3 Reasons Why Most Affiliates Die A Slow, Agonizing Death
| Category: Affiliate Marketing - Development | Date: 2003-04-28 |
Chances are, youre an affiliate.
Maybe youre selling cosmetics. Maybe youre selling cars. Heck, maybe youre hawking condoms.
Whatever youre selling, youre probably giving a majority of the action to someone else while keeping a small cut for yourself.
That makes you an affiliate. And most affiliates dont make any money...
BEING THE TOP AFFILIATE GUNFIGHTER
Lets face it. You know instinctively that most affiliates dont make money. And you know from the size of your checks that youre a member of this unfortunate group.
But, theres a little voice in the back of your brain. It insists youre destined for affiliate glory. You get excited just thinking about it.
Simmer down, partner.
If you want to claim your place as the top affiliate gunfighter, you need to take a look at your technique. What are you doing wrong?
Being an affiliate is hazardous work. What you dont know *can* hurt you.
Dont be lazy. Dont be apathetic. Learn what youre doing wrong and correct it.
Otherwise, youll find yourself lying face down in the dirt, riddled with the wounds of your ambivalence.
For the rest of this article, lets suppose you are an affiliate who sells marketing manuals.
DEATH WISH #1: You Havent Even Read The Thing!
First rule of affiliate success... If youre going to sell it, try it. Or in this case, read it.
Before trying to make a buck off of someones manual or marketing course, read the darn thing. Thats the only way youll know if youre selling quality or a bucket of tripe.
Look at it from my perspective...
I visit your site. I notice that youre selling a brand new marketing manual. Im going to assume youve read it. Im going to hope that you care enough about me to filter the trash. If you do, that makes you a valuable resource. Someone I can trust.
Otherwise, youre just a carnival barker.
No credibility. No believability. Just loud.
Guess what that means... no sale.
DEATH WISH #2: Is There Any Manual Youre NOT Selling?!
Ill make this point quickly. And bluntly.
Do *not* sell every manual you can get your hands on. It looks cheap. And it dilutes the perceived value of your sincere recommendation.
Let me translate that into English...
In our example, you sell manuals. If you sell 4 or 5 different ones, Ill be impressed. Ill think that youve focused your efforts on ferreting out the best of the litter.
Youre saving me valuable time and potential heartache.
On the other hand, if you sell 35 different manuals, Ill think youre focused on money. Youre a hired gun that just wants to be paid.
Now, theres nothing inherently wrong with that. After all, thats why youre an affiliate: You want to make some money...
... but not at the cost of sending me to bad product.
In short, the perceived value of your sincerity has begun to lose its luster. And I have begun to doubt you.
DEATH WISH #3: Dont Sell. RECOMMEND.
Hired guns sell. Friends recommend.
People are savvy these days. Especially online. If they perceive you as a hired gun who is simply trying to unload product for a piece of the action, youre finished.
You might as well pack it up and ride to another town, cowboy.
On the other hand, if folks perceive you as a friend who is trying to add value to their lives, theyll be more receptive to your pitch.
Let me give you a great example...
Many of you know Paul Myers. He oozes credibility.
Every once in a while, Paul will find a product that he believes in. A product that truly adds value.
Hell buy it. Hell review it. Then, hell *objectively* report his findings.
Hell tell you what he likes. And more importantly, hell tell you what he doesnt like. Hell explain what irks him about the product.
..even though Paul is an affiliate who stand to gain on every sale.
For instance, consider Cory Rudls marketing course. Paul wrote an astounding review of it. Better than any Ive come across since. You can receive it by email at review@talkbiz.com
At the time of Pauls review, Corys course implied that spamming was an acceptable method of marketing. Paul quickly stated otherwise. He considered Corys advice regarding spam inappropriate.
NOTE: Paul has confirmed that Cory has since removed the material about spam from his course.
Pauls objectivity added value. His recommendation of Corys course was tempered by his conviction for providing his audience with the best possible advice.
He wasnt interested in simply getting the sale.
As an affiliate, your job is to sell. But, if you want me to buy, youll have to add value.
That means giving me your *objective* recommendation. Tell it like it is. Give me the good news and the bad news. No product is perfect. You know it and I know it.
Implying that a product IS perfect makes me think youre going for the dollar.
And that just hurts your credibility.
About the Author
Damon G. Zahariades
email - damon@webbusinesstoday.com
URL -http://www.webbusinesstoday.com
damon@webbusinesstoday.com
http://www.webbusinesstoday.com
Maybe youre selling cosmetics. Maybe youre selling cars. Heck, maybe youre hawking condoms.
Whatever youre selling, youre probably giving a majority of the action to someone else while keeping a small cut for yourself.
That makes you an affiliate. And most affiliates dont make any money...
BEING THE TOP AFFILIATE GUNFIGHTER
Lets face it. You know instinctively that most affiliates dont make money. And you know from the size of your checks that youre a member of this unfortunate group.
But, theres a little voice in the back of your brain. It insists youre destined for affiliate glory. You get excited just thinking about it.
Simmer down, partner.
If you want to claim your place as the top affiliate gunfighter, you need to take a look at your technique. What are you doing wrong?
Being an affiliate is hazardous work. What you dont know *can* hurt you.
Dont be lazy. Dont be apathetic. Learn what youre doing wrong and correct it.
Otherwise, youll find yourself lying face down in the dirt, riddled with the wounds of your ambivalence.
For the rest of this article, lets suppose you are an affiliate who sells marketing manuals.
DEATH WISH #1: You Havent Even Read The Thing!
First rule of affiliate success... If youre going to sell it, try it. Or in this case, read it.
Before trying to make a buck off of someones manual or marketing course, read the darn thing. Thats the only way youll know if youre selling quality or a bucket of tripe.
Look at it from my perspective...
I visit your site. I notice that youre selling a brand new marketing manual. Im going to assume youve read it. Im going to hope that you care enough about me to filter the trash. If you do, that makes you a valuable resource. Someone I can trust.
Otherwise, youre just a carnival barker.
No credibility. No believability. Just loud.
Guess what that means... no sale.
DEATH WISH #2: Is There Any Manual Youre NOT Selling?!
Ill make this point quickly. And bluntly.
Do *not* sell every manual you can get your hands on. It looks cheap. And it dilutes the perceived value of your sincere recommendation.
Let me translate that into English...
In our example, you sell manuals. If you sell 4 or 5 different ones, Ill be impressed. Ill think that youve focused your efforts on ferreting out the best of the litter.
Youre saving me valuable time and potential heartache.
On the other hand, if you sell 35 different manuals, Ill think youre focused on money. Youre a hired gun that just wants to be paid.
Now, theres nothing inherently wrong with that. After all, thats why youre an affiliate: You want to make some money...
... but not at the cost of sending me to bad product.
In short, the perceived value of your sincerity has begun to lose its luster. And I have begun to doubt you.
DEATH WISH #3: Dont Sell. RECOMMEND.
Hired guns sell. Friends recommend.
People are savvy these days. Especially online. If they perceive you as a hired gun who is simply trying to unload product for a piece of the action, youre finished.
You might as well pack it up and ride to another town, cowboy.
On the other hand, if folks perceive you as a friend who is trying to add value to their lives, theyll be more receptive to your pitch.
Let me give you a great example...
Many of you know Paul Myers. He oozes credibility.
Every once in a while, Paul will find a product that he believes in. A product that truly adds value.
Hell buy it. Hell review it. Then, hell *objectively* report his findings.
Hell tell you what he likes. And more importantly, hell tell you what he doesnt like. Hell explain what irks him about the product.
..even though Paul is an affiliate who stand to gain on every sale.
For instance, consider Cory Rudls marketing course. Paul wrote an astounding review of it. Better than any Ive come across since. You can receive it by email at review@talkbiz.com
At the time of Pauls review, Corys course implied that spamming was an acceptable method of marketing. Paul quickly stated otherwise. He considered Corys advice regarding spam inappropriate.
NOTE: Paul has confirmed that Cory has since removed the material about spam from his course.
Pauls objectivity added value. His recommendation of Corys course was tempered by his conviction for providing his audience with the best possible advice.
He wasnt interested in simply getting the sale.
As an affiliate, your job is to sell. But, if you want me to buy, youll have to add value.
That means giving me your *objective* recommendation. Tell it like it is. Give me the good news and the bad news. No product is perfect. You know it and I know it.
Implying that a product IS perfect makes me think youre going for the dollar.
And that just hurts your credibility.
About the Author
Damon G. Zahariades
email - damon@webbusinesstoday.com
URL -http://www.webbusinesstoday.com
damon@webbusinesstoday.com
http://www.webbusinesstoday.com
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