I need to blow off some steam and where better to do it!
Yesterday we sent out a mail to all our affiliates about some new promo galleries for our latest site
www.candyleglust.com. In the mail I said that the site had a leak free tour with a specific linking code.
Wrong!!!!!
An affiliate has written to me this morning and said that the site isn't leak free because it has links to a blog (leak free!) and Twitter! They went on to say they wouldn't promo the site until those "links" were removed. What the fuck do people want? We are talking our own blog and Twitter for fucks sake!!! The site is converting like crazy but hey - that doesn't matter does it? Horror of horrors - we link to Twitter! Thank god there are some more sensible affiliates that are promoting the site and reaping the rewards. Some of those rewards will be earned by the TWITTER READING SURFERS joining via the affiliate system! Doh!
I have heard here, and many other forums, people crying because sites are closing left right and centre, and forecasting that the industry is going to die. No fucking wonder sites are closing. The affiliate scheme and the rules and regs that some affiliates apply are killing the fucking business!!!! Greed, short sightedness and stupidity are taking over and killing the golden goose that feeds them! When are they going to realise that we need each other. It's not a one way street. Most affiliates have no fucking idea what it costs or takes to run a successful site. They have never taken one pic or shot a foot of video! How many affiliates have had to work hard, and I mean fucking hard to run a site - let alone develop and launch a new one!
And these fucking hypocrites then use our pics, and those of every other site, to skim off traffic via links. Pics we have given them for FREE! What the fuck is that all about? That is THEFT in one sense. Stealing our traffic and the pic!
Out of a $30 one month recurring sale, via an affiliate, I make $5 after commissions, CCBill costs and revenue split with the model. $5 MEASLY FUCKING DOLLARS. Oh and the affiliate makes 3 times more than that at $15 - for doing what exactly? You tell me. And none of that includes the fucking hosting costs to host the FHGs in the first place. I bet not many affiliates have anywhere near the costs of hosting that we and many others have.
Now don't get me wrong. I UNDERSTAND THAT SITES NEED AFFILIATES these days, but isn't it about time affiliates got off their high horse and realise that THAT THEY NEED SPONSORS? How often have I heard affiliates whinging about sites closing and there are no new ones coming through. No fucking wonder! After they have been paid, and done everything in their power to stop the site owner getting a bit of traffic for themselves, their is fuck all left.
I am an affiliate via
www.glamourimages.net and
www.ultimate-fetishes.com but frankly I don't give a flying toss about whether a site has a leak free tour or not. All I care about is SALES!!!! Yes SALES!! If a site sells it gets regular promos. If it doesn't sell, it gets dropped. Out of my Top 10 sponsor sites at Glamour Images only two have a leak free tour. If I took the line of leaky tour = no promo I would walk away from about 40% of my considerable income from the sites.
I would strongly suggest that some affiliates take their big fat fingers out of their arses and read The Seven Habits series by Stephen Covey or other similar books about success. The message of these books is clear. Success is based on Win Win negotiation not Lose Win which it very much is at present!
For god's sake let the sponsor sites make some money! If we make money we keep going. If we keep going we keep providing promo material. If we keep providing promo material the affiliates keep on making (good) money. If we are forced to close what happens then?
Rant over - thank you for your time and patience if you have read this.