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I've played the game from both angles - as an affiliate (3 years+) and now as a Paysite Owner (3 years+). I can 'feel it' from both ends (heh).
As an affiliate NOTHING pissed me off more than when a Sponser changed the rules without telling me. There I was, the humble hard-working affiliate, keeping his head down and playing a game he didn't realize had changed on him! WTF? "I have to now wait HOW LONG to get paid instead of _____? The percentage is now WHAT instead of ____?"
Most of the time I had to discover these changes myself, by accidently stumbling over some obscure stat or being really keen on noticing every little shift. What a horrible way to do business!
Now, as a Program Owner, with that affiliate experience behind me, I do things a bit differant (maybe not?): When we launch our new AP in the Fall we'll offer BOTH 'leak-free' tours and our 'standard' tours, giving the affiliate the choice betwee lean/mean tours and 'meatier' tours, with some partner links and such.
To me, it all depends on how well an affiliate sells my shit AND how 'involved' that affiliate is, how well (if ever) they communicate. The ones who just throw up some affiliate links and walk away can't really complain, in my opinion. If this is your bread-and-butter and you're busting your ass, then you get a break. Welcome to the real world.
You see, from our perspective Dear Affiliates, there a fucking GAZILLION of you 'out there' in the vast web universe. Some (many) just throw up a million blogs, sites etc and utilize the 'spaghetti principle' - throw a MILLION sites out there and, numerically, you're BOUND to get some sales. Others (many) work their ASSES off and stay on top of everything, whether they be full-orpart-time adult webmasters. So how can WE, the Sponsers, know who's who exvept by checking stats and communicating with you?
Many affiliates 'get it', many don't - some are very experienced, others are newbies. So you have to do your best to accomodate all types of affiliates, or limit yourself to a certain 'type' of affiliate and let the others go somewhere else. A tough call. But doing it well means success, right?
So having said all that, any Sponser who delays payment, jiggles the books, changes payouts, percentages, etc etc are either short-sighted greedy fucks, overwhelmed by circumstance and therefore barely hanging on, or just fill in the blank. Not good, in other words. Maybe they're at fault, maybe they're just in over their heads in this tough economy and the pain trickels down, who knows?
Bottom line affiliates: If you think you're getting screwed COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR SPONSER. Not getting what you want? Walk.
Bottom line Sponsers: Treat your affiliates with basic human respect, from one hard-working muthafucka to another, or expect affiliates to walk.
Peace.
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