Anyone using DAP where members are auto affiliates? Do members stick longer because of it?

I'm using DAP for a different client base that is not tech savvy per se so I don't have much exposure to that model but it raises an important concept.

I like the ide of only paying out of you are a member...

Humm, pay to play... I do it currently for a virtual number service that I represent and they require you to have the service to get the commission.

That started 6 years ago So I think it helps retain people...

Glenn

A couple of thoughts...

1) Definitely not a bad idea to offer the DAP affiliate program to only paying members, because otherwise, someone could sign up for a free product, then use that to buy through their own affiliate link, and indirectly give themselves a discount. Not that it's a bad thing, but just sayin'...

2) In the beginning, you may be better served by allowing all members (free, paid and ex-) to be a part of your affiliate program, because good affiliates are hard to come by. Why reject future "Rockstar" affiliates who can really help promote you, just because they're not a current paying member?

Also, remember that an affiliate program has a tremendous "butterfly" effect. Even if they end up referring just one new customer, over time, that customer can refer 3 more, and each of those 3 could refer 5 more, etc. So every lost affiliate opportunity could potentially result in many lost sales over time.

So if this is your first membership site, allow everyone to promote it (ok, maybe not the free ones, but definitely both current and also ex-members who are no longer active and have canceled their subscription). Sometimes people cancel just because they can't afford the monthly fees, especially in this economy where a lot of people are hurting. Make it easy for them to refer new members to you even after they cancel their subscription, and since DAP allows you to pay recurring commissions on subscription products, maybe once they refer a few people, they'll earn enough to come back and invest it back in your subscription.

And using DAP, you can create "Affiliates Only" products where they don't get access to any of your membership content. Also, even after someone cancels, by default, they will (can) still remain in the system (albeit without access to any content). Which means you can continue to drip emails on them, send out broadcasts to them, etc, and keep them "in the loop" about what's happening with you. And we've personally seen many people who have left, come back as they see all the new stuff that you're continuing to add to the site.

Ok, getting of the soapbox now :-)

Cheers!

- Ravi Jayagopal