Do you buy the products you promote...NEW QUESTION

by brit16
29 replies
Thanks for all the responses to this thread. Now I have a new related question....post #27. Thanks.

I am currently promoting one clickbank product (am a newbie) that is doing pretty well. I want to create another site and try to repeat the success of the first.

I have found the niche that I am going to enter, but can't decide which product to promote. (there are 3 or 4 similar products) I do not want to promote something that I have not seen, so I emailed the vendors in hopes that they would allow me to see a copy of the book for free. (This is not in the "make money" niche, so I would not be using the product for myself.) Do vendors do this for affiliates? It seems like they would want the affiliate to be educated about the product.

I really can't afford to go around buying product after product to find one I like. What do you do when choosing a product?
#buy #products #promote
  • Profile picture of the author PRBandit
    I don't , If I i did I would be so far in the red since I barley make any sales with Click bank.
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  • Profile picture of the author Drew Paul
    Contact the owner of the product. Tell them you may be interested in
    promoting it.
    Then ask for a review copy. Usually they will just give you access
    to the product.
    If you are trying to build a list and a solid business online, my advice
    would be simple. Never promote a product you havn't tried.
    Promoting 1 bad product can ruin your reputation.
    Any further promotions will fall on deaf ears.
    Only promote top quality products
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    • Profile picture of the author Eduard
      I usually ask the owner of the product for a free copy to review and decide if I want to promote it or not. Since if I decide to promote it, it could get quite a few added sales, the owners are usually open to giving me a review copy.
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  • Profile picture of the author gefflong
    I almost always either buy the product or get a review copy. It's really hard for me to sell something when I really have no idea what it does or says.

    I know most people will just promote what is on the sales page, but for me... It works much better if I actually dig into it and believe in it.

    If I don't believe in it, then I won't promote it.

    Why would I want to promote something that could be complete garbage and destroy any credibility I have?

    I will probably take heat for saying it, but I don't believe it is right to promote stuff you've never used or actually read.

    Most of the time I don't have to worry about that anyway... It's much easier to sell my own stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sylviane
    I have many different niches. For example, if I promote diet products, but I don't need to go on a diet, I don't think I want to spend the money to try a product that I wouldn't be able to tell on me if it works or not. However, as an internet marketer, yes, I have purchased ALL the products I have promoted, because of the following:

    1) I try to promote only GOOD stuff
    2) I like to know what I am talking about when I write reviews, articles, blog posts, etc...
    3) If the product is no so good, I can always ask for a refund, but most times, I don't because by then I usually largely made my money back in sales anyway

    In a nut shell, if I promote a niche that "I use" myself I do buy the products, if not, I don't. But, you don't have to buy a product you promote by any mean.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOAvenue
    I get the product one way or another so I can know what I liked and didn't like about it.
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    • Profile picture of the author dshipman
      Good tips. I never thought of asking for a review copy. I'll do that going forward.
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      • Profile picture of the author Fred Young
        I found a clickbank product that I was interested in promoting and it's in a niche that I have over 20 years experience in. I still wanted a review copy, though, because I won't promote a product in this niche, especially a how to e-book, unless I can review it first.

        I sent an email asking for a review copy. I kept the email short, but included the following information;

        I introduced myself, gave the vendor my experience in the niche and explained how I planned on promoting the product.

        I didn't hear back from him, so after a week, I sent another email. The following day he sent me a review copy.

        If you don't hear back from the vendor right away, don't assume that he/she has ignored you. They have businesses to run just like the rest of us and can get quite busy.

        Give it a few days or even a week and send another email. If you don't hear back after that, I would probably look for something else to promote.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          I never promote anything without having a very good look at it. That would be really short-sighted because I'm attaching my own reputation as a marketer to whatever I promote, and that's a valuable asset to my business, and not one I can afford to have damaged.

          I promote mostly ClickBank products, and most of the ones I look at with a view to promoting have been given to me by vendors as "review copies".

          There's advice here on "how to ask for a review copy (and be taken seriously)".

          If I can't get a review copy, then I don't hesitate to buy a copy through my own affiliate link (but I never ask for a refund, having done that, even if I can't/won't promote it, because it fulfilled my purpose in buying it, which was just "assessment").
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          • Profile picture of the author brit16
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I never promote anything without having a very good look at it. That would be really short-sighted because I'm attaching my own reputation as a marketer to whatever I promote, and that's a valuable asset to my business, and not one I can afford to have damaged.

            I promote mostly ClickBank products, and most of the ones I look at with a view to promoting have been given to me by vendors as "review copies".

            There's advice here on "how to ask for a review copy (and be taken seriously)".

            If I can't get a review copy, then I don't hesitate to buy a copy through my own affiliate link (but I never ask for a refund, having done that, even if I can't/won't promote it, because it fulfilled my purpose in buying it, which was just "assessment").
            Thanks for sharing the other thread. I wish I would have read it before I contacted the vendors. I included some of what you mentioned, but not all.

            Thanks for everyone's responses. I am not going to promote something I have not seen, I'm just not sure what to do if none of the vendor's respond. I can afford to buy one of the products, but there are a few that appear to be pretty similar. Hopefully someone will respond soon!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sham Cristie
    i do not buy every product i promote but i do a bit of research to make sure it has value
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    First rule of affiliate club...

    NEVER promote anything you have not first used for yourself. This is self-explanatory. If you want to be in this game for any decent amount of time you need to be trusted by people. The moment you recommend a dud product (all it takes is one) you can ruin years and years of hard work. People don't give second chances.

    Just purchase the product through your affiliate link. I'm not a huge believer in asking for free review copies. Unless YOU have actually paid money for the product like you are asking your customers to then you don't really have the same vested interest in that product as your customers will.

    If I have paid $37 for a product then I am going to have a different value expectation to the person (YOU) who has just picked up a free review copy. Treat your list like idiots and they will respond as such. Treat them with respect, honesty and transparency and they will respond accordingly.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    If you treat your customers like gold, then you should refer them to stuff that is of the highest calibre.

    SO with this being the case you should recommend stuff that you use first.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jake Gray
    Most affiliates (that care about their list) will be sure to have first-hand experience
    with the product. There are tons of shady products out there and if you don't have
    an idea what type of product you are promoting - You have no idea what you got
    yourself into. So, be sure to have done thorough research on that product and find
    out what others have to say about that product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    i don't promote anything that i havent purchased or used.

    there is no better person to explain, promote and teach others to exploit programs than someone who actually paid for it and used it themselves.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Having a detailed knowledge of the products you are selling will give you an enormous advantage, particularly as your customers begin to order related niche products. Products meeting customer expectations will more easily result in additional product promotion conversions. Although I also would recommend buying Clickbank products to make sure of its quality and fit for your customer base, it is not necessary to buy every product you sell. For more expensive products, trusted review sources may be adequate.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Maddy
    I don't buy every product I promote but i do a bit of research to make sure it has value. SO with this being the case you should recommend stuff that you use first.
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  • Profile picture of the author TravellingMissie
    I only promoted products that I had bought. When you know what a product is like your review can come from a different angle, if a product that you review which you haven't actually seen ends up being really poor then this damage your reputation.

    Asking for review copies is a great idea, I never used that but will in future.
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  • Profile picture of the author ProdigyMike
    Great tips and resources in this post, I will surely be asking for a review copy in the future when I get around using Clickbank more.
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  • Profile picture of the author marvelouz
    Yes I always do if I am doing a review of the product. Nothing can help your sales pitch more than first hand experience with the product...
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  • Profile picture of the author inhwanie
    It's not a good idea to promote something that you have not seen yourself for many reasons. I think most of the posts above mention reasons around "risking your reputation" and "honestly" which is true but if that for some reason was not enough, another reason is because you just won't convert as well. It's possible that you might convert okay even without a good, thorough review, however, people who buy products aren't dumb and because they are already looking at the product with skeptical eyes (if they're looking for a review), they will be able to detect crap right away. This is also good news since it also means your review will be better than 99% of the reviews out there made by autoarticle posting softwares.

    With that said, cost can always be an issue. The only way to get around it if you can't get a review copy is to buy it through your own affiliate link to reduce the price for yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author jeffster
    If you're going to be promoting their product you should definitely get a review copy. If you're a newbie marketer it might be a little harder to get free products but I'd imagine most people would be cool with giving review copies to affiliates.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    I always read through things before I promote them. Not only can you give more accurate information, but you can give an honest review. This is important!

    80% of the stuff I promote I bought and it was so awesome I decided I had to promote it, which is why half the stuff I tell my list about isn't even an affiliate link. Everything else I ask for a review copy. If I am ignored or am told no, I normally bypass that product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    When I first got started I always purchased the products that I promoted. I know there are a lot of marketers who don't, but I have to know exactly what I'm recommending before I promote it. Over the years I've learned to contact the product owner, introduce myself, explain that I'm a marketer who would like to promote their product, and would like a review copy with the assurance that I'm going to be the only one reviewing it. When I first started doing this I even offered them a deposit (usually 50 to 100% of the retail price) which they could refund to me after I made them a sale to show them I was the real deal and not some fly-by-night operation.

    As you gain experience you can use your past marketing promotions as references, as well as any other marketers that you've worked with. Sometimes you will get a free review copy or a discounted price. In one particular niche I promote well over 50 products and services. All in all I probably bought / reviewed over 150 products / services during a one year period to whittle it down to those 50.

    Some of my marketing buddies called me "insane". But for me, the work was worth it. As Alexa pointed out already, I'm putting my reputation on the line and I don't want to recommend something that isn't going to actually solve something in the market place and provide value.

    I've worked with certain product developers over the years and have developed a good, solid working relationship with them where they now send me all their new product offerings for free. Why? Because they know that I know my conversion numbers. They know I'm ethical and that I'm not going to pound my lists with offers. Ultimately, they know they are going to get a solid ROI by giving me review copies.

    In the long run, I think it's the way to go.

    RoD
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    • Profile picture of the author brit16
      Wow, I did not expect to get so many responses from experienced people. Thank you so much. I totally agree with everyone that you need to see the product first, and I am happy to say that the vendor I was the most interested in did contact me back. She wanted a few more details, but I feel confident that she is going to give me a review copy.

      Now that I will be reviewing the product I have a new question:

      How do you go about "reviewing" a product that you are not going to be using? I will be reading the product and should be able to get a feel for its quality, but I don't actually have the problem that the product is giving a solution for. For example, (this is not the niche I am going into) what if there is a great product for weight loss, but you are skinny? How do you promote the product? I have some knowledge about the niche I am going into and I am passionate about the problem the people are facing, but cannot claim to have first hand experience with it. Any suggestions? Thanks again everyone.
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      • Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

        Now that I will be reviewing the product I have a new question...
        I am not an experienced warrior, and I hope I am giving you good advice for this forum, but I think you would get more answers on you new/added questions if you started a new thread.

        Can someone that is a longtime member chime on on this? :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author Gary Ning Lo
        Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

        Wow, I did not expect to get so many responses from experienced people. Thank you so much. I totally agree with everyone that you need to see the product first, and I am happy to say that the vendor I was the most interested in did contact me back. She wanted a few more details, but I feel confident that she is going to give me a review copy.

        Now that I will be reviewing the product I have a new question:

        How do you go about "reviewing" a product that you are not going to be using? I will be reading the product and should be able to get a feel for its quality, but I don't actually have the problem that the product is giving a solution for. For example, (this is not the niche I am going into) what if there is a great product for weight loss, but you are skinny? How do you promote the product? I have some knowledge about the niche I am going into and I am passionate about the problem the people are facing, but cannot claim to have first hand experience with it. Any suggestions? Thanks again everyone.
        I suggest search on google for good reviews on the product, you should get an idea...

        Or pay someone on fiverr to give you a HONEST review if you really have no choice.

        Cheers,

        ~Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author Trieu
    When I buy products and I really like it, then there's a good chance I will promote it as an affiliate. You'll have more credibility if you promote something that you actually used yourself.
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