So basically it will waste a bit more of our time
to find out they're selling the same old MMM crap.
Pure genius.

Good post Steven, but I wonder how many would follow it!! Some people just love to break rules, and some just mistakenly break them.

Hi Steve,

Good points.

I have asked this several times, with no response. I have seen numerous sig sites that are affiliate review pages. All that is there is the review of the product or service and a link at the bottom to go to the vendors site.

Is this permitted?

Thanks,

John

I think the complaint was not to blatantly promote any affiliate product in your sig file if you don't have something like a review site or blog. I promote many products and MMM is one of them. People were coming to Warrior just posting to the sig which was against Warrior rules I take it.

So if I'm not mistaken the correct way to do this is to create a review, blog, videos on your own hosted site.

Hi, I enjoyed that post. I'm not new to forums, I have made those mistakes in the past, but now I know the rules. I think these comments are useful because it helps new people understand why certain things aren't allowed. Great thread.

Good post, it will most certainly filter out a lot of direct affiliate linkers.

Honestly I'm yet to see an ebook on IM that had 0 value and didn't turn out to be useful in one way or another. A fake review doesn't indicate a fake product.

Voting to make this a sticky

Well done Steven. I'm new to this site and like most people here, I'm not independently wealthy, therefore I would like to make mutually beneficial contacts in a manner that does not violate accepted cannons of ethics.

I thought so much of your post, I downloaded it and it will be my guide for proper site etiquette here and with proper attributation may I use it verbatum as a guide on a couple of other forums where I am a member that would greatly benefit from your sage advice.

Wally

Les,

Chill out. People have the option to choose whether to click on a sig file or not. If they do click and like the information being provided they may take action. If they don't like what they see they move on...simple...

Steve is just showing people how to do things the correct way, IE providing visitors information they may want. The visitor will then decide whether they clickthrough to the salespage.

Regards
Steve

Thanks for the thorough layout on selling affiliate products. I disagree with the last post about telling us something we already know. This basic set up is what makes affiliate marketing tick. Personally, I only believe in promoting affiliate products I use myself, but this process is a good one.

Marc, how can you possibly say that with a post that has a sig going to an Adsense site?
Getting his sig noticed is exactly why Steven made his post. Its also exactly why you made your reply.
All he did was inform people on how to follow the rules of the forum on the use of sig links.
He pretty much told people to do what you are doing in your own post.

This thread is mind boggling. People use the advertising system created by this forum, but now its somehow only 'sometimes ok' to promote affiliate links on your own site...

On a more serious note, folks.

I'm enjoying chocolate cream eclairs, RedBull and listening to audio from that crazy clayton fellow...

******

"To err is human, to forgive is divine!" - Alexander Pope(?)

Must grab me some caffeine.. it's gonna be a long one tonight

Peace out

Jay

I think Steven's post was good for showing people how to actually make a worthwhile affiliate site. Now, we might not all agree that it's the best use of somebody's time (i.e. promoting <insert latest scam here> with a review/blog and stuff like that) but it's their time...eventually they'll come around and get smart that IM is about more than a commission. If they don't - well, that's one less to worry about

Marc - I see 5 sig links in Stevens post(s), so not sure on that one.

If i misunderstood your opinion on this post, I apologize, but it seems to me like the complaints to this post were that its 'wrong' to promote affiliate links on your own site, and most of the people who complained are promoting affiliate links on their own site. (yes, adsense is an affiliate link)

My real point is this - 99% of you are here for the sig link exposure...and all Steven did was point out how to follow the forum rules, so whats the problem?

Many legitimate newbie affiliates don't have a clue of what they are doing. They don't know the rules, hell, they don't even know that there are any rules.

For someone who is sincere in learning IM, makes a simple mistake here at the WF, they get an infraction and a hazing of a lifetime. Not the warmest welcome, but those who stick around and apologize for their mistake, usually follow the rules quite well, and go on to listen and learn from those who can show tested results on how to do something.

The spammers will allways be 1 liners, of no relevency to the topic being discussed. They are not hard to spot... you know they are not being sincere, and probably copy and paste their replys to get enough posts to spam some PM's, then try a scam at the WSO, those are the ones that I take time to check out their sig, and 9 times out of 10, they are breaking the sig rule.

White Hat: Sell the best stuff you know, believe in it, and follow the rules.

Gray Hat: Do White Hat stuff, but throw in some bullshit and if, perchance, you sell some crap, take the money and run.

Black Hat: Get as much money for as little as you can. Favor quantity crap over quality value.

I think the true 'Black Hatters' will see this thread and hopefully think, "ah crap, I'm not going to do all that, guess they are strict on spamming around here. Off to the next target..."

Jared

Steven your post is spot on as usual, keep on sharing them golden nuggets my friend, you are a true asset to this forum.

The first post I see in this by Steven does not have any sigs, but the 2nd one has 5. Just clicked the first one on this list and it goes to a WSO by him. Perhaps this has something to do w/ the 'thanks' system? If so, I have no idea. Don't know how that works.

Kim - don't know what to say, other than I disagree. I honestly don't think most of the posts here would exist if it weren't for the link or branding exposure. I don't have any problem with this because its what this forum exists for (and for a good reason), but I also don't see any problem in calling a spade a spade. In fact, the sig links is the entire reason this post was made. (the MMM and other affiliate link spamming)

I should have been more upfront w/ my first reply...I was afraid to violate 'rule #1'. lgibbon has a personal beef w/ Steven and its blatantly obvious. If nobody else can see this, well, I guess I'm just crazy.

For the record I am not a huge fan of Swagen, but that is just my opinion and we all know what opinions are worth.

In saying that the man does post some very good information at times and this is one of them.

Thanks for the info and the heads up swagen.

I really wish that those of us who like negativity would keep quiet more often. Pissing contests that arise for no reason at all are very unproductive. I am SURE that Steven was not telling scammers to be more industrious and creative so we have to weed out more spam. Really, can't we just talk about making money.

BTW, I like posting here a lot more than I need signature line exposure.

TomG.

ORIGINAL POST EDITED BY ADMIN:

There is no proper way to promote affiliate programs in the Warrior Forum.

If I see 10 people with sig lines that have the same program name in them they are all going to get deleted, whether it's going to their own domain or not.

Steve this was a very dangerous post for some folks.

We're trying to keep Sig files valuable, and we do that by each being unique. Going to peoples own domain, or WSO. Not having 1000's of sig's all leading to some popular affiliate program.

Even God hates monotony.

richard,

The WSOs are OUR products, not affiliate products.

AL

lgibbon I hear what you're saying, but come on buddy if you click everyones sig link you will always end up at shit pages like that! :p

I totally agree, this is a great approach to take.

In any case, we all must realize that many of the stupid people who come to forums and try to do shit like that with 1 line posts, they never even read the rules so they will all be banned soon anyways with this policy!

Roger,

Good points.

I guess I am just one of those who really could care less about sig files because I rarely click on them.

I agree about the trash posts from those looking to just get their links out there I agree it should be dealt with. Which is why I agreed with Martin. Get rid of them. There is always the WSO forum if you want to sell stuff. And since they need to be manually approved, it would greatly reduce the crap.

And you have to face the facts - no matter how easy it is to follow the rules there will be those who could care less and those who don't understand.

Those who could care less, delete them.

Those who don't understand, teach them. Which is what I initially viewed Stevens post to be. Teaching them.

Interesting all the viewpoints you see on a forum, isn't it?

Mike

Steven, it's a shame we don't see more of you around here buddy, I can understand why.

Back to the affiliate/sig subject:

Instead of linking to an affiliate site via your domain/re-direct or whatever and making one sale and possibly becoming N/A, why not capture the lead in your mailing list.. build a good bond with your subscribers.. and make a possible 20 sales?

I sold 2000 eBooks in my first year and not once captured the lead. Please learn from my stoopid mistake lol.

Louis

Would it be wrong of me to recommend a group hug?..

Y'all big, strapping warriors would be great for a cuddle

Peace

Jay

p.s. LOL.. I soooo needed more sleep last nite...

I don't want to put words into Allen's mouth, because I don't know exactly what he saw in Steven's OP. As far as I could see, his OP did explain the rules.

BUT...

The rule has always stood, and didn't really require any clarification. So, effectively, the OP (title specifically) could be misconstrued...

Instead of:
The Proper Way To Promote Affiliate Products At The Warrior Forum

It could be read as:
Promote Affiliate Products At The Warrior Forum

The question hadn't been raised as far as I can see... Such a discussion (in my opinion) wasn't needed.

Now, back to my cave.

[edit] Allen's subsequent post (made while I was typing this) seems to confirm my view to a degree.

This issue has only really come to light since the MMM debacle. Hopefully that has died down and the status quo can remain.

Perhaps Newbs should be stopped from having a sig for 30-60 days or so, that way any of them jumping on a hot release bandwagon won't have the opportunity ride the wave and spam here.

My 2 cents

Steve

Martin,

I'm sure there is a script or something that could help with that kind of thing. Just tossing some idea's into the mix.

Regards
Steve

Does that mean i cant use an affiliate link to promote one of my own programs in my own sig file?

Or does it mean I have to create a landing page with my affiliate links to my own affilliate program (which I own) ?

Very confusing all this sig file lark

Robert

PS: Oh wait what if i get all my affiliates to put my aff link in thier sig files to go to my landing page with my affiliate links to my own program... wow that would be a wheeze

I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with
most of what you're saying here and the way you've presented it
is great.

Here's a fine example of just that:
WarriorForum - Internet Marketing Forums - View Profile: famous2313
Dozens of junk posts on the main forum
and a sig file hiding clickbank affiliate links.