Should I give free copies of my products to potential affiliates?

31 replies
This is something risky in my opinion but I really want to know what you guys think. What happens if I give potential affiliates a copy of my product? I personally think that it is going to benefit me a lot because there are many Youtubers and people who are working to different media to promote products.

How much money does this usually cost? I think it is better than advertisements and I should put my money into it because people viewing other people using a product produce more impact than just plain fake looking ads popping up everywhere.

Do tell me what you guys think?
#affiliates #copies #free #give #potential #products
  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Burritt
    Banned
    Affiliates can be good. If the quality of your product is high. Affiliates will want to promote. But you have to first prove to them it's worth, like good marketing, salespage copy, conversion rates, etc.

    And, affiliates typically have high expectations because there are so many good choices out there to promote. So if you think your product is not high enough quality yet, then don't try to mess with affiliate now. Offer it to certain people as a 'review copy' so you can collect positive reviews. Build up some sales first. Then later you can think again about relaunching and pitching to affiliates.
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  • Originally Posted by MarketingGuruZulu View Post

    This is something risky in my opinion but I really want to know what you guys think. What happens if I give potential affiliates a copy of my product? I personally think that it is going to benefit me a lot because there are many Youtubers and people who are working to different media to promote products.

    How much money does this usually cost? I think it is better than advertisements and I should put my money into it because people viewing other people using a product produce more impact than just plain fake looking ads popping up everywhere.

    Do tell me what you guys think?
    We always give free copies to affiliates who have a proven track record .

    We always maintain a diary with mentions of affiliates who have consistently done well in our previous launches.

    Just before the launch mostly 5 days ago we email them the copy of our product using our personal email id

    Now these affiliates promote our offer because he feels he should do it

    Now obviously we do not give free copy to every affiliate because it could be that he is asking for it not to promote it but to have it for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    You are blowing smoke. You start multiple threads with questions all over the place indicating you earn nothing working online and know little about it....

    now you have 'products'?
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      He's just doing research... the hard way.

      When he's going to be done with his research, he'll get a job, satisfied that there ain't no money in starting a business and 25 years from now, looking back, he'll have no regrets coz he'll have determined, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that getting a job was a great idea.

      People must walk their paths, K.

      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      You are blowing smoke. You start multiple threads with questions all over the place indicating you earn nothing working online and know little about it....

      now you have 'products'?
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      You are blowing smoke. You start multiple threads with questions all over the place indicating you earn nothing working online and know little about it....

      now you have 'products'?
      Please say is ain't so...not the Marketing Guru from Zulu lol
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      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        Please say is ain't so...not the Marketing Guru from Zulu lol
        The Marketing Guru from Zulu who owns a Hulu.

        Frank
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        • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
          Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

          The Marketing Guru from Zulu who owns a Hulu.

          Frank
          and has a screw loo...
          Signature
          Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
          All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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          • Profile picture of the author aizaku
            Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

            and has a screw loo...
            The Marketing Guru from Zulu who owns a Hulu and has a screw loose after summoning the demon kathooloo
            Signature
            >> 2018 Money Making Method Video Guides [NO OPTIN] <<
            80% Of These Proven Guides Are Free... ]
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      now you have 'products'?
      BS can be marketed to garden supply houses. Instant product.

      Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Winning34
    OP doesn't even have a website, never mind any products. I asked him in the other thread and he ignored the question. He's a dreamer, don't waste your time.
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    • Originally Posted by Winning34 View Post

      OP doesn't even have a website, never mind any products. I asked him in the other thread and he ignored the question. He's a dreamer, don't waste your time.
      Sorry if I was unable to answer your question. Among a tons of comments, I must not have seen your comment. Yes, you are right. I currently do not have a website but I had one and I am thinking about starting one again so I need all the information I can gather. Warrior Forum is the best way I can do it although some people are giving some negative reply's. But no worries, some people are really helping me out.
      Peace Out
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      • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
        Originally Posted by MarketingGuruZulu View Post

        Sorry if I was unable to answer your question. Among a tons of comments, I must not have seen your comment. Yes, you are right. I currently do not have a website but I had one and I am thinking about starting one again so I need all the information I can gather. Warrior Forum is the best way I can do it although some people are giving some negative reply's. But no worries, some people are really helping me out.
        Peace Out
        What 5 comments and you could not reply
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    You think he's seriously doing research....feel free to spend your time explaining everything to him.

    I say troll.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Please do not 'release balloons' for celebrations. The balloons and trailing ribbons entangle birds and kill wildlife and livestock that think the balloons are food.
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    • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      You think he's seriously doing research....feel free to spend your time explaining everything to him.

      I say troll.
      I second that just hope the mods catch on learn the hard way
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      • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Regional Warrior View Post

        just hope the mods catch on
        They probably hired him being as the stolen article campaign
        has gone down like a lead balloon.
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        • Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

          They probably hired him being as the stolen article campaign
          has gone down like a lead balloon.
          People who want to help just help, others just join forums to "not help" people and discourage them. I do not have any problem with that. Keep on doing that because that shows how much people are angry from their lives.
          Peace Out
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          • Profile picture of the author TheOverseer
            Originally Posted by MarketingGuruZulu View Post

            People who want to help just help, others just join forums to "not help" people and discourage them. I do not have any problem with that. Keep on doing that because that shows how much people are angry from their lives.
            Peace Out
            If you have questions and inquiries, try to use the Search function next time. You can also use Google. Questions like these was already answered countless times in the past.

            Thread closed.
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post


      I say troll.
      And been banned from here before I'd say.
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  • Profile picture of the author luciesmazanska
    free copies are the best way how to get more and more customers even repeat customers.
    give them offer for free!
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    ★★★★★
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    Concentrate on creating a product before you worry about giving it away. Cart>Horse

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    OK so give em the first course in a series. That will show what to expect as well as wet their appetite for more. Remember the 80 -20 rule that 20% of your aff account for 80% of the profit that comes in. Always try to make a good first impression. Most affiliates are hit every day with multiple offers that are guaranteed to make them money. Sadly, few new products generate green.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by MarketingGuruZulu View Post

    What happens if I give potential affiliates a copy of my product?

    Regardless of the intent of the OP . . .

    There may be others reading this thread with the same question wondering whether they should give affiliates a copy of the product.

    If you know the affiliate, i.e. if he/she has made past affiliate sales for you or if that person comes recommended as a good affiliate by someone you know, then yes, go ahead and give them a copy of the product for their review. It will help them in their marketing of your product.

    If you don't know the potential affiliate or have any reason to question whether he will really promote your product, then no, I wouldn't give them a free copy. What I would do if it's an information product is give them a screen shot of the table of contents and I would make a short pdf (could be done in 2 minutes - copy and paste) of the first chapter only. Thus they would have some copy to evaluate my style, spelling, grammar, etc.

    You may not want to go to this little bit of extra work but you can spend 5 minutes doing this once and send it to all your affiliate requesters. You never know when one affiliate will bring you lots of sales and become a loyal affiliate bringing you $ thousands long into the future.

    Steve
    Signature

    Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
    SteveBrowneDirect

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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    There may be others reading this thread with the same question wondering whether they should give affiliates a copy of the product.
    ...and if they would visit threads started by others - instead of only their own - they would learn the answers.

    It's not that a new member has a simplistic question or two - it's that several new members are doing nothing but starting thread after thread with one conjecture after another - no focus - no background - no real info and many of them are using a proxy to sign up here.

    There is more to this than some new person asking questions.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Please do not 'release balloons' for celebrations. The balloons and trailing ribbons entangle birds and kill wildlife and livestock that think the balloons are food.
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      it's that several new members are doing nothing but starting thread after thread with one conjecture after another -
      And still the same people have to answer every one of them.
      Makes you wonder.
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  • Profile picture of the author Winning34
    I wonder how long it will take OP to realise that the only people who are "helping" him are those with links in their sig.
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  • Profile picture of the author Taiyang01
    Sorry for my english.
    I've been creating lot of products which targeting people from my country which is Malaysia. So my product is in my language, not English.

    What i always do is - i make 3 different copy for each product.
    1. free copy. to collect list. Something practical where user can try first and if they like, they can contact me or buying from me. Gain trust. Make them feel, "this is easy, the full product will be the same i believe."
    2. review copy. usually 30% of product.
    3. full product (this one is the one give to people buying my product)

    Example: Make money blogging
    free copy: how to make blog, get free domain. - proof pic
    review copy - free copy + more proof pic they can use +swipe files
    full - how to make blog until how they can make the first dollar +facebook support group
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  • Profile picture of the author Ramus Le
    I dont think it s a good idea, as this is illegal. I think all products already have a trial time, so you dont even bother about it
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    • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
      Originally Posted by Ramus Le View Post

      I dont think it s a good idea, as this is illegal. I think all products already have a trial time, so you dont even bother about it
      It's illegal to give review copies of your products to potential affiliates?

      Could you please elaborate on that and provide facts, laws, etc?

      If it is, in fact, illegal, that means there are tens of thousands of people breaking the law.
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  • Profile picture of the author gabrielrala
    That would be a good start, however it would be nice if you will be running a feedback first, remember that there are a lot of people like us who offer the same dish, the only question is what is your edge compared to others.so evaluate first,then decide. Hope for your success
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  • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
    Originally Posted by MarketingGuruZulu View Post

    This is something risky in my opinion but I really want to know what you guys think. What happens if I give potential affiliates a copy of my product? I personally think that it is going to benefit me a lot because there are many Youtubers and people who are working to different media to promote products.

    How much money does this usually cost? I think it is better than advertisements and I should put my money into it because people viewing other people using a product produce more impact than just plain fake looking ads popping up everywhere.

    Do tell me what you guys think?
    You should definitely give potential affiliates a review copy of your product.

    This is a practice used by just about all of the top product vendors, and the reason for it is simple. It's to entice top affiliates to promote their product(s).

    There are, of course, other reasons. One of the other major reasons is to allow affiliates to adequately and honestly review your product without having to buy it. This helps the honest affiliates decided what products they are going to promote. A lot of affiliates won't promote products to their list that they don't actually own themselves. This is because they want to ensure that they are promoting products to their list that are top quality and that deliver on their promises.

    Giving good affiliates review copies can increase the "buzz" about your launch as well because most successful affiliates with make review videos and/or write reviews about the products they are promoting on their blogs. In other words, it's free publicity for your product.

    In addition, you can use this as a tool to find out what areas of your product may need improving upon. You can ask the affiliate to give you feedback as one of the requirements of receiving a review copy. You can also use this as an opportunity to acquire honest and real testimonials for your product.

    However, you shouldn't just give out review copies to every "Joe Affiliate" that asks for them. You should check these affiliates out to make sure that they are good at what they do. In other words, make sure the affiliate is actually capable of selling your product and not just somebody who goes around asking vendors for review copies because they want to get free products. Believe me, this happens a lot more than you think.

    It's certainly appropriate to ask potential affiliates the following questions before you consider giving them a free copy of your product:

    1. Do you have a targeted subscriber list? If so, how many subscribers do you have on your list?

    2. Do you have a website, YouTube channel, or Facebook page where you review products?

    3. What is the last product you did a major promotion for, and how many copies of that product did you sell in the first week?

    4. How long have you been doing Affiliate Marketing?

    5. What other vendors have you promoted for, and may I ask them for a reference?

    6. How do you intend to promote my product?

    7. Have you won any affiliate contests in the past year?


    Of course, you can think of others and you can customize them to suit your niche. The reason for this "vetting" process is because you want to get affiliates on board who have a proven track record of making sales.

    For instance, I sell a lot of resell rights/PLR products on JVZoo, and I have close to 6,000 affiliates that have applied to promote my products over the last 6 or 7 years. I would say roughly 75% of them have zero sales when they apply and another 15% - 20% have less than 50 sales. What I'm saying is that good affiliates are few and far between. Out of almost 6,000 affiliates that have applied to promote my products, there are probably less than 50 that have made any substantial sales for me.

    Understand also that I don't have many of my own original products because I'm mainly an affiliate and not a vendor, but I have no doubt that even the top vendors encounter the same dilemma. That's why it's important to learn a little about the people that you are considering entering into a business relationship with.

    Hope that answers your question a bit. Good luck with your launch!
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