i can't imagine having to deal with all of these sponsors
 

what a fucking permanent headache you all must have. i deal with a couple of programs, but it's on a very personal level. other than that, it's all my own show.

just crazy how much bullshit goes on, day after day, year after year. damn.

Sitting around and waiting for other people to do stuff (especially sponsors) is the WORST.

Roger that!
I use a couple of very simple sponsors with no frills.
When I feel like a change or exploring different markets I will do it in my own time.

just watching it all unfold, day in, day out. i can't imagine... i feel completely isolated from these issues.

that is a smart way to do things these days. keep it low profile.

I probably send at least a trickle of traffic to 40+ sponsors or so.

It can be really annoying sometimes, but generally if any single sponsor is having server problems or the like, it usually doesn't affect me in any really large way.

This is also one of the reasons that I don't want sponsor affiliate reps contacting ME. It'd be a full time job just responding.

Hmm, I promote a bazillion programs and its not so bad. I guess I've gotten used to it. It'd be nice to put all my faith in just a couple of programs, but more than just a couple of programs have excellent converting sites :glugglug

It works both ways- I bend over backwards for affiliates, having custom banners made for them (within 24 hours) and they have changed their minds.

Whatever the industry, or one's position in it; dealing with customer service can be a trial....

i guess what i'm getting at is that i run the whole show for 99% of my business. so i just watch all of these threads and just laugh. i deal with a couple of programs, but if they disappeared tomorrow it would really mean nothing. for example, i haven't ever had to worry about shaving, or being termed. ever.

:glugglug

I've got 116 configured in statsremote, 78 with non-zero income last month, and my CCBill account probably has 40 other merged accounts. I deal with them rarely though...I have very few problems that concern just me, so they tend to sort themselves out. Other than initial communication upon joining a program, I don't think I've even emailed a sponsor in a couple months.

Shaving I'm not as concerned with as income...if they aren't paying well enough then I'll change links. Terming, again very little worries, I've been termed from one program in 5 years. I've had a couple warnings over some details (justified), and a couple mistaken spam complaints, but sponsors want to work with you. Program closures happen, but by diversifying between sponsors, they really don't concern me. 70% of my income comes from my top 5 sponsors, and one othem closing/terming me would suck, but I'd live.

I can see how running the whole show would have its advantages, with fewer people to deal with, it seems like it would have its own potential problems. If your merchant account drops, or your host terms you, or a designer doesn't deliver (if you outsource that), or a 2257 question arises for a content provider, or if you do your own content models not showing up, or a customer charges back. I don't know business you're in, but having run paysites before, I'd rather deal with sponsors than customers any day!! :-)

you are correct. the only thing is that very few of these issues ever see the light of day on a board like gfy. not the case with affiliate headaches.

i run paysites, some of your specific points are valid, some are not....

I had an affliate tell me yesterday he had 158 sponsors in his stats remote!! :helpme

You still have to deal with all of the sites you buy traffic from and submit to. That must cause some headaches occasionally?

they all have great talk:D

The really good sponsors rarely post on here. All the big dog just use this for announcements. So teh drama level is more for entertainment then anything.

Luckily, all my income comes from http://www.gallerytrafficservice.com/

Not all of us fall into your "you all" category:)

I just like having my post be close to Video-Post's post.
Make's me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
:Graucho

video-post - best mgp out there :)

I'm well over 200. Too many sites, private labels, co-brands and such. With some programs I have more than 10 accounts. TGP sites and review sites will cause you to have to sign up for a 100 programs in a day or two. I'm sure I have over 300 accounts but not all are active.

You two make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside too :)

your sites have affiliates quite?

In the past my businesses were always self contained as it were, but for a number of reasons nowadays it suits me better to be an affiliate than to run my own paysite or whatever.

When I first started out, I got very frustrated that professionalism figures so low in this industry: we could make a lot more money, or at least do away with a lot of the crap to which you referred. But then I figured that any major change is going to happen long after I'm gone, so occasionally someone does something that gets me fired up, but generally I just let it all slide by.

I rarely talk to sponsors, let alone ask for anything special. And I'm spread around so much that no-one can do me very much damage. In fact what I don't understand, is why with so many perfectly good programs to choose from, people don't just steer clear of the ones that - sometimes regularly - are at the center of some drama or other.

I know you're referring to my thread: Affiliate Account Managers & You - What works for you?

In case I have emailed you in the last month (which would mean I'm taking care of your account) just make sure to hit me up and let me know you don't want to be contacted :)

I work with a small handful of sponsors as well. I don't need 100 checks every week to bog down my bookkeeper. Work with a select few sponsors on a personal level is much easier.

WG

What sites do you run, Quiet?

Do you have affiliates to deal with?

-P

Yep, i stick to the big ones and be secure :glugglug

i concur

I must say though, the easiest by far to work with and the one who's always given me what I needed pretty much immediately is Lightspeed. Rocking on dude!

i'm signed up to well over 100 sponsors(mainly for galleries), but its always been a pain in the ass. every year things change so much, sometimes it feals more like risk management(not sending too much to one sponsor) than porn.