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What's the difference between an AFFILIATE PROGRAM and a BIZ OPP??

by aceshigh888
7 replies
I'm wondering about something, if someone has what looks like an affiliate program, but in order to be an affiliate they have to sign up and be a "paid member", does that mean it's not actually an affiliate program, but rather a biz opp, or networking marketing type company? In order for a site to offer an affiliate program does it have to be free for anyone to sign up as an affiliate or not?

Your thoughts???
#affiliate #biz #difference #opp #program
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by aceshigh888 View Post

    I'm wondering about something, if someone has what looks like an affiliate program, but in order to be an affiliate they have to sign up and be a "paid member", does that mean it's not actually an affiliate program, but rather a biz opp, or networking marketing type company?
    No ... not necessarily. But it can mean that.

    Originally Posted by aceshigh888 View Post

    In order for a site to offer an affiliate program does it have to be free for anyone to sign up as an affiliate or not?
    No; it doesn't have to be. It's unusual, but there are actually some very respected, high-quality companies who have their own affiliate arrangements which involve affiliates paying a fee (usually not a huge fee) and getting very high commissions.

    But it can also turn out to be something like MLM. You're going to need to give more details, to get better informed answers. But don't be too influenced by people saying that there's necessarily something "wrong" with paying to be an affiliate. There isn't, necessarily: it's typically just their inexperience showing, a little, when people say that.
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    • Profile picture of the author trapybp
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      No ... not necessarily. But it can mean that.



      No; it doesn't have to be. It's unusual, but there are actually some very respected, high-quality companies who have their own affiliate arrangements which involve affiliates paying a fee (usually not a huge fee) and getting very high commissions.

      But it can also turn out to be something like MLM. You're going to need to give more details, to get better informed answers. But don't be too influenced by people saying that there's necessarily something "wrong" with paying to be an affiliate. There isn't, necessarily: it's typically just their inexperience showing, a little, when people say that.
      Hey, maybe this is my inexperience showing, but could you name a few reputable affiliate programs that you have to pay to be apart of... again, I've never looked into this subject, but everywhere I have been referred to never required me to pay to be an affiliate...(just curious)...
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        Originally Posted by trapybp View Post

        could you name a few reputable affiliate programs that you have to pay to be apart of...
        The highly reputable, widely respected one that springs to mind immediately is InfusionSoft.

        (The others that spring to mind I'd prefer not to comment on, with apologies ).
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        • Profile picture of the author TheCoach
          Affiliate programs can be free, or with some you have to buy the product to promote/become an affiliate. Just because a program/product requires you to purchase does not mean it is not legit.

          Some affiliate programs require people to buy to prevent them from purchasing using their own affiliate link to get the item at half off or whatever the commission might be with no intention of promoting the product.

          There is also what's known as a 2 tier program where you sign up as an affiliate, and recruit other affiliates for which you get an over ride on their production. Affiliate programs using a second tier is generally not considered MLM or network marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    I don't know that there are any hard and fast rules regarding just what an affiliate program looks like. Most are free to join but I have seen a number that also charge a fee.

    I'm guessing the purpose of the fee is mostly to weed out those that aren't serious about being active in the program.

    I have heard, although I don't know for sure, that a very large percentage of affiliates to most programs make no referrals at all.

    A business opportunity, in my mind, is a broader arena than affiliate sales. To me, a business opportunity generally suggests a stand alone business that provides products or services, presents offers, makes financial transactions, does fulfillment, customer service, etc, the whole ball of wax.

    Affiliates are usually responsible for referrals and little else.

    The best to you,

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
    Originally Posted by aceshigh888 View Post

    I'm wondering about something, if someone has what looks like an affiliate program, but in order to be an affiliate they have to sign up and be a "paid member", does that mean it's not actually an affiliate program, but rather a biz opp, or networking marketing type company? In order for a site to offer an affiliate program does it have to be free for anyone to sign up as an affiliate or not?
    Your thoughts???
    Technically a BizOpp (Business Opportunity) does not automatically have to relate to these types of online programs that you refer to. The term can also relate to legitimate offline opportunities such as established franchises etc similar to those that can be found here.

    Business & Franchise Opportunities | Entrepreneur.com

    Unfortunately using the term BizOpp, many smaller ventures establish themselves as offering an "opportunity", when in fact its more of a recruitment for suckers to hand over their cash (monthly payment) in exchange for the wonderful opportunity to go out and recruit others to do the same. (This is referred to as MLM, or even Pyramids etc).

    Legitimate affiliate opportunities for a product or service however do not usually involve recruiting people (who must pay a fee) in order to go out and recruit people (who must pay a fee) in order to go out and recruit people.... in order to... You get the picture. As an affiliate for the latter, you promote a product or service to the end user, and you get paid. That's it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    All affiliate programs are biz opps, but not all biz opps are affiliate programs.

    As an affiliate, your role is to present and/or sell a product or service by someone else to others.

    A biz opp can be a number of involvement levels, from silent investing to buying a "business-in-a-box" and implementing it all yourself.
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