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I am confused by TheDoc's contention that I am talking Apples and Oranges.
Most corporate sites have things like...
Free trials with tricky expiration,
Free trials with instant cross-sale,
Free trials with obfuscated rebill,
Confusing upsales,
etc.
My site has...
Non-rebilling option,
No cross-sales,
No small print.
So, yes, the sales models we are using are totally different. However, how is that a relevant concern? I know they are different, that's what I am talking about! If they were the same, I wouldn't have said anything.
What I am trying to say, first of all, is that the only reason to offer such bullshit is to impress affiliates. You can make just as much money from your viewers by offering straighforward and honest billing options. So it isn't about conversions, it is about volume. I don't think any of you really think that pricing like that draws in and keeps members.
That leaves the issue of traffic, of course. If you offer deceptive bullshit and impressive numbers to your affiliate webmasters, then they get the feeling that your program will convert well for them. The thing is, you got there by deceiving the viewers. And, to some extent, you're suckering the affiliates as well. Tempting them with cookies instead of proving yourself with good conversions. That makes you an Infomercial (now with free ginsu knives), not a Prestige Brand. People may try you out, but they won't stay... just like the viewers.
But wait, there's more! I guess my point is that the big players have started a bidding war that they can't survive. They keep offering more and more ridiculous payouts, to lure the webmasters in. Great, for now... but we can already see what is happening. People have to include tricks so that their great offers don't put them out of business... and worse, they have to shave (or think they have to).
Why not just tone it down? Why let the "everyone else is doing it" logic get to you? Offer good sites. Be honest with your viewers, and treat them like people. Offer your affiliates a solid one-time payout, or a healthy percentage recurring. Then, show them that it works... Get people who make good money to stand up and say so. Let word of mouth do its work. Stand up and say "this is how well our program converts, and here are this month's stats"... Use third-party billing/processing so people know you don't shave.
And, here's the cool part. If you do business like that, you can stand up and ask the other bigboys why they aren't doing the same! You can make it clear that they need to cheat to win, but you're making yourselves and your affiliates rich without tricks.
Oh well. I can dream. In the meantime, I hope that corporate porn tactics are driving people to my sites as a refuge. Eventually, such tactics will ruin all of our reputations, involved or not. When that happens, the floor falls out from under us. Just remember, it is your constant struggle to outdo your competitors that is dragging us in that direction.
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