Product Creators: DO NOT treat your affiliates like this!

Last November, one of my niche sites that had been doing 1-3 sales per day suddenly dropped to zero. This change happened right at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday, so I didn't notice anything for several days. After over a week of zeros, I knew something was up.

I went to the sales page and noticed that he'd changed it to a pure squeeze page. I signed up to his list, and ordered the product using the link in the first email. Of course, the sale went to a different affiliate (his).

At that time I looked at competing products, and none came close to his. His product is excellent and very comprehensive. It's huge. It's really the leader in the niche.

I sent the product creator a lengthy email. I told him that if needed, I could put together my own product. However this isn't really "my" niche, so I'd rather just sell someone else's product. I then told him I didn't appreciate him stealing my commissions.

He apologized profusely and set up a custom landing page for me.

Since that time, all has been well.

I gave the site a little focus over the past year, and now it ranks #1 for several terms. One of these terms is the one the product creator is targeting. His site is #2 - mine is #1. This Summer my site has averaged 5 sales per day.

Now I realize that I'm not a "super affiliate." However, he gets money on autopilot due to my efforts. The better my site does, the more he makes.

But that wasn't enough.

Yesterday he installed a 30-second pop-up as well as an exit pop-up that offers the product for a $1 "trial" with the remainder to be billed after 15 days.

Again I followed the links, and once again, I don't show as the affiliate for this special offer.

What this guy doesn't realize is that he's now created a competitor. However, I'm not going to be just any competitor. I know his product inside and out, so I will make sure mine is significantly better. I aim to dominate.

It's sad. I can only imagine how much money he could have made from me and his other affiliates over the next several years if he'd just taken care of us.

Don't be that guy.