Why I Have Quit Affiliate Marketing, Altogether
In short, it's a sucker's bet. And, anyone who comes along here trying to say otherwise is either part of the organized criminals and con artists' team or is deceived, themselves.
I don't expect to make any friends in saying this. I even think there will be a few folks come along who, perhaps, have made a few dollars themselves (As I did) and won't want to hear what I have to say.
Let's be clear, I'm not necessarily talking about individual companies with a referral or reward program for their customers who bring in other business. I'm talking about those shuysters who pretend to offer everyone a chance to earn with a number of businesses.
Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest scams going today since suckers come along, wanting and needing to make money and, hearing/reading the offers and promises of making money from their blog or network of friends, having little or no capital to invest in a legitimate business , believe they've found the figurative, mythical unicorn but, once the effort goes in, far-too-many, all-too-handy excuses come up as to why they're not seeing the results they expected.
Program details change (after the ad-code is placed all over). Cancellations happen (after the ad-code has been placed all over). Mysterious conflicts of who gets credit for the deal come up – all-too-conveniently in favor of the company's “friends.” (Conveniently, after the ad-code has been placed all over and is a tremendous burden to remove.) Pretty much any handy excuse you can imagine to not get paid, can and will happen.
It's the exact, same sort of shellgame victims encounter when they're offered all their dreams-come-true with Multi-level-marketing and network marketing. By the time the truth comes out, all the victims have left is the smoke which has been blown up their butts and a long list of excuses.
How do I know this? Years back I was a member/easy mark for a small number of affiliate companies. I had my suspicions about being conned. So, I picked a simple, free offer to give away, which offered me a specific amount for giving away a free membership and, I set about giving this away to several friends on Facebook. I tracked who I gave it away to and when.
Not one was credited to me and I had made it a determined point to follow every single rule they had and met their conditions one-hundred percent. Not one penny.
This was just one of these companies, too. Since then, I've given up trying to reason with frauds and liars. I only deal with real businesspeople anymore and steer very clear of con-artists online.
Do you also happen to have a similar story?
Comments
KimRemesch wrote on July 25, 2014, 1:33 AM
I get kind of confused when it come to affiliate, pay per click and all of those terms. I'm still learning. I totally thought affiliate marketing was more like when people had amazon or the like on one of their blogs. I thought it was like being a separate store for a place. I always hear the term "amazon affiliate" for example. Is this different? Boy, am I as stupid as I'm feeling with this stuff?
LoudMan wrote on July 25, 2014, 2:21 AM
No. You're not stupid. It is confusing. Someone can be an affiliate for an individual company - as I mentioned in the post. I'm talking about some companies who pretend to act as sort of a clearinghouse for affiliate marketers. They're just a sucker's bet. Right now, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name any of them specifically. But, if I find out I am free to do so, I will.
MegL wrote on July 25, 2014, 6:36 AM
No, I follow one particular person and have made a few dollars with very little effort. Am now going to set up as a business and see what I can do with putting effort into it.
LoudMan wrote on July 25, 2014, 12:13 PM
Okay, well, good luck. I'd love to read your success story. I think, though, we're talking about different scenarios. You have a guide. I'm talking about affiliate marketing companies which middle-man hundreds of programs.
MegL wrote on July 25, 2014, 3:14 PM
Then I will stay away from those! Thanks.
Kementari wrote on July 25, 2014, 5:50 PM
I don't really view affiliate marketing as a big shell game or scam, I guess it depends on what you get into. I currently use Thrive Products from Le-Vel and they have an affiliate program where if you refer people under you, and they buy the products, you make commissions. But there isn't any start up fees, you get your own website, you aren't pressured into buying anything, there are no hidden fees. It's pretty dang simple, sign up for free and if you like the product use it as a customer. If you feel like you want to promote it, then you can. If you happen to sign people up, then you earn a commission on every product they buy here on after. Mind you, this might not be what you are talking about. I think you are more thinking along the lines of the companies that want you to buy into all those silly products, and then promote them and earn a commission back (like all those Guru e-book guides and crap).
I am also with Wealthy Affiliate, and the sign up is free, you get two free websites and a ton of information on how to promote whatever it is you want to sell. There aren't any fees, or anything of that sort and you basically get guided training on how to make your website successful. If you decide to promote wealthy affiliate (it's like a school where you can have access to training on how to make money by selling products), then you can earn a commission when you have someone sign up (for free). To me these types of things are straight forward, you bring someone into the company and they like the product they sign up for, you earn (wealthy affiliate) or they happen to buy, then you earn (Thrive). It's when you get into middle men who send you this way and that, buy this and that, and have the "potential" to earn back and then never do because you find out you just bought useless products, is where it can get confusing and aggravating.
sergs wrote on July 27, 2014, 5:01 AM
Affiliate marketing was my frustration too, but I was never able to start because I need to build a blog first. This takes a lot of work, although I started. I had to stop during the early stages of creating my blog in blogger.