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Making Affiliates Sign a Non-Compete?

by momo3
10 replies
I hope me bringing this up doesn't bother anyone.

But I have a product I'd like to get some affiliates for.

But, I often fear affiliates will knock off my product.

I realize its all "part of the game" and that I need a backend.. and all that jazz.

And I do.

So, aside from all that.

Is it ever possible to have affiliates sign non-competes?
#affiliates #making #noncompete #sign
  • Profile picture of the author SocialMediaOwls
    It's possible but nearly impossible to stop them from copying....all they have to do is change a few words, tweak the GUI a bit and they are on their way....

    Unless you have something truly unique, forget about it and just beat them at marketing.
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    Health and Fitness niche Affiliate Program | High CTR/EPC | Personal Account Manager 24/7 support https://influencer.bulksupplements.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Brian Lett
    I think that you will hinder your affiliate program if you make affiliates sign a non-compete. As "SocialMediaOwls" said above, the only way to keep someone from copying what you have is to have something completely unique, and difficult to duplicate.
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    • Profile picture of the author SocialMediaOwls
      tks Brian....as an online gaming innovator and inventor, we created products back in 2001 and had zero competition (and we had affiliates) for years. Now 10 years later, we have a VERY small handful of competitors and this is due to the fact that the programs are extremely hard to make.

      Unfortunately, 99.99% of everything on the internet can be duplicated and it always boils down to who is the best marketer.

      When I first launched our product in 2001, I was doing the programming, 30 days later I switched to marketing and haven't turned back since....I learned quickly that the internet is all about marketing and the mystery site owner that carries the biggest marketing stick is the last one standing
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      Health and Fitness niche Affiliate Program | High CTR/EPC | Personal Account Manager 24/7 support https://influencer.bulksupplements.com

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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Like SocialMediaOwls says...

    Besides, why would you care if your competitors are willing to send some of those people they could not sell to you?

    :p
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author indiatext
    This is probably a very difficult task to do, but if you can actually do it then its great.
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    On the other hand with that 'copycat' competition you could end up with a ton of future JV partners and start to cross promote each others product.

    And what could you do to constantly distinguish your product from future copycat products which may or may not happen?
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Originally Posted by momo3 View Post

    I hope me bringing this up doesn't bother anyone.

    But I have a product I'd like to get some affiliates for.

    But, I often fear affiliates will knock off my product.

    I realize its all "part of the game" and that I need a backend.. and all that jazz.

    And I do.

    So, aside from all that.

    Is it ever possible to have affiliates sign non-competes?
    It is up to you to make the deal so good that they won't even bother ripping off your product. If you are paying your affiliates 75%-100% commissions then it would be much easier for them to just keep selling your product than have to create their own and set everything up.

    If you have a good backend in place then you can definitely afford to be very generous with your commissions. Also make sure you frequently reward your top performing affiliates. These are the ones most likely to go and duplicate your product so you want to make sure you develop a good relationship with them so the thought would never even cross their mind.

    At the end of the day anyone can copy your product whether they are an affiliate or not. And I am sure at least some of the information you are presenting in your product you have learned from some one else's product or advice at some stage. It's just the way things go. Worry less about the things over which you have no control and worry more about things like getting new customers and selling more to the customers you already have.

    There could be 100 people out there selling a very similar product to yours. There could be no one out there selling a product similar to yours. Either way, if you are not working hard at getting new customers to YOUR business then you will make no money regardless.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Fletcher
    Even if trying to get them to sign it was a good idea.

    Even if they'd sign it.

    Do you have the resources available to enforce it?

    Never waste time and money on legal 'stuff' that you can't follow through with.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    It really isn't fair. On THOSE grounds, I doubt it would stand up in court. And what if a friend of theirs, NOT HAMPERED, copies you WITHOUT help, and they start referring to their friend? Are you going to say everyone ELSE can, but THEY can't?

    I don't think it would stand up in court. Non compete agreements are generally used ONLY if they see code, see special back end operations, see other customers, see suppliers, etc... A brick and mortar store WILL NOT, and probably CAN NOT, ask its customers to not compete. If they hire a real manager in the store, buying stuff, etc..., YOU BET THEY CAN, and MAY!

    Basically, if you don't make it easier to compete with you, WHY should they sign a non compete agreement?

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Or how about another idea?

    Don't give them CAUSE to compete!

    Give them everything they need i.e landing pages, review sites etc...

    Also offer very prizes, competitions etc.. to keep them motivated.

    You will always get competition if the niche makes money simple as that however if you have most of the top spots for your main keywords it can make it a little harder to compete.

    Chris
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