How to set up a really good affiliate program

[brettsimpson]

I have a lady who has a lot of content, and I do work for her and have set up an affiliate program. I have had some people sign up for it, but only 2 out of 50 have actually used it and have done well.

As for the others, they haven't even used material that I've offered to them for promoting or anything. I've been really hammering some bigger places to sign up and have gotten a couple of responses, etc.

What does it actually take to get people to sign up , use the material, and promote a program that pays 50% on everything?

Am I doing something wrong?.. Help a newbie out.

I mean... we've got all the vid's and everything that people would need..I even noticed that the average conversion is about 1 out of 500. I know it's not perfect, but it's not real hateful.


Please give me your thoughts on this matter for anyone who has good knowledge on this subject.

Brett (aka jack b. Dirty)

[whoredollars]

Great promotional tools,payments on time,good support,some free content to affiliates... all these makes a good affiliate program

[Useless]

Originally Posted by whoredollars

Great promotional tools,payments on time,good support,some free content to affiliates... all these makes a good affiliate program

If the government ever opens a new cabinet position and is in need of a Secretary of Vague Replies, I'll be sure to submit your name for consideration.

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

Please give me your thoughts on this matter for anyone who has good knowledge on this subject.

I'll try to give you a quick walk-through and tell you what I see as an affiliate. (Keep in mind that it's opinion and speculation.)

The warning page is shit. You need to compress the warning text and bring the enter link above the fold -- or at least make it obvious that the page is worth scrolling. Also, as an affiliate, I won't send traffic to any page with traffic leaks. You need to create a clean tour for affiliates that doesn't have link trades anywhere on it.

http://www.babyruthie.com/main.html - That big chunk of graphics doesn't do it for me. It's low quality, grainy and doesn't make her attractive. I prefer amateur sites that look amateur, but not ugly. Frankly, I'd rebuild the entire tour. If you have a lot of content, you should show more on the tour. That yellow text on the black background is painful to read. Plus, you have a ton of link trades on that page and the first two are blind. I thought the first two were part of Ruthie's tour until I ended up on different sites.

http://www.babyruthie.com/ruthie/updates1.html - Loads very slowly and the video that plays there is dark. The thumbs on that page are all small and grainy, basically telling your surfers that your content is crap. I was trying to see what kind of body she has, but the samples don't really do much in resolving that issue.

http://www.babyruthie.com/ruthie/joinpage.html - This page is a mistake. There's even an image missing. Also, you aren't accepting Visa. Most webmasters who are paying attention won't promote a site that doesn't accept Visa.

Frankly, whoever built the tour should accept the fact that they are not a graphic artist and embrace it. There are ways of keeping things very simple and clean while still having a gorgeous tour. Otherwise, hire someone who knows how to build a decent amateur tour. Highlight the different niches covered by her content. All I know is that she likes to fuck. Does she wear lingerie? Does she like facials, anal, girl-on-girl, etc?

This is your affiliate program? http://www.babyruthie.com/affiliatesignup.html Is that all you really have to say? You aren't telling prospective affiliates about content or banners or hosted galleries or anything. I prefer amateur wife-type sites with CCBill programs, but when I see that page, I assume that you are offering me no way to promote except via text link.

[Ramster]

Useless gave you some very good advice.

Bottom line to get affiliates you need to either know people or stand out. You need a site that will rock them, that will make them say wow this new site is nice I'm gonna try it. Otherwise your site is just another site like others they promote so why bother is the attitude of many webmasters. Their links are already set up to 50 other sites/programs.

So my advice would be to change the tour then to buy banner ads and gallery spots on selected TGPs for more exposure. Exposure brings in affiliates if the site looks hot and is something they'd like to promote.

[Toby]

I've always been of the opinion that an independent amateur site should wait at least six months to a year after site launch before they launch an affiliate program.

It takes time and a fair amount of trial and error to tweak a site tour to optimize conversions. Until that has been done I don't think it's fair to ask affiliates to send traffic to what is essentially a site running in beta.

It also takes time to produce affiliate tools such as hosted galleries, banners, etc. In this current market those things are essential to most affiliates.

"Amateur" isn't what it used to be. It no longer means lower quality content, and site tours.

[HowlingWulf]

Poor tour and traffic leaks, 50% commission is standard and the per month is $24.95, so I'd make less than other 50% sites that charge $29.95 or more...

[brettsimpson]

Ouch!... Tell us how you really feel. lol. Thanks for kicking my ass, useless.

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

If the government ever opens a new cabinet position and is in need of a Secretary of Vague Replies, I'll be sure to submit your name for consideration.

I'll try to give you a quick walk-through and tell you what I see as an affiliate. (Keep in mind that it's opinion and speculation.)

The warning page is shit. You need to compress the warning text and bring the enter link above the fold -- or at least make it obvious that the page is worth scrolling. Also, as an affiliate, I won't send traffic to any page with traffic leaks. You need to create a clean tour for affiliates that doesn't have link trades anywhere on it.

http://www.babyruthie.com/main.html - That big chunk of graphics doesn't do it for me. It's low quality, grainy and doesn't make her attractive. I prefer amateur sites that look amateur, but not ugly. Frankly, I'd rebuild the entire tour. If you have a lot of content, you should show more on the tour. That yellow text on the black background is painful to read. Plus, you have a ton of link trades on that page and the first two are blind. I thought the first two were part of Ruthie's tour until I ended up on different sites.

http://www.babyruthie.com/ruthie/updates1.html - Loads very slowly and the video that plays there is dark. The thumbs on that page are all small and grainy, basically telling your surfers that your content is crap. I was trying to see what kind of body she has, but the samples don't really do much in resolving that issue.

http://www.babyruthie.com/ruthie/joinpage.html - This page is a mistake. There's even an image missing. Also, you aren't accepting Visa. Most webmasters who are paying attention won't promote a site that doesn't accept Visa.

Frankly, whoever built the tour should accept the fact that they are not a graphic artist and embrace it. There are ways of keeping things very simple and clean while still having a gorgeous tour. Otherwise, hire someone who knows how to build a decent amateur tour. Highlight the different niches covered by her content. All I know is that she likes to fuck. Does she wear lingerie? Does she like facials, anal, girl-on-girl, etc?

This is your affiliate program? http://www.babyruthie.com/affiliatesignup.html Is that all you really have to say? You aren't telling prospective affiliates about content or banners or hosted galleries or anything. I prefer amateur wife-type sites with CCBill programs, but when I see that page, I assume that you are offering me no way to promote except via text link.

[brettsimpson]

Toby.. Ruthie has been around about 8 months now

Originally Posted by Toby

I've always been of the opinion that an independent amateur site should wait at least six months to a year after site launch before they launch an affiliate program.

It takes time and a fair amount of trial and error to tweak a site tour to optimize conversions. Until that has been done I don't think it's fair to ask affiliates to send traffic to what is essentially a site running in beta.

It also takes time to produce affiliate tools such as hosted galleries, banners, etc. In this current market those things are essential to most affiliates.

"Amateur" isn't what it used to be. It no longer means lower quality content, and site tours.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

Ouch!... Tell us how you really feel. lol. Thanks for kicking my ass, useless.

Ask UW a question and you'll get an honest answer.

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

Toby.. Ruthie has been around about 8 months now

I would have expected a bit more polished presentation after 8 months online. Before you can have an affiliate program that will attract quality affiliates you need to have a site tour that those affiliates believe will convert. What I'm seeing at babyruthie.com is a flashback to amateur sites I saw when I got started in this biz 11 years ago.

[Beaver Bob]

don't even try to run an affiliate program until you can accept Visa.

[Ramster]

You don't have Visa?

[brettsimpson]

no...and also have no self esteem after posting to your "newbie" thread.... lol

[Ms Naughty]

It may sound harsh but what UW and Toby says is true. Please don't take it as being nasty, it's just honest. The tour does need rejigging. And (this is a personal bugbear) please use any font other than Times New Roman! LOL

The trick to getting affiliates is pretty much the same as getting customers - make your program unique and exciting. Offer something different and good value too. Be honest with your surfers and your affiliates.

Check out the competition and see what they're doing right.

[Beaver Bob]

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

no...and also have no self esteem after posting to your "newbie" thread.... lol

Don't take anything anyone says personal. The feedback you are getting might be blunt, but it is reality and ultimately meant to help you.

[brettsimpson]

Ok... so I guess that I'm not doing the girl justice with the tour, etc. If anyone gets access they'll see she really kicks ass.

Would you happen to know anyone that can build one hell of a tour?

Another thing. I noticed about the links being said about on the tour pages... Man, no one will post my shit unless I have a link back to them. So, how does a guy get around that stuff??? I guess I'm fucked...lol!

Originally Posted by Beaver Bob

Don't take anything anyone says personal. The feedback you are getting might be blunt, but it is reality and ultimately meant to help you.

[Ms Naughty]

Built two tours. One is the clean tour in its own folder, the other is your personal tour where you can put any link you like.

But also, linklists usually list paysites when they've joined the affiliate program rather than listing them as simple links in return for a recip. Review sites are another issue. If they're demanding a link on your front page... is their review really worth it?

Re designers... I'm not sure if Urb is doing design anymore. But he's good. http://www.urbx.com/

[Ramster]

This girl does nice design work and it is not expensive

http://wedesig.net/

[brettsimpson]

You've definitly got your point there. I overlooked what you said yesterday when I came in and replied back to someone on here. I guess from now on when these "Paysite Review" places want their link on the front of my site, I'll just blow them off.

Another thing that I was thinking about doing is offering some affiliates that get good traffic a pass to get into the site for them to actually see what all she has.

Originally Posted by grandmascrotum

Built two tours. One is the clean tour in its own folder, the other is your personal tour where you can put any link you like.

But also, linklists usually list paysites when they've joined the affiliate program rather than listing them as simple links in return for a recip. Review sites are another issue. If they're demanding a link on your front page... is their review really worth it?

Re designers... I'm not sure if Urb is doing design anymore. But he's good. http://www.urbx.com/

[Ramster]

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

You've definitly got your point there. I overlooked what you said yesterday when I came in and replied back to someone on here. I guess from now on when these "Paysite Review" places want their link on the front of my site, I'll just blow them off.

Paysite review places are actually a VERY good idea. They can all send sales. Though they will still give you a review without the return link usually.

Just have their link on the index and the tour starts on page 2. Many many sites do it this way. Here's an example, Index Page with Links and the actual Tour Page the webmaster links go to.

[Ms Naughty]

You're right of course Ramster. At the same time, I get kind of annoyed with review sites... if they demand a high profile recip you end up feeding them traffic and I've seen some that happily put ads for rival sites on our review. A necessary evil, I guess.

[Beaver Bob]

Review site traffic usually converts great. Give them links on your warning page and they are usually happy. Some of them that can send you daily sales if your site gets a nice review.

[zero-x]

brett, be prepare for some tough lessons, maybe your ride will be smooth and easy, but alot of the issues you have, i went through myself.

first, that site needs to get updated, you tried, got it online, thats a start, but update the look, it reminds me of old school type sites that i would have seen when i first started poking around. i am in no way a graphic artist or designer, but if you fool around with photoshop you might come up with a couple things you like, or with so many designers you could probably get something done reasonably priced.

as for finding affiliates, i'd agree with the advice given, forums is good to start, getting listed places will at least get your site out there and someone will at least have a chance to see it and might give it a try since no one else is. that said, make sure you get visa, like you said only 2 out of 50 people had any luck with selling your site. when i first got my site online, i had about the same number of people sign up as affiliates, but i had no visa, so basically that was a big opportunity lost.

third piece of advice, be careful about giving out passes, i found some sh!theads put some of my content on illegal tube sites, i believe scammers and thieves wouldn't pay anyways, but it pisses me off regardless that they can enjoy my work for free.

by no means am i an expert, but like useless said, the webmaster page is basic, mine looked like that as well for awhile (i was worried more about f'ing something up, then looks) but its not too hard to change it. pm me and i can help you out with that one.

lastly, keep coming here, i found a couple good places to read and here was one of them. when i was starting out, i found that reading forums and trial and error is better then "paralysis by analysis" (shemp 09), remember also that you can buy ad's and partner passes for submits if you end up not finding any affiliates and that it's always going to be a struggle, being free from a "job" , a boss or shackles doesn't instantly mean your on easy street.

[brettsimpson]

I have got to agree with you on everything, except for one thing.

What I meant by affiliates not selling, I meant that they are signing up for the program, but not promoting.

The ones who are promoting are converting the sales 1-500, which isn't bad.

But as far as everything else goes, I guess you'd have to be right.

I've been an affiliate for other sites for the past 2 1/2 years, and have been self employed doing this since then....so working the "regular" job days for me has been long gone. I'm the typical webmaster now work those 15 hour days..lol

Originally Posted by zero-x

brett, be prepare for some tough lessons, maybe your ride will be smooth and easy, but alot of the issues you have, i went through myself.

first, that site needs to get updated, you tried, got it online, thats a start, but update the look, it reminds me of old school type sites that i would have seen when i first started poking around. i am in no way a graphic artist or designer, but if you fool around with photoshop you might come up with a couple things you like, or with so many designers you could probably get something done reasonably priced.

as for finding affiliates, i'd agree with the advice given, forums is good to start, getting listed places will at least get your site out there and someone will at least have a chance to see it and might give it a try since no one else is. that said, make sure you get visa, like you said only 2 out of 50 people had any luck with selling your site. when i first got my site online, i had about the same number of people sign up as affiliates, but i had no visa, so basically that was a big opportunity lost.

third piece of advice, be careful about giving out passes, i found some sh!theads put some of my content on illegal tube sites, i believe scammers and thieves wouldn't pay anyways, but it pisses me off regardless that they can enjoy my work for free.

by no means am i an expert, but like useless said, the webmaster page is basic, mine looked like that as well for awhile (i was worried more about f'ing something up, then looks) but its not too hard to change it. pm me and i can help you out with that one.

lastly, keep coming here, i found a couple good places to read and here was one of them. when i was starting out, i found that reading forums and trial and error is better then "paralysis by analysis" (shemp 09), remember also that you can buy ad's and partner passes for submits if you end up not finding any affiliates and that it's always going to be a struggle, being free from a "job" , a boss or shackles doesn't instantly mean your on easy street.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by brettsimpson

What I meant by affiliates not selling, I meant that they are signing up for the program, but not promoting.

I do that pretty often myself. It's often a matter of signing up because I plan on promoting a site at a later date, or I signed up and discovered that their affiliate tools aren't what I need them to be.

http://www.babyruthie.com/affiliatesignup.html
Even after all of the advice and friendly criticism you've received in this thread, I don't see as you've acted on any of it.

[brettsimpson]

cause some of the fuckin' people don't get back to me about redesigning it... thanks for the kick in the nuts again, Useless warrior..lol. I'll get it right someday I guess. Just hope it's before I'm dead.

I do have plenty of zipped content and stuff though now if you click on the affiliate link.