jayeff

So far you have excused the blatant lack of professionalism of many sponsor programs by saying they don't evolve (I assume you meant revolve) around affiliates and now by casting doubts on those delivering a message.

Wiser people may recognize that a message has its own validity, regardless of who delivers it. In any case, several of the more sensible comments and implications from this thread are Business 101 and you have failed to explain how anyone is better off ignoring such basics, regardless of his attitude to towards affiliates.

Wiser people also would not jump to conclusions about people of whom they know little or nothing and label them with sweeping generalizations. I have no idea about Will's or DX' background, but I have started three totally different 7-figures businesses from scratch (the first of which reported $450 million in sales in the last year before it became part of Deutsche Poste). Despite retiring into this business because of ill-health and working alone in it, I pulled mid 6-figures when I worked full time.

There is a kernel of truth in some of your comments: there are indeed several possible business models. But they are all capable of being applied badly and more often than not are. As has been said, the majority of sponsors are no more professionals than most affiliates. And they are equally unwilling to learn. They have nice homes and fancy cars, what else do they need?

They don't need anything else if indeed they have fulfilled their ambitions and are close to making enough money to live on for the time they have left. But I will guarantee you that even if some of today's programs are still around in 5-10 years, most will have different owners. Not even a dozen of the currently big programs show the signs of having what it takes to survive and prosper in an increasingly competitive market.