think you will create the most income by catering to the needs of your niche market.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Many people expect to get a tax break by donating to a charitable cause. You have several charitable causes, but you are not set up to be able to give your donors, subscribers or affiliates tax deductible donor status.

      I think you're making this overly complex and confusing and I would suggest you employ competent legal counsel. It seems to me you are either a for profit business simply making contributions to charity or you need to rethink your business intent to be able to offer tax deductible charity contributions to your donors. I don't think it wise to pay affiliate commissions with "donor" funds.

      Personally, I think you will create the most income by catering to the needs of your niche market.

      Steve
      Hi Steve,

      I understand completely your rationale about tax deductability, etc. But thank you for bringing it up - the questions that automatically flow through folks' minds are the ones we want the site to be able to address first and clearly. Yes, a lot of folk want tax deductability especially on a large donation. We have been guided by legal counsel here, and the site concept has been two years in the making. My questions here on the forum are partly a way to find out what the average online worker (not calling you guys average, er, exactly......) sees as the potential pitfalls, misunderstandings, advice re marketing, etc, and I appreciate all feedback.

      Here in Australia, in order to gain tax deductability status there is an enormously long line of red tape hoops to jump through, and due to a change recently in tax laws, many of the charitable organisations we have worked with for years have chosen to forgo their tax-deductible gift status rather than compromise the range and quality of services they provide in the (overseas) field. Without going into long detail, I'm given to understand that this has come about due to new agreements between the Australian government and some of the conditions imposed by recipient nations, etc.

      In any case, a registered charity in Australia cannot grant a tax break to someone in the US, and we are an online-only, global funds-generating agency for "high rated" impeccable charities. Bottom line, if someone is only giving in order to get a tax break, there are plenty of other ways they can donate their money. We are looking for "small sums from many" in order to make a big difference in the lives of children struggling today. (Sorry, don't get me started on what happens to children in extreme poverty living in desperate communities / camps where no help is available. My life's passion is to build a resource that can address the many preventable issues through further empowering established organisations already in the field.)

      I also understand your concern about how ethical (or not) it sounds to have affiliate commissions paid out of donor funds. Of course the reality is that any organisation, even a non-profit, has expenses and admin overheads in order to function at all. Donors understand this and want to see that these are kept to the bare workable minimum so that the lion's share is provably going to the cause the organisation is working in - for us, child sponsorship. If the affiliate commissions (or reward program) fuels growth instead of paying out to other marketing and advertising companies, and does not amount to over 20% of revenue, and is returned to the donors/members anyway as a bonus (who can then choose to re-donate this if they wish), then wouldn't the average person consider this reasonable?
      Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I understand your model but am confused as to one thing.

    How is this different from a Ponzi scheme? There is no product and no sales of anything but new memberships which give no benefit except to make commissions from new members.

    There is also the high income promise/potential where you say a member can earn $70 on their $9 investment on your "how it works" page.

    If there are no new members coming in there is no income. So the focus seems to be on recruitment more than anything.

    Just curious.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

      I understand your model but am confused as to one thing.

      How is this different from a Ponzi scheme? There is no product and no sales of anything but new memberships which give no benefit except to make commissions from new members.

      There is also the high income promise/potential where you say a member can earn $70 on their $9 investment on your "how it works" page.

      If there are no new members coming in there is no income. So the focus seems to be on recruitment more than anything.

      Just curious.

      Mark
      Hi Mark,

      Thanks for this feedback. Again, this is the exact posture / message we want the site to avoid potraying, so the fact that you are seeing it this way shows me that I still have some work ahead of me! I understand your concern (I haven't heard the term Ponzi before, but I have heard of "pyramid"), and because of these potential concerns we voluntarily had our government consumer watchdog organisation assess our business concept to ensure compliance on all these points.

      Their take was that they were satisfied that the obvious primary objective of the business was to raise funds for charitable purposes, and that this main purpose was communicated effectively to visitors to the site. Visitors understood that they are making a donation (not purchasing a product), and our site is specifically described, on every page, as a 'donation platform'. Visitors are also assured that a documented minimum of 95% of tax-paid revenue goes straight to the charities monthly, and every cent is reported on the Global Impact page. Our aim is for 100% transparency and integrity.

      Yes, the How It Works page does give an example scenario of a member who may be instrumental in influencing the growth of the site by 1296 new members over the course of 4 or 5 months, and as a reward the monthly bonus paid at the end of that 4th or 5th month will have reached about $70. Okay, so this means we paid our own member about 5c per sign-up (conversion), which to our mind is the most cost-effective way to build up a donor base large enough to meet our goal of 3,500 new children sponsored in the first 12 months. This hypothetical member will have also paid his $9 membership each month before earning his $70 in about month 5, so I'm not sure that this really qualifies as a "high income/promise potential" in light of the facts of the example. We do want it to be worthwhile to philanthropic people to make some effort to invite like-minded others to the site, without coming across as one of those "high income promise" sites (usually six-figures in my experience, not $70). But if our site made you think like this, then there is a danger that others may also have that same perception, and I thank you very much Mark for warning us against it. (I have some redesigning to do..... :-)

      To answer your comment "If there are no new members coming in there is no income." But there is, which is why we set up as a subscription site for the stability needed to commit to the long-term nature of child sponsorship. No new members would mean that the monthly income remains static instead of growing, which means we can still keep up our obligations to the charities. Another aspect of the built-in stability we needed was that the referral bonus would help minimise cancellations, again so that we can honour our commitments to our sponsored children.

      Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    So I am for marketing our membership as a paid product with the benefits of also making money online,
    You are selling a product (your membership), as an added bonus members can refer others and earn. Nothing unusual or wrong with that in any way as long as the affiliate opportunity is not the only product, you're OK.

    Where you get into trouble is when the only product is the chance to promote the opportunity. These type of programs usually sell a "starter kit" of some kind, but when it comes down to it there is no product but the opportunity.

    I have a hosting account that only allows affiliate sign ups from the member CP.
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      You are selling a product (your membership), as an added bonus members can refer others and earn. Nothing unusual or wrong with that in any way as long as the affiliate opportunity is not the only product, you're OK.

      Where you get into trouble is when the only product is the chance to promote the opportunity. These type of programs usually sell a "starter kit" of some kind, but when it comes down to it there is no product but the opportunity.

      I have a hosting account that only allows affiliate sign ups from the member CP.
      Hi Brent,
      Thanks for adding your perspective. My last reply to Mark probably adequately addresses your comment re "product" - let me know if not. Again, it does feel weird saying "product" when you are talking about a charitable donation - I did say this was an "unusual offer".

      I still haven't really had an answer to what would be the best awareness campaign / (free) marketing method to use to kick things off till member traction gets going? Any help here guys?

      Interestingly, I just noticed that CharityNavigator.org has an item in their Charities profiles (reported income/expenses) for Payments to Affiliates as a legitimate expense item. Presumably then some charities do engage the services of affiliates as an alternative to fundraising, so maybe it's not that weird after all?

      Really appreciate all the feedback, guys,

      Sue
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  • Profile picture of the author PaulAckles
    I'm not certain it's legitimate to drive somebody to pay to offer something if no other quality is advertised. When i do some work with small business marketing agency, It's great. You ought to register with this.
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by PaulAckles View Post

      I'm not certain it's legitimate to drive somebody to pay to offer something if no other quality is advertised. When i do some work with small business marketing agency, It's great. You ought to register with this.
      Hi Paul,

      I'm sorry, I seem to be missing the point you are making. Register with what? Did you read the previous discussion in this thread? I think that might answer any concerns.
      Thanks for your contribution,
      Sue
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