Do you test Clickbank products before you promote them?

Yes.

It's absolutely essential, because one is attaching one's own reputation as a marketer (the single most valuable asset of one's business?) to them by promoting them.

I rarely buy them.

Many vendors will give "review copies", if asked appropriately.

This post includes a list of suggestions on "how to ask appropriately".

Also, how can I contact a vendor from his sale page if he doesn't provide any info ?

I always do buy Clickbank products through my own affiliate link before promoting them. Much of my marketing is comprised of direct user experience and authoritative recommendations for suitability within target niches. A level of objectivity seems to be best achieved through an anonymous purchase experience, but that's just me.

Absolutely! Like Alexa Said. At the end of the day, your name is at risk. You wouldn't want to go promote some crappy, non-converting offer to your list, or waste time building and ranking a page to find out it won't work for you.

I will say that 9/10 times I purchase the product before giving it any promotion. Sometimes, I skip reviewing it, simply because the vendor has a great reputation so I know it's a high quality product.

I usually don't, but most of my products are promoted through PPC. When I promote to my list, you better believe I absolutely review the product first. And yes, asking properly to the product owner is a great way to get the product for free.

Same for me: you absolutely need to test them.

As for buying affiliate products. You can't buy them all, but many vendors will send you their product at no cost.

Generally, I try to get the product before I promote it, because I don't want to send crap to my subscribers (I promote via email marketing). As an example, I created a site in the natural energy niche, made a couple of sales , and then, send an email to the clickbank merchant to review the product. And guess what? horror! When I saw the product, I immediately stopped to promote it. No way I'd sell this book to one of my friends, and I wouldn't sell it to strangers.

Bottom line: even if you don't buy the product, you'd better know if it's good or not because your reputation is online.

Here's a tip: before asking for a product, make sure you have your website/blog ready with links to the actual product. Plus also make sure that your site has some traffic, and you can even show the vendor a screenshot from one of your affiliate accounts. This helps. It helps even more if you already made some sales.

Franck

Same for me: you absolutely need to test them.

As for buying affiliate products. You can't buy them all, but many vendors will send you their product at no cost.

Generally, I try to get the product before I promote it, because I don't want to send crap to my subscribers (I promote via email marketing). As an example, I created a site in the natural energy niche, made a couple of sales , and then, send an email to the clickbank merchant to review the product. And guess what? horror! When I saw the product, I immediately stopped to promote it. No way I'd sell this book to one of my friends, and I wouldn't sell it to strangers.

Bottom line: even if you don't buy the product, you'd better know if it's good or not because your reputation is online.

Here's a tip: before asking for a product, make sure you have your website/blog ready with links to the actual product. Plus also make sure that your site has some traffic, and you can even show the vendor a screenshot from one of your affiliate accounts. This helps. It helps even more if you already made some sales.

Franck

Absolutely - every single time.

There's nothing worse than having to pull back from a previously stated position on a product. Saying "this is great", finding out it's something black hat or doesn't work or is just a waste of time.

It's hard work to grow quality lists of people that open your e-mails. Treat them right.

Plus, when you get to a certain point, you won't even have to purchase the items you promote. The creators will be BEGGING you to JV with them.

Take your time, grow a little bit slower, treat your people well.

Absolutely. Your integrity is EVERYTHING. If u are unsure about the product, and it HAS faults you are not aware of, how could you possibly have certainty about what you're selling. And no certainty means NO conviction - and people wil feel that.