Do Affiliates Really Have to Suck this Much?

I received a message from someone wanting approved to promote one of my products. He said he already had a review video on YouTube and now wanted an affiliate link.

Thinking it was a customer I of course began searching for my product + review to find the video.

There are a couple videos posted under different YouTube accounts. The "gameplan" being taught, which both are following, is to have the name of the product briefly appear on the video and then there are a couple minutes of just a static picture saying to click on the link below in the description. The link is where the affiliate link will go.

There is no review. Just a black and white picture saying to click a link. Probably took a push of button to create the video then off to push a button for the next "review" video.

So I decided to look at a few "review" web pages affiliates have put up. Biggest bunch of junk I've ever seen. Can't believe I hadn't done this type of review before so I know what affiliates not to approve.

At best, web pages have a paragraph from my sales page with an affiliate link where it says to get more information. Others just have the title of the product followed by a link. The web site is just a swamp of brief paragraphs about WSO after WSO after WSO.

This suckiness is why so many affiliate marketers fail and wonder why they can't make a dime online.

I could walk over to the local junior high, pass out my sales page and ask someone to create a review from it and get back pages a million times more informative, valuable, and likely to convert.

I didn't realize basic anti-suckiness was so lacking.

Affiliates wonder why they get banned from YouTube and other places?

As a product owner I do not want to be associated with garbage affiliates because people see that mess and it degrades the product.

Folks, being an affiliate is more than trying to spew out a page with as little effort as possible praying someone clicks on your link. I am not even talking about spammed pages where there is content - as that is a lot better than just a picture running for 2 minutes in a "video" saying to click a link.

It means (1) giving someone a reason to visit your page, (2) giving them a reason to read what you have to say, (3) giving them a reason why they should click on your affiliate link and buy the product.

Here are some, what I thought were obvious, tips for doing this:

- Get the product so you can explain in your own words what benefits it has provided to you and will provide to your readers. This allows you to create your own screen shots / graphics / video to highlight the value.

As a general rule, the affiliates who have my products have higher conversions and make more money than those that do not.

- If you don't have the product at least take some time to understand what the product is about so you can add your insights to your "review" about how the product can be helpful.

- In WarriorPlus, when a merchant like me offers instant commissions one reason is not merely the ease of payment, but because that option allows affiliates to include their own bonus if their link is clicked. That provides extra value and an incentive for someone to make a purchase.

- Have a tiny bit of pride and create a useful web page or video you would be proud to show your mother.

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