Here is another question I?ve been getting and thought I?d share the answer with everyone.
?Hi Shap, I?ve been an affiliate for the past 10 years. I do well but would like to start my own pay site. The problem is I don?t know much about the content world. What should i do??
?Hi Shap, I?ve been a photographer for 10 years. I?d love to start my own site. The problem is I don?t know how to get traffic or affiliates. What should I do??
?Shap! I have a great concept for a new pay site but I don?t know anything about content or traffic. What should i do??
The answer is find someone who excels in the areas you are weak in and partner up with them.
Many photographers and pay site owners have done this by partnering up with Gamma and MetArt for the affiliate side of the business. Affiliates haven?t been so quick to do the same. I think any affiliate with the ability to drive sales and traffic may be better suited by partnering up with 1 or 2 or 3 companies and working with them and having a partnership deal. The value of someone who can drive traffic, sales and brand awareness is far greater than what they are compensated for as an affiliate. If you are an affiliate driving 5 sales a day to a sponsor your value to that sponsor is probably double what you are getting paid. If you focus more time and have a bigger role with that company the end result will be greater for the affiliate and the pay site.
Here is an example. I remember at Twistys we had an affiliate named Toni from Macedonia. I Loved that guy. Tcstorm was his ID. He was awesome. Let?s say he was sending us 3 signups a day and getting paid 60% revshare and the average Twistys member worked out to be worth $65. Every day Toni was creating about $117 of overall affiliate revenue for himself (3 sales * ($65 * 60%)). But really how much value was Toni creating? Besides the actual sales he brings in there is?
- the brand awareness thanks to his promotion
- the traffic that bookmarks Twistys thanks to him and eventually joins in the future
- the person that becomes a members stays for a short period and rejoins in the future without his affiliate id
- the person who joins Twistys and spends more money inside as a member (cams, merchandise etc)
The list goes on and on. On top of that many affiliate sales aren?t tracked. I remember we once launched a brand new site that had 20 sales and 5 of them had no affiliate id even though it was all affiliate traffic (btw this always held true from affiliate software to ccbill or epoch you will never see 100% affiliate sales).
So when you add that up how much value is Toni really creating? He?s creating about $3500 of affiliate revenue for himself which is associated with about $5850 of affiliate attributed revenue (3 sales per day * 30 days * $65 value). What if when you add up all the benefits of what he?s bringing Twistys. His promotion may actually be adding close to $10,000 of value. And that is with Toni splitting his time between Twistys and 3 other companies. Maybe Toni has the potential to create $15,000 to $20,000 a month of value if he working only on Twistys.
What I?m trying to illustrate is a good affiliate has far greater value than what the check they are being paid may show.
If you own a pay site and you are struggling to grow I strongly suggest you look for a capable affiliate and try to create a partnership where they are more than just an affiliate to you they are a partner in the business. The long term results will be far greater even though you may end up giving a piece of your business up.
If you are an affiliate who?s skilled and trying to figure out how you can grow your business or position yourself for the future. Find companies you believe in that you think will be doing well in the next 2,3,4 years and try to work a deal with them where you are more than just an affiliate. You will benefit from being a part of a bigger entity and getting compensated on the whole pie rather than the piece of pie you bring in.
Hope this helps at least one person
