Anyone else get a ton of affiliate emails begging You to join?

[AK]

I don't mind, but half of these affiliate companies I have never heard of. Whats your thoughts?

I have only two common rules before I except anyone.

1. NO CPA deals, Why? Because there worthless most You will get is $250 per CPA depositing player. On average a player will lose that and much more per there lifetime within that particular organization. Other words You will make more on a net loss deal.
2. "john doe" affiliate program wants me to be an affiliate. I have been screwed to much in this industry. If a new affiliate program wants me to be a powerhouse to them they need to pay an advance on the players usually around $1,000 to get them a banner up. Why do I do this? To insure myself they are interested and its not a mommy and poppa shop taking and scamming your hard earned traffic. Also shows financial stability and respect. Affiliate companies sites get free seo by simply getting people to pop up there banners on there sites. This is the least they can do. Maybe I can be a bit more hard headed as I do produce serious sign ups.

Whats your common rules before you except anyone?

[AE-Martyn]

I have been mailing affiliates recently, it all part of the job and not the most enjoyable part either. Although when someone does reply its good to know you have interested someone with the offer.

A couple of good points raised above and I agree with the CPA situation. I would much rather reward an affiliate for the lifetime of the players activity with a rev share than pay out a one off lump sum. To me it makes more sense and also helps encourrage the affiliate to push the site more as they can see the retention activities of the casino reflected in their commissions from older players.

However, the point you make with regards the $1,000 'retainer' this can be tricky for affiliate managers to obtain without any previous activity and history to go by. It is often the same for affiliate managers, we also have been burned in the past by the not so honest affiliates. I got done once for £4,000 and never even had 1 banner impression.

Trust is a big thing for both the affiliate and the affiliate manager, but I think there are better ways of achieving trust than to use money as a replacement. If it works for you then great.

[AK]

Hi Marty thanks for the great response. Even some of the larger groups like SBG have stiffed many organizations. I guess a friendly neighbor website vouch eliminates the trust issue with any particular organization.

[Chips]

As I transition (and remain) an affiliate to the AM side. I can un derstand what yoou are saying AK. As affiliates we get daily solicitations from marketing companies/AM's. Cold calling is one of the most undesireable tasks we endure.

Regarding the retainer (or up front cash if you please), I must side with Marty; one of my clients started in the business without a lot of prior knowledge. He spent hords of cash on simple banner ads being placed on site, some of them being high ranking sites. The results were dreadfull, now that he has contracted me and we have deivered some affiliates that work the normal way... reviews, banners, text links, email and private games, the results have turned to the positive.

So many sites want to sell links and banner spaces but you and I both know that a banner ad is nothing anymore unless you accompany it with strong content and perhaps a promotion that is exclusive to your site(s).

As far as CPA goes, many of the sites are shying away from it due to abuse of the program. I have seen it 1st hand on how an affiliate defrauds a site with CPA deals. As an affiliate I always prefered Rev share as it is an income that keeps rolling in. I never chose CPA as I was in it for the long haul, not a bump and run deal.

[aksana]

If I see that an affiliate program contacting me is a well-known and have good reputation in online gambling biz then I'll tell them that I add their brands to my plans for the next month, and their products will be reviewed and added to my site.
If I see that an affiliate program is unknown and have predatory T&Cs I'll tell them "No", of course, after such emails they start changing their T&Cs, for example, they remove "a minimum player rule", "change the minimum payment from $1000 to $100" and etc. After that they again contact me and again offer me to join, and of course, I say to them "No", because they are unknown and had predatory T&Cs, it's enough for me to say "No".

I have a lot of other ways of working with new affiliate programs, and it depends on the current situation.

Regarding $1,000 'retainer' or other amount, sometimes I ask affiliate programs to pay me for adding their brands to my site, and it again depends on the situation. Usually I'm very busy, and I make my plan for the next month in advance, and I prefer not to change it. But when an affiliate program wants me to add their brands to my site as soon as possible, I'll ask them to pay me for that. Some of them agree, some of them don't agree. It doesn't matter to me

[AK]

If I see that an affiliate program contacting me is a well-known and have good reputation in online gambling biz then I'll tell them that I add their brands to my plans for the next month, and their products will be reviewed and added to my site.
If I see that an affiliate program is unknown and have predatory T&Cs I'll tell them "No", of course, after such emails they start changing their T&Cs, for example, they remove "a minimum player rule", "change the minimum payment from $1000 to $100" and etc. After that they again contact me and again offer me to join, and of course, I say to them "No", because they are unknown and had predatory T&Cs, it's enough for me to say "No".

I have a lot of other ways of working with new affiliate programs, and it depends on the current situation.

Regarding $1,000 'retainer' of other amount, sometimes I ask affiliate programs to pay me for adding their brands to my site, and it again depends on the situation. Usually I'm very busy, and I make my plan for the next month in advance, and I prefer not to change it. But when an affiliate program wants me to add their brands to my site as soon as possible, I'll ask them to pay me for that. Some of them agree, some of them don't agree. It doesn't matter to me

We are in the same boat. Good response thanks!

[AK]

Rummyroyal has jumped on board.. Appears to be a solid organization.

Thoughts?

[Chips]

I have been with them over a year, good folks and pay is right on time, everytime. Good support if you need it too.

[Henrik - GNUF]

Think there has been a post like this on the CAP forum as well, and I think the consensus is the same. Trust is the key. If you have worked with an affiliate manager and get to know them you can easily overcome any obstacles, and you usually get a quicker response as well.

It is just how to build that trust, the affiliate gamble a bit when they take up a new brand that they have not tested before, the same as an AM take a risk when they pay upfront.

Maybe we should all go to one of those trust camps, climbs in trees with the affiliate holding the rope, and fall backwards and trust that the AM catches you.

[Fintan]

You wouldn't believe how many requests we get to join affiliate programmes!

We have a wall of shame where we frame the emails

[CK - Schalk]

You wouldn't believe the amount of people asking if they can advertise on Canbet.com.

WTF? Do these people not look at who they're sending mail to, or do they honestly think I'll just whip up a 728x90 header on our homepage?

[mojo]

I don't think it's such a bad thing. I have had some positive experiences with this. Depending on the program, I will respond with what I require to get them on my sites. So if you're thinking about mailing me be sure to expect a mail back with my criteria. If I am swamped, I sometimes forget and don't respond. Apologies.

[Chris-AffiliateClub]

Good post Martyn - I agree with your comments.

From my point of view, I don't like sending out emails to recruit affiliates - it's part of the job unfortunately and, as Martyn said, is nice when you get a reply.

It would be great to get a response with feedback from every email you send out but I know that is impossible.

I think affiliates maybe need to understand it's part of our job and we have to do it - if that is understood, then I think there won't a problem (plus, AMs shouldn't repeatedly email!).

[slotplayer]

I get a bunch as well and try to reply indicating I'll consider it. Many times I'm already aware of the program. However, I'm much too busy just to drop everything to add a program. I usually look to replace a poor performing program instead.

This is my criteria assuming the program is a good match for my site and I hope nobody gets offended.

In most cases I usually wait a few months and check several forums for negative and positive posts, including their affiliate and player payment history, posts regarding issues and predatory terms and how the AM responds.

One of the best advertisements an affiliate program can have is multiple positive posts showing timely payments. Conversely multiple negative posts regarding payments both to affiliates and players are a deal breaker.

Although GPWA and CAP are incredible forums I can't just go by their recommendation alone without some positive affiliate posts to reinforce it.
A program listed as platinum is not enough, as I joined Red Returns but passed on Rome, however they're both platinum. Hype Gaming was a certified program but I passed on it and I'm glad I did.

One other thing that bothers me is the AM dodge or AM dance when I make an inquiry. I'm a straightshooter and when the AM dodges my question or tries to spin it they force me to question credibility that otherwise was never in question. Although these alone are not necessarily enough to cause me to run out and replace a program, these do cause me to consider the program in a less favorable light.

[ironman2000]

I agree with everybody's thoughts about us affiliate manager's sending out emails to convince new webmasters to come aboard our program. As we all know "This is just part of our job" and only a small part at that.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
Regarding the $1000 up front payment, I would have to think hard and well about this.......my very best to all Cheers K<o></o>

[CashRake: Damon]

As most of the AMs have mentioned already, emailing a site directly is part of the job of getting the word out about a program. I understand that it can be annoying as we all get a tonne of emails every day. It's just one of those things that has to be done, provided that it's done correctly, meaning the person sending it has actually looked at the site they email, provide some useful information about their program and be respectful in their communications. Personally I don't have a problem getting emails like that.

The trust issue some have mentioned is a difficult one, particularly for a relatively new program, such as ours for example. There's always likely going to be a reluctance issue from people when a new program launches, as there's obviously no track record for affiliate support, stats accuracy, payments etc. That takes time. Everyone has to start somewhere. Good thread, though.