What Bugs You Most about Affiliate Programs?

Norman Richardson on February 6th, 2007 7:36 am

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

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Jen C on February 6th, 2007 7:38 am

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

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Brian on February 6th, 2007 7:44 am

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

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Jeff Workman on February 6th, 2007 7:44 am

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

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Steven Totoro on February 6th, 2007 7:54 am

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.

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Chris De La Rosa on February 6th, 2007 8:27 am

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…

Ros

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Derek Hyde on February 6th, 2007 8:27 am

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.

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Fabian Barajas on February 6th, 2007 8:44 am

Market being flooded with competition! Little fish in big pond!

Hi Fabian - Find a smaller pond in which you become the BIG fish. - Ros

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pelicancup on February 6th, 2007 8:45 am

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

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Karen Cook on February 6th, 2007 8:47 am

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

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Louis Gerard on February 6th, 2007 8:58 am

You never make a dime with an affiliate program, they all seem like scams, of which I haave encountered my share

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Rosalind Gardner on February 6th, 2007 8:59 am

Hi Louis,

Cheers,
Ros

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boxxies on February 6th, 2007 9:02 am

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

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Nat on February 6th, 2007 9:08 am

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

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Bud Lyons on February 6th, 2007 9:13 am

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

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Joanne Hanks on February 6th, 2007 9:19 am

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).

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Thomas Bridgeforth on February 6th, 2007 9:50 am

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.

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Sandy on February 6th, 2007 9:51 am

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

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jon thompson on February 6th, 2007 9:54 am

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,

Cheers,
Rosalind

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Niq on February 6th, 2007 10:02 am

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

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Jim on February 6th, 2007 10:15 am

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.

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Cindy on February 6th, 2007 10:23 am

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.

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Robert McArthur on February 6th, 2007 10:23 am

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

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Mike on February 6th, 2007 10:42 am

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

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Ken Morgan on February 6th, 2007 11:17 am

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

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Greg on February 6th, 2007 11:18 am

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

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Cheri Oatsdean on February 6th, 2007 12:40 pm

Dear Ros,

I am very new to affiliate marketing. I have decided to approach this as another graduate thesis…! LOL!

Hence, I am reading every manual on the subject I can get my hands on, including your “Super Affiliate Handbook.” Anyway, I have almost finished it and I am so impressed–not only with all of your resources–it is quite a compendium of information–but, with your concern for the most infinitestimal details, like “ctrl T,” and simple commands. You leave no stone unturned, God bless you!

Now, of course, I want to promote YOU and your “Handbook” online, but Google nixed it, as they SAID your site had pop-ups! How can that be true, as I visited your site and it was free of any to my knowledge–and, you speak so negatively about most distracting pop-ups in your “Handbook;” is Google just messing with me?

Anyway, I was really disappointed; I just love your spirit, and wanted to help others–myself included–achieve what you’ve done!

Thank you again, for caring to share your knowledge and experiences to help others.

Sincerely,
Cheri

Dear Cheri - No, God bless you! You’ve actually read the book and appreciate the details.

But Google is right, there is a popup on the Super Affiliate Handbook homepage… for GOOD reason. I don’t want my affiliates direct-linking to my site from Google Adwords. I want them to write their own glowing reviews of the book on THEIR sites. REAL reviews convert better than direct-linking to a merchant page. Furthermore, that gives my affiliates the opportunity to have their visitors sign up for their newsletters before they visit my site. Building a list is SO important, that you should not for a moment even consider overlooking that step in the process. Hope that helps! - Ros

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Thelma Lowery on February 6th, 2007 13:52 pm

Hi Ros,

It certainly is good to be able to communicate with you. I guess I’ve been having a problem just promoting. We see you guys doing it and it seems so easy. There are so many promotion services with web site submission and all of that.

It can be overwhelming sometimes and that is so frustrating. Also some people have a fear of spamming their affiliate programs on blogs.

God Bless you Ros, There’s so much info on the same hot topics. When I see my emails; I just read yours to get the truth. (no flattery,just facts).

Best Regards,
T Lowery

Hi Thelma, Thanks kindly for the good word. Promoting? Start with Microsoft AdCenter (join now and receive $100 in free PPC credits). Use that credit carefully to see what ad copy converts for you.

Cheers,
Ros

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barney Barnes on February 6th, 2007 14:08 pm

What bugs me most about affiliate or JV programs? (One is sibling to the other.) Lies. Lies implicit and lies explicit. Lies inadvertent and lies advertent. Lies of knowledge and lies of ingnorance.

Oh, pardon me … I guess I should call it copywriting … sorry … I tend to call a club a club and a spade a spade … most unpolitic of me.

And, yes: I’d have posted this even if I did not consider you to be one of the dozen or so exceptions … an amazingly honest affiliate provider (besides, I’m wearing my asbestos skivvies ).

Make a good day …
… barn

Hi Barn - I have to agree. Nothing bothers me more than dishonesty. .. so no need for the asbestos skivvies - Ros

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Jennifer on February 6th, 2007 14:20 pm

What bugs me most is applying to join a program on CJ only to be rejected out of hand, with no reason. (Probably because I’m in Mexico, right?)

Hi Jennifer - Mexico, Canada, the U.K. and more — yup, CJ seems to be blind to many of us. What I love is the fact that CJ won’t (maybe it’s changed, I dunno) allow non-U.S. publishers to earn a referal fee for sending other publishers to CJ, but they’ll pay U.S. publishers for doing so. Duh. BIG Duh. - Ros

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Jim on February 6th, 2007 14:40 pm

Rosalind,

Robert spoke of your latest book update. When was it available and how do I get the update. I thought I had the current edition from early 2006.

Jim

Hello Jim - Thanks for asking. The update was done in May 2006 and more info is available here. - Ros

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Shaners on February 6th, 2007 15:31 pm

What, bugs me just a little… is sending an email about some question I have, only to have their virtual assistant answer it in a cut and paste F.A.Q sort of way. Or What really bugs me IS NOT GETTING AN ANSWER (jim edwards). Now that having been said I’ll blow some sunshine up someones butt now. Andy Williams of ezseonews.com always answers emails and provides answers above and beyond the question asked. Now thats service!!!

Hey Shaners - Absolutely. Spending your time for nought is a waste… and I’ve heard the same thing from Colin about Andy Williams. As for Jim, I’ve written him 3 emails in the last 2 months and haven’t had a reply… you really do need to use his support desk. - Ros

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Linda Walters on February 6th, 2007 16:20 pm

Dear Ros

Reading “What bugs you” made realise that frustration is part of every industry no matter online offline. You have proved that none of it is insurmountable, or you wouldn’t still be here since 1998. I think it is very encouraging & shows that frustrations are no more than that - frustrations. Not to say it isn’t scary & costly at times but as the Black Knight from Monty Python says “It’s only a flesh wound”. Thank you.

Linda

Hey Linda - THANK YOU!!!!!!! While some reacted to the message/question by becoming discouraged, you honed in on and finely articulated the Main Point of this week’s message. .. that Problems are reality and to be EXPECTED, dealt with and overcome. Hoping for anything different is well — just a wish — and nothing much is accomplished by wishing. Thank you, again! - Ros

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John on February 6th, 2007 17:06 pm

Hi Ros,

One things that disappoint me is that when I apply for the affiliate program, I had to wait a few weeks to get it approved. At times, no response at all.

John

Hi John - I hear ya. I applied to a CJ merchant before Christmas and it took 3 emails and 2 phone calls over 3 weeks to get approve. Once again, patience and persistence. Ros

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Karen Cook on February 6th, 2007 17:08 pm

Hi again, Ros!

Me from #9 comment. I should have mentioned I did, in fact, write to the vendor with my concerns about the “leaky” links. She replied that she would be keeping HER affiliate programs on the page because it helped her affiliates’ conversions! Yup, still scratching my head, too!

I thought of what you said in SAH of someone wanting you to become involved with his program and when you checked the page, found out he had Adsense on it!

Wow, I thought, whatever would Ros think about a program with the vendor’s affiliate products on the page?!!

Well, at least I learn something everyday. Thanks for all you do, Ros!

Karen

Hey Karen - Hmmmmmmmm…. sometimes they just don’t get it. If I got a message like that from a merchant and was feeling cranky , I might respond with something like “Tell me WHY I (or any other affiliate) would send traffic - for which they have PAID - to your site, when that traffic is almost immediately diverted through Google Adwords (or other program) that makes YOU money and WASTES mine? Good merchants don’t cheat their affiliates.” And if they were part of a network, I’d report them. (Hmmm… I must be feeling cranky this morning, that was TOO easy to write.) Ros

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Michael on February 6th, 2007 17:17 pm

Ros

My mom always told me that if i didn’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all-well I can only say that you are one of the true good people out there on the net. You always seem to want to help anyone succeed, and I really appreciate it.

Hi Michael - My pleasure always. Ros

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janko plax on February 6th, 2007 17:33 pm

Hi Rosalind.

My only frustration is that I have not succeeded to setup a adwords campaign. Due to jargon talks, and my non-English speaking background, I’m trying since about august last year to find someone to setup my campaign for me, but all i’m getting is the bragging about how much people earning, and they all are trying to sall me more gudgets, that I can not be without (aparently) .

At the moment I’m taking a 6 parts miny course and I’m on part one , and already struggling. They are telling me to make a cut and paste my nick to establish a hoplink, but how to cut and and paste it to the browser? My browser is the internet explorer, so how do I transfer it to the internet explorer? Thats the only frustration I’m experiencing, Once I tught that I was lucky, as I got a guy named Greg fron the “000 relationship” or “kissing 101:” he was willing to set me up, and I did give him my login detales to clickbank and adwords, but he was transfered to another section, so I missed out again.

Oh I feel better now. thanks for listening.

regards,
janko

Hello Janko - It’s frustrating enough to read through some of that documentation when English is your mother tongue, but many have succeeded, so don’t be discouraged. Sounds like you might need to learn some basic computer, HTML and FTP skills before moving on. The Super Affiliate Handbook covers ‘cut and paste’ codes… CTRL-C and CTRL-V. You may be able to hire someone on Elance or Scriptlance to walk you through the Google Adwords process, OR if you feel like reading another book, you might want to try Perry Marshall’s Definitive Guide to Google Adwords… although I’d probably recommend the walkthrough. It’ll be faster and easier, because you’ll be able to ask questions. And don’t worry, it’s not really as hard as it may first appear.

Also sounds like you may still need to register and set up a domain to where you can upload your pages. Please see both the Getting Started and Build a Website sections here at NPT. That should help. - Ros

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John Russo on February 6th, 2007 18:06 pm

Well Ros,

The entire process is frustrating. There is a lot to learn in order to get a winning edge. I’ve had CJ drop me of course while i was still learning and working. There are companies that go out of business, suddenly disappear from the program, no longer stock merchandise you just set up on the site have a big 1-800 number to call direct and send catalogs after the sale is made. Quess we should stop dealing with those sites and move on. I was inspired last year when I actually made some sales. That was proof enough it is possible to succeed correctly.

Hi John - Yes, there’s a lot to learn. But like you said, the inspiration comes from making that first sale or first few sales. My first check for $10.99 has kept me inspired since 1998. Ros

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Alena on February 6th, 2007 21:29 pm

Hi, Ros. I too own your book and think it is fabulous!

What bugs me about affiliate programs are ones that have a very short cookie or even worse, a session cookie. Do they think that my time is only worth it if a customer makes a purchase at the time they visit. If they come back later, the affiliate is sometimes out of luck, even though they drove the traffic! I like to look for at least a 30 day cookie.

To everyone’s success,
Alena

Hi Alena - Yes, 30 to 45-day cookies are good, especially when your visitor has signed up for your newsletter so you can re-introduce him or her to the link within that timeframe. Ros

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David Mbuvi on February 7th, 2007 0:54 am

Thanks alot.

its trully a moment to think of what i have missed. now as i thought over it i came to realise that i am missing the power to limit my activities and get time for other equally important ones. can one be there to help me out!

Like you had said its too bad many atimes we do not get a responce even to acknowledge your effort to communicate to them!

Hi David - Good point! Focusing on the important tasks at hand is absolutely essential and is sometimes hard to do when you are working on your own. You will figure it out though… here’s a hint. Put marketing first and foremost. Ros

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Patti May on February 7th, 2007 2:23 am

A couple of points. The comment about being declined to an affiliate program because of being Canadian..I had the opposite reason.. I was declined for a program because my site wasn’t “Canadian focused”. DOH! I would have thought that the .ca domain, the Canadian flag and the statements that I am Canadian and the perspective on the site would be as a Canadian might have given them a clue.

Also, on learning some HTML. It isn’t brain surgery to code HTML. I know there are a lot of resources on the web but the one book that I keep available is put out by Peachpit Press called “Visual Quickstart Guide to HTML”. Their entire Visual Quickstart Guide series is excellent.

Hi Patti - Maybe you needed a picture of yourself on the homepage swilling a brewski??? Thanks for the HTML tip! Cheers, Ros

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Patricia on February 7th, 2007 5:07 am

Hello Ros,

I keep wondering if I am still registered as an affiliate and I suppose I could just register again?

Sorry, it is just that everytime I come to the computer I am usually dead tired my eyes hanging out just plain tired Like now . I have a comfortable life really and I love it my house is beautiful and my family adorable but I do not have money to invest not any real money anyway and what I did invest I have wasted on Google adwords,damn hard I reckon to do Google adwords, and online information and books and software and Jim edwards and Marlon Sanders Jim Daniels SEO et al. they are good; like your book ( which is a great book but I still have to finish it * shame* ) anyway I paid $50 ist up on google adwords got two sales with SHARIS berries and they didn’nt even pay the commission.Then they dumped me and Junction wouldn’t let me in my password didn’t work.I think the trick is one must have lots of traffic( that buy) and then they want one badly… it’s a bit of a catch twenty two isn’t it?

I learned dreamweaver a great peice of software and I built my own website and I plan to do more and have single mini sites and learn copywriting and linking like Michael Campbell advocates .My Patsite website is I think really a sentimental attachment it is just full of stuff I like it grew like topsy and now I know it isn’t a great site for selling anything , how do I know? Because it is up 2 years now and no one has bought a thing. LOL but I am fond of it like an old friend I have spent a lot of time with and I don’t want to demolish it .*smile* the one thing that made me money was GDI they are really great they pay up and the thing runs smoothly . I blog ;and leave my link I even have almost 6000 hits per MONTH there but bloggers are not too luctrative , if thier blog chat is anything to go by. ( in fact a number of them are quite nuts,)

Also for God knows what reason Adsense banned me.( they are hard)! A dollar a day had only just started to come in “I was naively thrilled .then BANG with no explanation nothing. I was gobsmacked and innocent .Hell of a feeling.ONLY on the Internet is human effort held so cheap and faceless indifferent people rule..:(.!well I mean you just cannot confront anyone and I find that frustrating.)

I congratulate you Ros. You are pretty good. This is not an easy game by any means. it requires hours and hours of work : but I am just about to have another go at it I can pull it into shape now I think.I’ve learned who the good guys are and learned from them as soon as I finish your book,I’ll be rearing to go again.!

You’re tops Ros an amazing woman keep up the good work:).

Hi Patricia - Phew! I feel for you. I too was disappointed when the Shari’s Berries program went by the wayside, but I do recall that they sent out an annoucement that the program was to be discontinued.

You don’t need to kill PatSite - just keep working on it. I would recommend that you install a Wordpress blog and a good template - and forgo the fancy elements that you now have. Decide what the site will be about and categorize it accordingly. Keep looking at it from a visitor’s point of view. Visit your potential competitor’s websites, find some that you really like and model your site after theirs. You’ll find that with an organized approach, your visitor’s will respond much more positively. - Ros

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Jill on February 7th, 2007 7:08 am

Joined an affiliate program who never bothered to tell his affiliates they were switching to new software system, new links, etc. On top of never giving their affiliates any training or support, their # was disconnected, changed affiliate managers, etc, all without bothering to notify their affiliates. Once I finally contacted them, it didn’t phase them that they did things that way. I wondered, if that’s how they treat their affiliates, how do they treat the customers?!?

Ultimately, I say thank you because it taught me how NOT to treat my affiliates. I strive to create personal relationships with my affiliates and am dedicated to training them and helping them succeed.

Live Your Dreams,

-Jill
Author, Coach, Motivational Speaker
http://www.GoalGuru.com

Good point, Jill. That which does not kill us makes us not only stronger, but smarter too. The secret is truly in the ‘good relationships’ sauce. We appreciate and work for good managers like you. Ros

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Cheri Oatsdean on February 7th, 2007 10:51 am

Thanks, Ros, for your incredibly quick and insightful answer to my question about Google’s banning me from directly marketing your handbook; makes sense.

Now, a “new” development: I have joined your recommended, if my memory serves me well, “Secrets to Their Success” web site…and applied for their mentoring program. I just want to do this right, right? In the meantime, I’ve been receiving emails from a marketing affiliate promoting something that really scares me; his methods sound dishonest, or bordering so…do you know who I mean? He’s just released a new book, and I read his former book thinking he was a really caring, sweet guy. So much so, I subscribed to his/now my own “free website” with my own domain name and a year’s hosting fee. Do you know who I am referring to? I hate to bad mouth someone here in a public forum…especially until I know the truth. What would YOU do, Ros? (WWJD)?

Anyway, thanks again for answering my question yesterday…how do you have the time? Bless you!

Sincerely,

Cheri

Hi again Cheri - YIKES! While I advocate spending $12.95 a month for some wonderful inspiration from STTS, please don’t ever interpret that I’m recommending an expensive mentoring program!

Lemme say this, if you don’t have Jeremy Palmer’s book - you should get that first.

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Sherryl Masterman on February 7th, 2007 10:51 am

Wow! What a great resource! I found great value in reading everybody’s post and Ros’ responses to each one. In response to one man, I have to say that I found a lot of value in the SAH and thought it was written at the appropriate level.

In addition to all the gripes mentioned, my biggest gripes are short cookies, 1-time commissions, and no deep linking to specific product or search results (not enough merchants offer this). Seems to me that too many merchants still don’t understand the value in affiliate marketing. I’d also like to see more affiliate for phone sales - I’ve only found a couple of folks that allow for this.

Hey Sherryl - Glad to hear that you appreciate the resource. Occasionally I come up with a good idea. You certainly hit the nail on the head with ‘too many merchants still don’t understand the value in affiliate marketing’. They’ll get it sooner or later, or they’ll get out. - Ros

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Brian Cotsen on February 7th, 2007 11:26 am

This may already have been covered but there are 2 really big bug bares of mine.

(1) US focussed companies that make it really hard to sign up to affiliate programs if you are based in the UK (or elsewhere I presume).

Why is it so hard to organise payment and acceptance of affiliates outside the US… I am not aware that the UK put up such irritating barriers as …’please fill in this ridiculously complicated tax form… that doesn’t apply to you… if you don’t then contact the Government to get alternative tax forms to prove that you aren’t a US citizen…..Ahhhhhh”

(2) I am afraid it is CJ yes Commission Junction that I would like to shout about…. they make getting links soooooo hard… you have to apply here there and everywhere to get links for companies that they represent… when you ask if you have been approved they tell you to contact the actual company that you want the link for… who then send you off to CJ saying that it is they who organise the links!!!

Come On Guys…. Get Your Acts together…

Sorry for the rant

Brian Cotsen

Hi Brian - No need to apologize - rants R us! I’ll see whether I can round someone/anyone up from CJ to take a look at comments like yours. It is SO true! - Ros

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Brian Cotsen on February 7th, 2007 11:50 am

I just wanted to add…. Thanks for such a great read… Super Affiliate Handbook (contrary to what someone said a little way up this page) is fantastically clear… you even taught me what the word Macros means… though I’ve been using them for years (just didn’t know the technical term).

Ros thanks for your energy and as you and a few others have said….

Niggles happen in every business…THAT’S BUSINESS

If anyone is hoping to read a book that’ll do the job for them… then they will never succeed.

Anyone who wonders why they aren’t rich yet… YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION!

Just wishing won’t do.

Thanks Ros… bit of a ramble today

Brian

Hi again Brian - Ramling is a good thing from time to time and as to the energy - always a pleasure. - Ros

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christina on February 8th, 2007 2:48 am

Hi there, what I hate is when you do all the work to get people to the affiliates website to promote their product so that you can get a commission, and after a couple of weeks, when you’ve done all that hard work to bring them customers, then they go and start promoting a different ebook or product to the very customers you brought them, and because its a different product, you don’t get any commission. And the product that you are promoting for them, which was meant to be the only and main product that their website is promoting (and that made you join up with them in the first place, because that product looked to you like one that you could sell for them)gets mentioned at the middle or bottom of their promotions page. And the sneaky thing they do is when they send out the follow up emails to the people who YOU sent them, well in those follow up emails, they promote a different product, and then later on in the email they mention the product that you are selling for them, when YOU bought them the customer. Talk about unfair! I think that if you promote their product then they should at least have the decency to make all the follow up emails about that same product too- not about other fancy products that they decided to add on later. I mean why the heck should we promote for them if they are going to be sneaky like that?

Hi Christina - It sounds like you may be promoting another affiliate marketer’s web site rather than a ‘pure’ merchant. Is that possible? While you may want to promote their product(s), you need to make sure that folks sign up for YOUR newsletter first and foremost. Then they can promote all they want, but you also have a relationship with the people you send to their site. You may in fact end up promoting the same products. Who sells more? Who does a better job? The affiliate who has the best relationship with their readers. Work at creating that relationship - focus on your visitors - and then you won’t have to be so concerned about what other affiliate’s are doing. - Ros

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Cheri Oatsdean on February 8th, 2007 10:26 am

Dear Ros,

Thank you for addressing “Day Job Killer;” that was the book I was referring to yesterday. Ros, I want to do business with only ethical individuals, like yourself. His earlier book seemed a little on “the edge,” but not dishonest. His newest book, however, scares me.

I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my posts. You’re the real McCoy! God bless, Cheri

P.S. Do you have any experience participating in Web Traffic programs for cash? Are there any risks involved, like identity theft or computer viruses? Right now, you’re the only one I trust….

Hi Cheri - Nothing to be afraid of. The tactics are legit… just make sure that you read the terms and conditions supplied by each merchant first. As for Web Traffic programs for cash - nope, I don’t do anything like that. Seems to me just a diversion from actually doing business. Cheers, Ros.

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Pamela on February 8th, 2007 13:14 pm

Having just had one of those Webring notifications in my email that says I earned 0.02 cents, I suppose Chicken Scratch commissions might be on my list. No, honestly, I wasn’t promoting them.

But the rejection is one of my pet hates too. If Canada or the UK is bad, try being in Spain. We are, I swear, shot first - judged as spammers / undesirables - no questions asked. As Nat said above, “What part of the internet being a global marketplace don’t they understand?” This, again, is their loss, but it is absolutely ludicrous, because 85 - 90% of most of my sites’ visitors are from the US.

Hi Pamela - Woo Hoooooo! 0.02 whole cents! Congratulations! That’s more than I ever made with those webringthings. Ros

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Steven Wilson on February 11th, 2007 18:01 pm

Hi Rosalind

I have no gripe at all with affiliate programs.If one is persistent with advertising the money will come from affiliate programs.Too many people jump on board post a few ads in the free classifieds,and wonder what happened.It takes time,and patience one must be willing to devote time into their affiliate program to make it prosper. Well that’s about it.
rgds
Steven Wilson

Hi Steven, Thanks kindly for your words of wisdom — so nice to see someone has no gripes at all! Ros

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Alex Newell on February 12th, 2007 5:04 am

WOW Ros, did you touch a nerve or what? You could fill a few episodes of Oprah with the anguish you’ve uncovered.

I’d say “All of the Above!” Plus I’d love to use adwords to drive traffic to my site but I find all the accounts I’ve seen terminally confusing, and yes that includes Perry Marshall’s ebook.

How about a PPC Guide for the rest of us? Any ideas?

Thanks
Alex Newell

Hey Alex - Apparently so! I’ll be writing about the ‘anguish’ tomorrow. Funny what you said about writing a ‘PPC Guide for the rest of us’… I was thinking about doing exactly that. NO promises, though. But it IS a really good idea! In the meantime, I think if you go into Google Adwords, Yahoo! Search Marketing or Microsoft Adcenter (check out the DEAL) and take your time, you’ll figure it out. In most cases you create a Campaign, and under each campaign there are individual ad units. Like I said, take your time, you’ll figure it out - and there are really good help files associated with each.

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Terry Gibbs on February 12th, 2007 23:44 pm

I love these reader feedback items. I do them with my readers all the time. Some even end up being free books I give away on my website.

I get emails every week from affiliates who think they know more about promoting my products than I do. I know my numbers and know what paths work.

I am currently doing a redesign to make it easier for the HTML challenged to promote my products, but I am not going to listen to someone who tells me my sales paths aren’t right, and then asks for advice on how to create a link.

I have to say, the average affiliate is an idiot. Even worse, a lazy idiot.

Do a search for pages that mention the Clickbank products with the highest gravity. It’s hilarious.

I had a guy last week email me because he wasn’t making any money promoting my products. He had copied and pasted my sales letter into his blog. Didn’t change the links either.

I have some great affiliates, but they are a small minority.

What’s the saying? “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” With affiliate marketing, you can point out the water, give them a bucket, and they will soon be using the bucket to build sandcastles.

terry

Hey Terry - I’ve had the same experience with my sales letter. One would think that getting the ‘freebie’ links without the affiliate ID might prove beneficial, but we both know that a) that tactic hurts our SEO rankings and that you may even end up with duplicate content penalty and b) the page never sees traffic so you won’t get any sales anyway.

I don’t necessarily agree with your slant on the average affiliate being an idiot, however. Clickbank makes it easy for almost anyone to sign up to become an ‘affiiate’. Of course, most of these people aren’t affiliates - not real affiliates. They just want to make money in the fastest way possible without doing any work. Doesn’t that also define the sit-on-your-butt TV-watching masses who want to lose weight? I think it’s a societal problem - not just affiliate marketing.

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