Do you promote brands players like, but don’t offer the best commissions or terms?

[vinism]

Affiliates have to take into account all sorts of information in determining whether or not to promote a brand. Among the factors that need to be considered are:

• What is the commission?
• Is the brand reputable?
• Is the affiliate program reputable?
• Do they pay on time?
• Do they convert well?
• Do players like them?
• Are the affiliate program's terms and conditions friendly to affiliates?

But sometimes, the answers to these questions don't line up perfectly. As we've seen recently, there are brands that players like and that convert well, but have commission structures and terms and conditions that affiliates don't like. Do you promote brands players really seem to like, but don’t necessarily offer you the best commissions or business terms? Let us know by voting in this poll. And please explain why you act this way in this thread.

This is a dilemma that many affiliates face, and hearing how others deal with it can help all of us.

[GPWA Dan]

Looking forward to seeing the results of this poll, especially with all the discussion that's been going on in the last week.

[Doolally]

I voted "Yes, I promote them and feature them prominently. "

However, it's not clear what the question is.

Yes, I do promote big brands that the players like even if the commissions aren't huge - over time, popularity and stickness pays tje commission gap.

I'm presuming with my answer that when you say, "terms and conditions that affiliates don't like, " you are referring to the payment percentage rather than predatory terms which I would never promote.

If that's not what you mean then this would be better asked as two seperate questions.

[Anthony]

I agree, there is a big difference between a lower commission rate and predatory terms.

[thepokerkeep]

I answered yes to the first option - I promote brands with terrible aff terms if they are solid with the players. But - I do it reluctantly and very sparingly...

Full Tilt is the perfect example - I hate their terms but they get top banner placement simply because they're the best US facing poker room. Stars gets less stellar treatment but still gets placement in my American listing.

I do try to steer players toward more affiliate friendly rooms though, as long as they are also good for my players.

[offyourface]

I used to push brands that pay me very little but are players top choices, but I am about over that. I recently dropped fulltilt, stars and a couple others that want me to work for 20% of what I make everywhere else with the same traffic. I am just not doing it anymore. I spend 12 hours a day on this stupid computer so I can make money. And I am done selling my traffic to brands that at the end of the day give me a 20% return on my efforts compared to what I get elsewhere.

If a player doesn't like the few choices I have for usa poker sites then by default they are going to find another website to get their information from and that's completely fine with me. But I am personally not going to work for peanuts anymore regardless of how great a gambling brand is on the player side of things. There are enough reputable brands online to push without having to take an 80% pay cut to do right by players.

[TravG]

I chose the second option. I promote FullTilt and Stars, but try to push some of the sites that I actually make some money from. I used to push tilt hard because I do like the site but the return just wasnt there.

If someone is searching for an online poker site and hasnt heard of fulltilt yet - wow. With all the advertising they do I imagine most people that are signing up at fulltilt are going straight to the website.

[baldidiot]

I voted "Yes, I promote them and feature them prominently. "

However, it's not clear what the question is.

Yes, I do promote big brands that the players like even if the commissions aren't huge - over time, popularity and stickness pays tje commission gap.

I'm presuming with my answer that when you say, "terms and conditions that affiliates don't like, " you are referring to the payment percentage rather than predatory terms which I would never promote.

If that's not what you mean then this would be better asked as two seperate questions.

I agree - I would rather promote a site that players like for 20% commission that a crappy one for 40%.