So tell me… what bugs you most about affiliate programs? Is it…
- Chicken Scratch Commissions – How do you feel about making a $1.00 a lead when you know the merchant is ultimately earning hundreds, if not thousands, from the targetted customer you sent to their site?
- Rejection Notices – Are you tired of those “We regret to inform you that ____.com has chosen not to accept you into their affiliate program at this time” that don't include any specific explanation or where it is obvious that the merchant didn't bother to look at your FABULOUS site.
- Lack of Ability to Contact Merchants – So, you're not a CJ performer. Is that any excuse to have to write several emails and make several telephone calls before you get a reply to a valid question?
- Lack of Information – What about those programs that do approve you and send you a welcome letter that doesn't include a link to the site, the manager's name or your affiliate details? I especially love those that send info from some obscure company name that you've never heard of — so you have no clue to which affiliate program they're referring.
- Clunky Affiliate Interfaces – Surely you have some experience with an affiliate interface that is almost impossible to use. It takes forever to drill down and find a graphic or copy that you want and when you do find one, the interface bogs down and then crashes before it generates your link.
Oh, my list could go on – but I want to hear about your beefs.
Go on – get it off your chest. Leave a comment and tell it like you see it — the ultimate goal being that this information will help affiliate managers and merchants IMPROVE their programs and networks. 🙂
Hi Ros,
Communications mostly. Especially when a merchant kicks me off the program with no explanation. It’s worse when whatever links I have keep sending traffic to the merchant.
Affiliate programs that offer no tracking is another. They should at least show how many clicks they’re getting from my links.
Greg
Hey Greg – Yup and Yup again. 🙂 – Ros
All of your complaints are valid. The thing that I’d like to get from CJ or Linkshare or Performics is a list that shows who went thru my site, what their email and names are so I can build a list to send out emails for other promos on my own site.
Hey Ken – Oh, wouldn’t that be nice? But that would be spam. What you need to do is encourage your visitors to sign up for your autoresponder series on YOUR site before they leave it. – Ros
My biggest complaint about affiliate programs are the ones I don’t get paid for. I paid my advertising bills and they got their money but I never got mine. I will stick with well know affiliate programs for a while.
Mike – Sorry to hear that you’ve been cheated out of your due. Please send info through our Support Desk and I’ll see what I can do to help you straighten things out. – Ros
Your latest newsletter was most appropriate! As a ‘newby’ trying to get my first site launched with a product, I have experienced this first hand. If I had a lot of hair on my head, I would probably want to pull it out (excluding the ears of course). Your latest book update was great!
Hi Robert – Thanks! and leave that hair alone. 🙂 Ros
It bugs me that alot of merchants don’t have more technologically advanced ways for the affiliates to use them.
If I want to find creative affiliate links and banners and not just a link here and there to a merchant’s home page, sometimes I find myself really disappointed in the choices; other times the links are creative and exciting.
When I find a niche product I want to work with, I want the merchants to allow me to search for the product and link to the product page.
If I want to promote a niche product, it’s difficult to target in on the product, to find merchants who allow me to create a link to a product page, or allow use of pictures of the product. Alot of the links I did find are not current or inactive. Many merchants don’t allow an affiliate to be creative with the affiliate links or create a link to a product page.
I think the affiliate programs should make the process as simple as possible, without HTML, like basic site builders, so that anyone can create types of links that will best suit their needs.
I would like to have access to affiliate links that can go into emails without using HTML, just a simple link with the affiliate ID that I can mask and have permission to use it.
Hi Cindy – Absolutely… I couldn’t have said it better! – although, you forgot to mention those interfaces that crash just as soon as you finally get to the page with the link that you DO want. Aaargh. 🙂
Hi Rosalind,
When your account is inactive for a few months with Commission Junction they will shut you down.
This by itself is not bad, (probably good business). However, when you try to sign up again you can never use your same E-mail address. I think this SUX…
Jim
Hey Jim – If you have your own domain, you should be able to set up unlimited numbers of email addresses and then forward them to your main address. I basically set up a different address for most of the programs that I promote… it lets me know who the spammers are too.
What bothers me most about affiliate programs is, when you click on the link under your ID onr “current affiliate”, when you get to the page of the item/info product you want, you will usually get a “drop down” box to sign up for another’s newsletter.
If you sign up for the newsletter at this site, from that point you come under the “newsletter sponsor’s” sales quotas, which causes the prior affiliate to lose a sale.
This has happened to me so much, that I either don’t buy through affiliate programs or, if I do, I don’t fill out the info for a newsletter.
Also, I once sent an email to a Stephen Ducharme, signed up, gave a couple of referrals (which were myself under another email address) for him to contact and encourage to sign up under my Aff. ID. He sent marketing materials to get “me” to sign up – without my Aff. ID! That’s stealing to me!
I sent several emails questioning this tactic, but never heard from him again. And, I know from doing that to others since I realized what he did, that it happens a lot!
People just seem to always find ways to make a good thing ugly. We’re all out here trying to make it, so why get greedy and step on someone else. Life boomerangs, you know…
Plus, a lot of programs sponsors send information about joint venturing, but when THEY are asked to do joint ventures, I have yet to find one who didn’t tell me that “we are not accepting new joint ventures at this time”. What a crock!
Niq
Hi Niq – Yes, that would be one of the problems in promoting sites within the ‘Business Opportunities’ category. You really need to check the signup process and make sure that cookies last a long time – so, even if the visitor you referred signs up for a newsletter, you’ll still get credit if they buy the product sometime later. I do business with many excellent online marketers who do NOT cheat their affiliates in the way you suggest… which would be why you don’t see me promoting everything/everyone under the sun – not to suggest that ALL those I do not promote are cheaters by any stretch, but the ones I do are highly reputable. – Ros
Dear Ms. Gardner, after receiving several very informative pieces of e-mail from you I decided to buy your book. At the time of purchase on line there was also the opportunity of purchasing the book along with two interviews, which I should have forgone, however, I was gullible and trusted you because i thought that you were an honest Canadian business person. I admit I was extremely gullible. We all have some issue or problem.
The problem that i have found with your affiliate handbook is that it still assumes that all your readers are skilled programmers, example, whemn you offer advice in showing an e-mail address which is not displayed on the affiliate link. I have found that it has become necessary to learn HTML in order to complete some of the instuctions that you offer in your book. I am truly discouraged.
Thank you
Hello Jon,
I appreciate your candor, I do not however appreciate the suggestion that I am less than honest. I’m as straight-up as they come and anyone who knows me, knows that very well.
Regarding, ‘assumes that all your readers are skilled programmers’… sorry, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’ve had complaints that I provide too MUCH detail, never that I didn’t provide enough.
The Super Affiliate Handbook is an affiliate marketing tutorial, and although it goes into a lot of depth with computer codes, javascripts and HTML coding, it was never intended as an HTML tutorial. There are plenty of those books on the market.
Furthermore, I strongly suggest that everyone learn some HTML coding, so that they are not held hostage by a web designer who will never be available when they need them to be.
If you start a blog, HTML becomes even easier using the built-in WYSIWYG editors. Codes like ‘b’ (bold), ‘i’ (italics) and b-quote (blockquote) are pretty self-explanatory. If not, play with it and find out what it does.
As to being discouraged, I suggest that you just try blogging and see how quick you learn that HTML about which you are so discouraged.
Too, attitude is all. DO something and that discouragement will evaporate. I’ve found it a complete waste of time and energy to be discouraged about things that I do not try.
Cheers,
Rosalind
Well, Ross, interesting topic this week.
Let me tell you the other side of rejection. Imagine dozens and dozens of affiliates sign up, but have incorrect details, don’t provide valid email, sometimes lies about address, provides “n/a”, where supposed to be the detailed – “I am, I can, I had” information, or enters myspace profile or affiliate link as so called FABULOUS site. Its coin with two sides!
Its no wonders these lazy webmasters who can’t enter proper details gets rejected.
Hi Sandy – Thanks for sharing the ‘other side of the coin’… and YIKES! I can hardly believe that an affiliate would enter their MySpace profile. Sheesh.. what are they thinking? – Ros
Most of the websites have learned to lie very well. A good way to lose your money if you buy into what they are selling. The idea of starting with little or no money or it is FREE is the biggest lie of all.
Hi Thomas – I believe you are referring to sites that sell online business opportunities and I’m not going to disagree with you that some of those sites lie about results or that it’s not free to start an online business. Anyone who believes the latter lie needs to give their head a good shake. Furthermore, everyone needs to do their due diligence before they invest in any such package.
However, relative to starting a business offline, starting a business on the ‘net is very inexpensive. Buy a domain, set up hosting and an autoresponder and start a blog. Provided you are promoting that blog through article marketing or social networking sites (and the blog is WORTHWHILE for its visitors), you could make money for a VERY small investment.
I’m partway through the sah and I have to say this post about affiliate problems is very discouraging! I’m considering having my website built for me, but now I’m wondering if the cost involved will ever be worth it. Can you really make some money with an affiliate site or is this all hype for people who are desparate to start any kind of home-based business?
Hi Joanne – I’m glad that you spoke up about having your website built. PLEASE don’t waste your money. Start a blog instead. There are tons of free templates available, many of which look absolutely fabulous.
As to making money with affiliate programs… first of all, I don’t DO hype and secondly, please see my answer to Louis above (comment #8).
I keep getting these emails. They don’t make a lot of sense and none of them are informative enough to tell me what is going on or how to start something. What are you doing? How are you doing it?
Bud L
Sorry you feel that way, Bud. You should start by reading either the Super Affiliate Handbook or going through the NPT site (this site) in a systematic way. Start with “Getting Started”… that should help. – Ros
One of my biggest beefs is companies that decline my application solely based on the fact that I’m located in Canada.
What part of the internet being a global marketplace don’t they understand? The US is actually able to see websites that are owned by people in other countries – and they might even be willing to buy something through one of those sites.
Hi Nat – Well put. Also being in Canada, those are my sentiments exactly. – Ros
Hello Rosalind,
You asked us about our affiliates “beef”, here they are:
1) Sometimes the amount of commissions is too high before one can receive a cheque.
2) Too little money for Pay Per Leads.
3) Being rejected because your site is not about one topic.
4) Errors in links
That’s what bugs me about them.
Marie
Hi Marie – I warn about #1 above in the Super Affiliate Handbook and recommend that you don’t join such programs (I joined one that required $1000 in commissions before they’d cut a check. Live and learn.) As for errors in links – it’s always a good idea to test them before you send them live. As for those that break after the fact, be sure to let the merchant know about the problem. – Ros
You never make a dime with an affiliate program, they all seem like scams, of which I haave encountered my share
Since I’m hopeless trying to cloak affiliate links, I’d like to see every affiliate program manager have it already done on their end. I did start promoting a program where this was the case. Then later on, noticed the manager added books SHE was promoting to the page that her affiliates were sending traffic to!! Grrgh!
Although I liked the product, I had to stop my promotion. This business is tough enough!
Thanks for allowing me to vent, Rosalind!
Karen, a fan on the other side of Canada!
Hi Karen – Happy to let you vent. 🙂 I’m glad to see that you check your merchant sites to see what they are doing, so you are aware of changes and can act accordingly. I usually drop them a quick note to let them know that I can no longer promote them – and why. On occassion, they’ll remove the ‘leaky’ links on their site. – Ros
My biggest pet peeve — Affiliate programs that only pay a percentage of the first sale and not on subsequent sales from the same customer. If we’re spending the money to get the customer, then we should benefit not just from the first sale, but from future sales as well.
Hi pelicancup – Oh yaaaa. Lots of the dating services that I promote have changed from a recurring to a one-time only model. But those that didn’t, get put to the top of the list. 🙂 – Ros
Market being flooded with competition! Little fish in big pond!
Hi Fabian – Find a smaller pond in which you become the BIG fish. – Ros
Hi,
Just registering a domain name and website building/hosting with GoDaddy for first time kick off in affiliate marketing – not knowing very much about it.
I am bombarded daily with emails concerning affiliate marketing advising that they are all making hundreds of thousands of £’s. With respect, what makes your book any different.
I notice in your general waffle you were in ATC – but you still have all of your hair left ! Flying my plane over the UK the ATC were always telling me that they were about to tear their hair out.
Kind regards,
Derek Hyde.
Hello Derek – What makes my book any different? You’ll have to buy it, read it and then compare it with all the rest to find out. 🙂 However, every day (and especially at conferences that I attend) I hear from affiliates and affiliate managers who write/approach me to say ‘Thanks! Yours was the first book on affiliate marketing that I ever read — 2, 3 and 4 years ago — and they’re STILL working in the affiliate marketing industry. Of course, it helps that they followed the plan that I lay out in the /Super Affiliate Handbook.
As to those controllers that are tearing their hair out… they should either relax or take up affiliate marketing. 🙂
I think the thing that bugs me the most is getting specific answers to my questions when I contact their affiliate managers. It gives me the impression that they never actually read my email, with the canned response I always seem to get.
Additionally, affiliate managers never seem to want to listen. I know my audience best and have a great feel for what will sell to them. Yet I’m constantly being pushed to promote products/services I know my audience will not be interested in.
Chris..
Hi Chris – It does seem that way at times, doesn’t it. And then are those times that you KNOW that’s the case. Persistence and patience, my dear…
As to being pushed to promote products that aren’t relevant – come and hang out with me at a conference where there are a lot of affiliate program managers sometime. “Thank you, NO, I don’t want to promote baby buggies – my audience is comprised of SINGLE people.” LOL.
Ros
I have been trying for the last month and I can’t seem to find out what I’m doing wrong plus I’m a newbie at this and I am not a quiter and I have alot of motivation and can spend fulltime at this but I just can’t seem to find out what it is I’m doing wrong if you could help I would be very Thankful for that cause I don’t have alot of money to invest or else I would be making alot of money right now it’s definetly not the motivation can you help.
Hi Steven, Good to hear that you have plenty of motivation to continue. May I suggest that you visit the NPT Forum and pose specific questions on those topics with which you are having trouble. Cheers, Ros.
Hi Ros,
One thing that drives me crazy is affiliates that don’t keep their links and banners updated, I do my best to swap out all affiliate links to keep things fresh on my sites, but I get to these affilates and find their links expired 2 months ago.
Hi Jeff… Guilty! 🙂 On the other side of the coin, how about the perennial banner graphics that are linked to the merchant site that suddenly go missing? Aargh. – Ros
I never know exactly where to advertise.
Hi Brian, There are SO many good places to advertise your site. But the best are definitely Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing and MSN AdCenter. Hope that helps. – Ros
What bugs me most is applying to join a program on CJ only to be rejected out of hand,with no reason. (Probably ‘cos I’m in the UK, but I’m only guessing …)
Hi Jen… I HEAR ya! And then if you take the time to get in touch with the company that rejected your application, they rarely respond. Fortunately, there are PLENTY of good programs around, so consider the rejection THEIR loss. 🙂 – Ros
You are right. Those are my gripes. How can I get the info on products that I want to buy and re-sale? It is a hard job.
Hi Norman – Guess you’ll have to talk to your merchants, or find other programs. As to being a ‘hard job’… nothing worth doing is ever easy. – Ros