100 Good Business Discussions
How much is affiliate traffic REALLY worth?
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Really? A processor told you that without cross sales 75% of adult companies will go out of business? And this is what you call a "fact"?No offense bud, but I'll listen to the processors who see the back end of this industry. The TRUTH of sales, whales, charge backs, declines, and other shit. I'll bank on their thoughts, predictions, and conclusions other than relying on message board theory.
Again, no offense meant to you personally. Simply saying I will rely on the facts, not theory debate.
Nice discussion you have going here
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If you are going to cite me, cite me correctly. Thanks.
They claimed that their projection was 50-75% of big programs would go under without cross sales, and that cross sales are keeping them afloat.
Also, since they actually see the back end of the business with transactions, sales, declines, and what not. I will take their word for it over a message board 'opinion' any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
Especially since they are in a position to see the back end of multiple programs unlike a single person/program and their opinion.
Last edited by Barefootsies; 08-15-2009, 11:31 AM.Comment
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From what im told it is virtually impossible for PPS programs to operate without cross and upsells think about it....... Getting paid $50 on a $1 transaction the math just doesnt add up but everyone wants $1 trials and highest payouts but at the same time a lot of people are bitching about cross and upsells... It is quite ironic actually.Comment
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In terms of affiliate traffics worth i think it should be paid for one a sliding scale, if you send 1-10 signups you make 40%, if you send 11-20 you make 50% if you send 21-30 you make 60% etc.
Starting off at a minimum payout level of at least 50% for unproven affiliates makes no sense to me at all (i havent been doing this that long though).
I have been checking through some of our ccbill stats for the past few weeks on Condom Cash and it appears that those affiliates sending the most sales only make up about 15% of our entire affiliate base and they also need the less amount of help and support but the affiliates sending 1 or 2 sales a week or month constantly want more content, new banners, more fhgs and other things.
One other thing that i dont quite understand about the porn business is that there is no contractual obligation for an affiliate to keep sending traffic so with that in mind they could rape a program of all their content and promo tools diluting their effectiveness for other affiliates then once they stop working, move on to another program and do the same thing.
With a sliding scale based pay scale there may actually end up being some kind of loyalty to a program for an affiliate i know in ccbill if you send us more sales you get paid more automatically because that is how it has been setup.Comment
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...and that's exactly what's happened over the years. It boggles my mind, the sponsors who say "go in our members area and just grab whatever you want for promotion." Allow that, and you know what they're going to grab.One other thing that i dont quite understand about the porn business is that there is no contractual obligation for an affiliate to keep sending traffic so with that in mind they could rape a program of all their content and promo tools diluting their effectiveness for other affiliates then once they stop working, move on to another program and do the same thing.Donovan TrentComment
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So why hasnt this been put a stop to? I know we do not have the license to allow the content we have in our members area to be given to affiliates to use so there must be other programs that are not allowed to do that either or do programs really not care so long as they make money to cover the costs of a sites development?Comment
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If they own the content, they're allowed to do it. Everything on DTBabes was shot by me, it's exclusive, I own it. I could tell affiliates to go in and take whatever they wanted. I could also just go put it all up on pornbb etc., the usual result of that tactic.So why hasnt this been put a stop to? I know we do not have the license to allow the content we have in our members area to be given to affiliates to use so there must be other programs that are not allowed to do that either or do programs really not care so long as they make money to cover the costs of a sites development?Donovan TrentComment
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You think your affiliates are the ones giving your shit away on pirate sites?
By chance, do you look over your shoulder a lot when you walk around town?Comment
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This has always been the case.I have been checking through some of our ccbill stats for the past few weeks on Condom Cash and it appears that those affiliates sending the most sales only make up about 15% of our entire affiliate base and they also need the less amount of help and support but the affiliates sending 1 or 2 sales a week or month constantly want more content, new banners, more fhgs and other things.
Affiliates who make money make their own tools, HG's, banners, and shit. They take up the least amount of your time, and make you the most money.
On the flip side. No matter what program you talk to, it is almost always 10% of your affiliates make you 90% of the revenue. The rest are dead weight. Sucking up resources, and demanding more time and attention because they can't sell shit.Last edited by Barefootsies; 08-15-2009, 02:19 PM.Comment
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This is actually a really informative thread.
So based on what has been posted so far do you think an invite only affiliate program would work well? The reason i ask is that we are currently working on such a program and will only be inviting our top 50 affiliates from Condom Cash to join it, after that is anyone wants to join they are going to have to proove that they can make sales.
I thought this was an interesting way of kulling the herd when it came to over exposure of sites and content and it sounds like based on the posting in here that it would be a good way to curb some of the things that take up a lot of program owners time.Comment
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Yes.
Affiliates prove their worth, or they are not an affiliate of yours.
This is how it should have always been. You show me something, and THEN you can be an affiliate for your program, get access to members areas, free content, hosting, support, etc..
It is nice to see this industry finally raising the bar to entry.
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I find this attitude rather hilarious.
Notwithstanding the counterarguments in this thread, programs need affiliate traffic rather worse than affiliates need any one particular program. I've got a dozen programs I could be promoting for every one that I actually am promoting. Make me jump through too many hoops -- well, any hoops actually -- and I'll just promote somebody who is less of a hassle to deal with.
Folks who try to go exclusive with their affiliate programs will just lose the traffic and sales to other programs. There's probably an exception to this rule for the top 5% of programs -- the guys everybody with a brain wants to be promoting -- but the vast majority of programs aren't that distinguished. Most are pushing their luck when they ask a non-standard question on their affiliate sign-up form.Offering sponsored blog posts and custom writing services.Comment
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Is this the tail wagging the dog?I find this attitude rather hilarious.
Notwithstanding the counterarguments in this thread, programs need affiliate traffic rather worse than affiliates need any one particular program. I've got a dozen programs I could be promoting for every one that I actually am promoting. Make me jump through too many hoops -- well, any hoops actually -- and I'll just promote somebody who is less of a hassle to deal with.
Folks who try to go exclusive with their affiliate programs will just lose the traffic and sales to other programs. There's probably an exception to this rule for the top 5% of programs -- the guys everybody with a brain wants to be promoting -- but the vast majority of programs aren't that distinguished. Most are pushing their luck when they ask a non-standard question on their affiliate sign-up form.Comment
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I never look over my shoulder. I know, though, that when an affiliate program gives open affiliate access to its members areas, the word does get around. It's not real affiliates who give content away. It's the ones who sign up as affiliates with no intention of ever promoting the site.
Donovan TrentComment
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Have you ever hung out for any period of time on a free porn surfer forum? How do you think the biggest contributors get all the wonderful porn they provide for free.
They sign up as an affiliate and then post it all over the forum(s). This is, and has been, common practice for years. There was every some rough guide on how to get access I remember seeing 2 years ago.
Claim to be an affiliate. Get password. Download everything. Viola.Comment
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A common scam....I make sure they have history in my area before I accept them to promote my business.I never look over my shoulder. I know, though, that when an affiliate program gives open affiliate access to its members areas, the word does get around. It's not real affiliates who give content away. It's the ones who sign up as affiliates with no intention of ever promoting the site.
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Have you ever hung out for any period of time on a free porn surfer forum? How do you think the biggest contributors get all the wonderful porn they provide for free.
They sign up as an affiliate and then post it all over the forum(s). This is, and has been, common practice for years. There was every some rough guide on how to get access I remember seeing 2 years ago.
Claim to be an affiliate. Get password. Download everything. Viola.
all to save 20 bucks. LOLOLOL....Comment
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Agreed.
Funny the lengths people will go to just so they do not have to pay for porn.
Just like people trying to hack into your site for a week instead of just paying the $14.95. Kinda ridiculous if you ask me, but whatever. Guess everyone has their line they will not cross.
Some will not pay for porn. Just like some people, no matter how disgusted with this country, will not vote.Last edited by Barefootsies; 08-15-2009, 03:28 PM.Comment
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Hardly. You're being deliberately obtuse now.
Not "any" content -- you know as well as I do that every traffic source has to be matched to appropriate content. In your niche, that might well mean there's only one or two programs that are worth a damn; and I know of other such niches. (I don't know yours very well.) But for most niches, there's an array of choices. And if one of them is too big of a pain in the ass to deal with, well, any of the others will work nearly as well.
This is Porn 101 stuff that you obviously know. So I think you're down to just being argumentative in this thread.Offering sponsored blog posts and custom writing services.Comment
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Not if that customer would have found the site eventually anyway, either through the site's own promotions or it's just well known.
This happens especially in smaller niches.Comment
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Niche sites can be cannibalized by affiliate traffic. Its a balancing act. On the other hand, it takes a special webmaster to be able to convert niche and understand where that traffic is and they are only good for your business if they are finding this traffic where you can't. Niche is a small, but profitable end of the biz.Comment
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Exactamundo.
Agreed. That is the benefit of an invite only program. You already know that they are a niche traffic source. Also that they will make some conversions on their traffic, and your content.
Let's face it. If they can't convert or sell it. It is a pointless partnership. It's better to match affiliates with programs where their shit can convert and minimize frustration and aggravation.
Most people in this industry are completely clueless when it comes to converting niche traffic (unless running niche sites), or even understanding it for that matter. I do not know how many people I have had hit me up for traffic deals and what volume like you would get from another mainstream porn niche.
It does not exist in volume, and, quality.Comment
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This is a situation where traffic becomes virtually worthless.Exactamundo.
Agreed. That is the benefit of an invite only program. You already know that they are a niche traffic source. Also that they will make some conversions on their traffic, and your content.
Let's face it. If they can't convert or sell it. It is a pointless partnership. It's better to match affiliates with programs where their shit can convert and minimize frustration and aggravation.
Most people in this industry are completely clueless when it comes to converting niche traffic (unless running niche sites), or even understanding it for that matter. I do not know how many people I have had hit me up for traffic deals and what volume like you would get from another mainstream porn niche.
It does not exist in volume, and, quality.Comment
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Our biggest account is our house account, always has been - it accounts for 40% or more of sales.A number of programs are moving their traffic generation in-house.
This reduces the importance of this industry's affiliate model and their position for the future. It also makes programs less dependent on paying the ransom traffic 'whales' are demanding, and have been, over the years.
Short answer,... it probably varies from program to program. Their importance is diminishing. Especially as more affiliates find it hard to make conversions and remain competitive in the 2009 market place.

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Well I am not sure how much value keyword slutty is but if I am not your affiliate then your program might not be seen. If the surfer punches in that word. It is a tuff industry . Big pps will kill your program though for sure. I am more than happy with 50/50 rev share.Super Slutty That is my website of many I have.Comment
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Its a word....Well I am not sure how much value keyword slutty is but if I am not your affiliate then your program might not be seen. If the surfer punches in that word. It is a tuff industry . Big pps will kill your program though for sure. I am more than happy with 50/50 rev share.Comment
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