Yes, sales are down. Yes, some smaller processors seem to be paying just a little bit later then usual. Yes, recurring memberships are at a bigger decline. Yes, conversion ratios are unbelievable (and not in a good way).
From what i've seen, many closures are because the pay per sale math is completely out of balance. You cannot, with any reliability (in this economy), calculate how many members WILL occur, WILL upsell, WILL take on further debt with affiliated sites. Our customers are smarter. Paying an affiliate double/triple/quadruple the cost of a membership is risky business. You can have a few months of bad math and be busted and broke. I will not insult anyones intelligence in regards to how well their program does compared to mine. Programs like 'abbywinters' take an EXCELLENT approach to promotion. I was even declined by their process, however it proves a good point. If your hiring a sales staff to promote your brand you don't want to allow EVERYONE to plug you and perhaps tarnish the brand your trying to maintain, grow and establish. Traffic in the masses does not guarantee success.
Whats my point? Keeping legitimate sponsors in mind who roll with the punches, perhaps we should shift to a partner model - much like
www.nichepartners.com has since day 1. If we make 30$ you get your share - you earned it - if your promoting to the right people, maintaining our brand, selling us in a way to promote retention, then we have a great partnership that will be profitable to us both. If I was to do pay per sale program now and offer triple the amount to you guys to lure you to my program and play that math game i'd be putting up a splash page of my failure to reasonably soon. Oh, and btw, with a list of angry people wanting cash to ;)
Maybe i've shot myself in the foot - but those of you who agree, you know where to find me
