12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

What are your thoughts on this?

by Steve Wells
11 replies
I belong as an affiliate to several companies with high QUALITY products that require you to first purchase the product, then submit a application for approval as an affiliate. Which I like.

They get much better affiliates this way, plus the product owner makes money from the affiliate. Which is great!

The other great thing, is that the affiliate at least has a chance to truly see the product with their own eyes. Before they promote it, which is more honest, and which would allow for better reviews.

It would be great if this type of requirement was required for those who want to be affiliates for others products here on the forum.

I believe it would cut down tremendously on many negative things, and improve and add some more integrity and honesty to affiliate marketing.

What are your thoughts?
#thoughts
  • Profile picture of the author ryanmilligan
    Banned
    Yeah, its a pretty good idea; at least in my head, it seems like it would be a good idea.

    Think I might try it out, do some testing and see if it is actually any good.

    You've got me excited steve!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6057705].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Wells
      Originally Posted by ryanmilligan View Post

      Yeah, its a pretty good idea; at least in my head, it seems like it would be a good idea.

      Think I might try it out, do some testing and see if it is actually any good.

      You've got me excited steve!
      You would stand out from the others, and it may be slow at first? Maybe not, but the reputation and integrity built by doing this would be beneficial for sure...

      You for sure would weed out lots of affiliate marketers..... I like that. My last WSO had at least 100 or more affiliates who wanted approved, only a small handful actually even took any action and made money for themselves, and of course me too!

      I would say that I had about 10 - 12 affiliates that were taking action, and out of those only about 7 or 8 that were converting with their lists and promotions.

      I made waaaay more sales on my own... without affiliates.... for which I am very thankful. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the affiliates also that did a great job. And even those who tried.....
      Signature
      Need Custom Graphics Work? - Message Me For A Design Quote!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058258].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Global Warrior
    If you are serious about NOT being on the receiving end of a potential law suit situation, you should do EXACTLY this. Any affiliate can drop you in the s**t by falsely representing your product. If you haven't made them buy it first, they will say, you told them to say xyz and potentially you end up getting royally shafted. If you make the affiliate buy the product, the sales material that made him buy your product takes legal precedence so you at least have a defense in case an affiliate makes outrageous claims about product performance and a buyer then complains to you and decides to rubbish your product.

    GW
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6057727].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Wells
      Originally Posted by Global Warrior View Post

      If you are serious about NOT being on the receiving end of a potential law suit situation, you should do EXACTLY this. Any affiliate can drop you in the s**t by falsely representing your product. If you haven't made them buy it first, they will say, you told them to say xyz and potentially you end up getting royally shafted. If you make the affiliate buy the product, the sales material that made him buy your product takes legal precedence so you at least have a defense in case an affiliate makes outrageous claims about product performance and a buyer then complains to you and decides to rubbish your product.

      GW
      Why does this not get enforced or done on the forums more often by vendors?

      It could in the long run ONLY improve affiliate marketing and the integrity of affiliate marketing in general.

      I was told somewhere that we could not force affiliates to buy the product first? Before they promote it. I would like that to change for sure.

      It only makes sense that if your going to promote a product you know what you are promoting to the best of your ability....

      Let's take a stand, lets start a renaissance!

      It may start out slow but in the long run would only improve things........

      For the most, I've already decided to as much as possible make a "No Refunds Policy" on my graphics products, because I cannot get them to delete the product, plus they see ahead of time what they are getting. They do not have to buy....

      Heck you can't return a DVD to Walmart once it's bought and opened. It's a digital product. You can only exchange it... I like that....
      Signature
      Need Custom Graphics Work? - Message Me For A Design Quote!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058233].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Global Warrior
        Originally Posted by Steve Wells View Post


        I was told somewhere that we could not force affiliates to buy the product first? Before they promote it. ....
        There's an element of truth in this statement......... And its because

        Another example of a situation where the law creates the problem. The simplest way around it is to ask the affiliate why he wants to promote your product, get it in writing, confirm that he will not make false sales claims and then offer the affiliate a Refund after the first sale, as an incentive. He's Been through the complete buying process, has confirmed why he likes the product and hopefully has now sold it based on its merits.
        This is another reason why you should only deal with affiliates that are traceable.

        The VERY SAD fact is that if one affiliate sold 3000 of your product for £50 each.....but you knew he was sailing too close to the wind........ There are not many that would reign him in. AND therein lies the problem...... I'm sure I'll get shot down for making the statement....... But this forum is full of people wanting to make money online.... And people will trade ethics for profits!!!!!

        But remember this...... If you haven't seen the film Lord of War.....WATCH IT. It doesn't matter if you don't like Nicolas Cage....... The very last line of the movie, points out....... The 5 largest weapons dealers in the world are the 5 members of the security council in the UN....USA, Russia, China, UK and France.

        In Internet terms, if you're Google, you can get away, allegedly, with deceiving the public...... If you're Joe Schmo......., you're p*****g on the big boys parade. Youre going to get punished.

        The two bits of advice pedaled on this forum are the money is in the list and get an affilliate to promote your product.

        The 2 ares in IM where you will lose your shirt are spam and false representation.

        Sobering thought.

        The lesson you can learn from this..... Anyone promoting either or both of the above.......... Is just sending money to the person making the offer. The chances of value for money........ Are almost zero.

        All the best

        GW
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6072491].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thetrafficguy
    Really depends on numerous factors.

    Are they sending traffic direct or doing blog reviews? Wouldn't work for CPA companies, etc.

    I think it can be good in some situations, but bad in others.

    If you like it, and you're an affiliate (not the product owner) then it is probably a good fit for that product.
    Signature
    "SUPER AFFILIATE EXPOSES Highly Profitable Traffic Source!"

    "Use This Trick To Make An Extra $50 - $500 Per DAY!"
    Click Here To Check It Out Before The Price Jumps Up AGAIN!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058187].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JD Ways
    I think this idea has merit.. would stop junk products from being produced ( a little lol )...might be a hindrance to somebody just starting out? It's kinda limited in it's scope, meaning it forces someone to buy a product that they have no need for and maybe can't have a need for, bur still could market very well? ( men for female product for example)...still I think it can work in certain situations.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058244].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Wells
      Originally Posted by JD Ways View Post

      I think this idea has merit.. would stop junk products from being produced ( a little lol )...might be a hindrance to somebody just starting out? It's kinda limited in it's scope, meaning it forces someone to buy a product that they have no need for and maybe can't have a need for, bur still could market very well? ( men for female product for example)...still I think it can work in certain situations.
      But they would have real knowledge of the product, and if they are serious about marketing and their business it's essential to know your product well in order to sell it.

      It's also essential to have passion for what you are selling, because that can be conveyed with words. And if you want to promote a product that you have not even seen, what kind of real genuine passion can you have?

      This would cause people to take a longer look at what they promote before promoting it for sure.... but it would also make them try and get that money back that they just spent, meaning maybe some more effort.

      Overall, it would in my opinion, help the cycle of affiliate marketing become stronger and maybe gain more integrity...
      Signature
      Need Custom Graphics Work? - Message Me For A Design Quote!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058319].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fedor50
    I think that's a great idea because there are too many affiliates blindly promoting products that they don't know a thing about. This helps affiliates keep honesty and integrity.
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058253].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author James.N
    I really like the idea but many marketers won't want to implement it because they could lose out on some sales. It would be great if it was enforced somehow.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058264].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    I very much like this idea.

    However, I can also see the problems as in what JD Ways said.

    If I'm going to write about anything personally and promote it, I want to have experience with it or at least know a very good friend or family member whom I trust who has used it.

    I think if you are going to sell a higher end product, you may very well start out this way.
    Signature
    44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

    Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6058268].message }}

Trending Topics