Is it worth sending traffic to affiliate programs, these days?

[MrMaxwell]

I don't know too much about traffic generation, anyway.. but I notice these days I can barely do 1:5000 with sites that were converting 1:1500 a year or two ago. And the sites I promote, I don't think they became over saturated, or anything like that.

This is what I got from a couple of tgp galleries I sent

Totals 14155 10786 2 5393

Is tgp submission completely dead? The only one that would ever list me the last few years is The Hun... he's a great guy, they all are over there. What about "tube submissions" - is that shit even for real? Tube site owners will actually list videos for you?

Starting a tube site seems kind of pointless since 9,000,000 other clowns already jumped all over it

Blogs, I don't know how to make one believe it or not.. what's the point everything is blog blog blog when I first heard about them being used to hawk adult sites I thought google would catch on and it'd only work for a week. But I hear that many people had great success with them and still are? What the hell is that all about?

Just some random questions.. see if we can have an actual biz discussion on GFY

Can I be banned for inciting a business oriented dialogue?

[Mutt]

you've been here since 2005, that's 6 years ... and these are the questions you ask? what have you been doing for 6 years?

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Mutt

you've been here since 2005, that's 6 years ... and these are the questions you ask? what have you been doing for 6 years?

What are you busting my balls for? What? I've been busy, you know? LoL

Some one has to drink a-lot and roam around the country aimlessly and do all kinds of crazy eccentric shit not to mention all of the time I spend fixing everyone elses problems

Short answer: I suck at teh internets

[Chosen]

[wehateporn]

I have tested many affiliate programs that also do 1:5000, as soon as you see it's going that way you've got to test another one; rinse and repeat. These days my best tend to be around 1:1100, though I've also found an unsually good sponsor at the moment that's making around 1:300 (roughly). I'll certainly be sending a lot more traffic down that road.

TGP submission isn't completely dead, it can appear that way if you compare it to what it used to be, whereas if we view the glass as quarter full then there's still a lot to play for. These days the best TGP submissions are partners only, so you can look out for people around here selling them or even post up a thread asking for submission partner accounts. For example Shemp will sell you an account for $40 per month and he'll send you good traffic over. (do a search for him in GFY if you don't know him)

Some people are doing well from tubes, I haven't gone down that road myself, but it's clearly an easy way to pull in a lot of traffic then if you stick some Juicy Ads up you can monetize. It'll cost you more money for hosting than a blog though, for my blog I only pay $15 per month.

I started my blog back in 2007, though at the time it wasn't strictly a blog, I changed it to a Wordpress Blog around 18 months ago. When I first switched over sales plummeted and it took them a long time to return. It brings in plenty of Google traffic, I update once per day and I'm very happy with the sales I get. I also started another blog a few months ago, I haven't done much with it and haven't promoted it at all, but Google has already started pumping traffic over, so I see no reason why a new blog can't be set up in 2011; it can still work for the right person.

[dynastoned]

This is why GFY has gone so far downhill. The guy asked some pretty straight forward questions and he gets drilled. You guys are fucking slow.

As far as tubes and TGP submissions go I haven't really touched either in a while. My blogs still do well. The ratio's will never be what they used to be but sure you can send traffic to affiliate programs and make sales. I'd stay away from the drive by programs though and stick with the guys that have been around.

Traffic Summary for ******* from 2011-02-16 to 2011-02-28
66367 52 1:1276 $35 $1820.00

[cordoba]

Originally Posted by dynastoned

This is why GFY has gone so far downhill. The guy asked some pretty straight forward questions and he gets drilled. You guys are fucking slow.

As far as tubes and TGP submissions go I haven't really touched either in a while. My blogs still do well. The ratio's will never be what they used to be but sure you can send traffic to affiliate programs and make sales. I'd stay away from the drive by programs though and stick with the guys that have been around.

Traffic Summary for ******* from 2011-02-16 to 2011-02-28
66367 52 1:1276 $35 $1820.00

No, the reason why gfy has gone downhill is because the IQ of the average adult webmaster has dropped by about 20 or 30 points in the last 5 years or so.

Blame it on the tubes.

[the Shemp]

Originally Posted by wehateporn

For example Shemp will sell you an account for $40 per month and he'll send you good traffic over. (do a search for him in GFY if you don't know him)

thanks for the mention ...

[u-Bob]

blame tracking by cookies, the increase in obvious traffic leaks (A couple of days ago I even noticed "follow us on twitter" links on FHGs! ), floaters that are almost impossible to close and are designed to sell some other site instead of the site you are sending traffic to,...

[MrMaxwell]

I am too tired to read, right now ... all I can say for now is that Mickey D's won't work for me because I've never worked for anyone (except for 3 months once) and I can't afford to own a franchised location

Also Mr. Shemp is always A+ in everyones book ... I even had one of those $40 gold pass things and always made some sales .. he's great to work with. I don't like many people, so me saying this, it means something

I'll read the rest of the thread tomorrow
It's getting light out and I have to get some rest

WHERE DID THE NIGHT GO?!

[wehateporn]

Originally Posted by the Shemp

thanks for the mention ...

Credit where it's due, I've been really impressed with what I've seen since I signed up!

[SomeCreep]

Originally Posted by wehateporn

For example Shemp will sell you an account for $40 per month and he'll send you good traffic over. (do a search for him in GFY if you don't know him)

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

Also Mr. Shemp is always A+ in everyones book ... I even had one of those $40 gold pass things and always made some sales .. he's great to work with. I don't like many people, so me saying this, it means something

Originally Posted by wehateporn

Credit where it's due, I've been really impressed with what I've seen since I signed up!

I agree, Shemp's traffic is golden.

[fris]

only 2 sales with that amunt of traffic, you should switch sponsors.

[Angry Jew Cat - Banned for Life]

affiliates take it in the ass at every turn. With all the traffic leaks and opportunities for your cookie to be lost, you're basically an unpaid salesman. These days you alamost better be planning your own product if you want to be a full-time webmaster.

[wehateporn]

Originally Posted by Angry Jew Cat

affiliates take it in the ass at every turn. With all the traffic leaks and opportunities for your cookie to be lost, you're basically an unpaid salesman. These days you better be planning your own product.

There's nothing to stop affiliates from approching sites direct, especially ones that don't have an affiliate program.

[brassmonkey]

if you want to get paid yes

[cooldude7]

what other option do u have ?

[wehateporn]

Originally Posted by cooldude7

what other option do u have ?

Go direct to sites without affiliate programs and strike deals

[WetandPuffy]

There are still sites out there that do sell and have better conversion rates but I do admit time are still tough although definately getting better.

[Chris]

Maybe look into something that is still selling well and hasnt been hurt by the amount of free porn and tube sites.
Herbals are still doing amazing - www.oainternet.com if you want to check us out

[B.Barnato]

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

Can I be banned for inciting a business oriented dialogue?

no but maybe for being extra extra extremely late to the blog party

[Zester]

did someone forget to tell you that porn is free now?

[wehateporn]

Originally Posted by Zester

did someone forget to tell you that porn is free now?

Please don't tell the over 50's crowd that as I rely on those Internet Dinosaurs

[Site Collector]

What a sad state of affairs where we stand with the adult industry. Free porn available everywhere and no one does anything to crack down on it. The regular horny surfer doesnt understand that there will be no more free new porn one day if the companies making it go down!

I used to rack up with my affiliate sites, had a couple of huge producers, the only thing keeping me well off is the fact that I have so many sites and always kept adding to my network. But if I was starting today with my first site, affiliate is not where I would go.

[signupdamnit]

People here suggest that I am too picky or being unreasonable but you really do need to be picky about who you send traffic. Even if they are running a fair 50% revshare program you need to realize you are probably getting only 40% in actuality because of how tracking typically works. You have to understand that. If you send traffic to people with a bunch of leaks, cross sales on rev share without affiliate credit, no credit mobile redirects, non-credited backup processors or that other stuff you need to realize you are being fucked out of money. I don't care what you say. If the program were more fair you would be making more money. If you and every other affiliate support programs who do these things then more sponsors are going to try to do it and you will continually make less as it goes on. This is partially what is happening and why it isn't worth it with most programs anymore. Only a select few are worth the bother.

[Kelli58]

Yes, affiliate programs - some of them at least are still worth doing business with if you approach it in the right way. If you want to throw up a few FHGs on a blog and hope for the best then probably not going to work out well for you but if done right, affiliate programs can be a great source of income.

TGP traffic is shit. Was 5 years ago, still is today. So if those are your numbers that is no surprise to me.

Tube traffic is bigger shit and your numbers would no likely be even worse with that kind of traffic.

As far as blogs go, while some people are making money blogging, they are far and few between but mostly because people are lazy. They don't want to put in the work required and write unique posts. But that's another issue for another day. LOL

[signupdamnit]

Originally Posted by Site Collector

But if I was starting today with my first site, affiliate is not where I would go.

I think there are still big openings for good programs to sweep in and offer a nice deal to affiliates and a great product to consumers. If you look back in history (minus the tubes) this is how most of the big guys got big. They paid their affiliates well and they built up a brand. Affiliates would send them some traffic and see great ratios and then think "Holy shit these guys convert great!" and send them as much as they could. It was a partnership with both parties benefitting near equally. Unfortunately a lot of these companies got greedy and decided that their affiliates were earning too much. They decided to take out more of the cut by using various slick tricks. They no longer are a good deal for affiliates but they choose to rely on their momentum and the stupidity of affiliates.

There are openings in 2011 for good programs like this to take over. They just have to shun all the common tricks their peers are using and offer the affiliate and customer a good deal. Sure many affiliates are stupid and will fall for the tricks others are pulling but there will be some who will realize a good deal and in the long run the numbers should speak for themselves.

Do you think I won't send you traffic if you offer me a fair program which converts 30% better and rebills 30% better than the other clowns at the same price point? Of course I will. But all your marketing means jack shit. I'm actually looking at the numbers and I'm checking your program for bullshit. I'll notice if you are better than the other guys both pre-signup and post-signup. Affiliates are running businesses too. We're not a bunch of idiots sitting on the couch jacking off to your sites and looking to make some beer money. Please quit treating us as if we were.

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by u-Bob

blame tracking by cookies, the increase in obvious traffic leaks (A couple of days ago I even noticed "follow us on twitter" links on FHGs! ), floaters that are almost impossible to close and are designed to sell some other site instead of the site you are sending traffic to,...

This is so true. Like the AWE scam. Like the spanking programs who do nothing but drill members with ads for their other sites (without crediting you) or link to C4S blatantly on affiliate referred tour pages or how about the ones who hijack FHGs quietly

on and on and on

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Angry Jew Cat

affiliates take it in the ass at every turn. With all the traffic leaks and opportunities for your cookie to be lost, you're basically an unpaid salesman. These days you alamost better be planning your own product if you want to be a full-time webmaster.

Yeah
To further the point.. we all know that members leave and come back later without affiliates being credited

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Chris

Maybe look into something that is still selling well and hasnt been hurt by the amount of free porn and tube sites.
Herbals are still doing amazing - www.oainternet.com if you want to check us out

I've always been curious about that kind of a program. I sent some traffic to, I think it was called "more niche" once.. Never saw any results. But that's almost the kind of thing I could promote through ms tubes without too much trouble

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Site Collector

What a sad state of affairs where we stand with the adult industry. Free porn available everywhere and no one does anything to crack down on it. The regular horny surfer doesnt understand that there will be no more free new porn one day if the companies making it go down!

I used to rack up with my affiliate sites, had a couple of huge producers, the only thing keeping me well off is the fact that I have so many sites and always kept adding to my network. But if I was starting today with my first site, affiliate is not where I would go.

That is the whole thing, though, so many businesses have been so successful with the "free model" (pun intended)

Everything is going to go to being free, I believe, you know? Free with premium options.

As an example I personally always thought the $30/mo model was ridiculous. Why not give everything away in low quality and charge for high quality?

I would like to know how to go after the ones who'd pay for quality (quality content OR quality picture)

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by signupdamnit

People here suggest that I am too picky or being unreasonable but you really do need to be picky about who you send traffic. Even if they are running a fair 50% revshare program you need to realize you are probably getting only 40% in actuality because of how tracking typically works. You have to understand that. If you send traffic to people with a bunch of leaks, cross sales on rev share without affiliate credit, no credit mobile redirects, non-credited backup processors or that other stuff you need to realize you are being fucked out of money. I don't care what you say. If the program were more fair you would be making more money. If you and every other affiliate support programs who do these things then more sponsors are going to try to do it and you will continually make less as it goes on. This is partially what is happening and why it isn't worth it with most programs anymore. Only a select few are worth the bother.

The aff will always be the PMO's bitch, because the pmo spent a fortune developing the site and buying content and marketing it and everything else. The percentage they paid me was a marketing expense, but better than that because it was "unprepaid" marketing, you know? So it's all cool, until they get tricky and motherfuck around with slippery shit. Only thing supposed to be slippery is the hoes on the sites... right.. well that's not how this business works. It comes down to a good aff will ab test and whoever best monetizes the traffic will get it.

You're right about billing too... I've tried to tell sponsors, before, you need to implement a cascade.... um well we can't spend the money.. okay 30% of your sales are going down the toilet, I'll pull my links

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Kelli58

Yes, affiliate programs - some of them at least are still worth doing business with if you approach it in the right way. If you want to throw up a few FHGs on a blog and hope for the best then probably not going to work out well for you but if done right, affiliate programs can be a great source of income.

TGP traffic is shit. Was 5 years ago, still is today. So if those are your numbers that is no surprise to me.

Tube traffic is bigger shit and your numbers would no likely be even worse with that kind of traffic.

As far as blogs go, while some people are making money blogging, they are far and few between but mostly because people are lazy. They don't want to put in the work required and write unique posts. But that's another issue for another day. LOL

Yeah TGP has never been great - but I could convert Hun traffic 1:1500 - CONSISTENTLY between 2006 and 2009..

I would imagine that tube traffic would be more like 1:15000 with garden variety sponsors... am I about right?

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by signupdamnit

I think there are still big openings for good programs to sweep in and offer a nice deal to affiliates and a great product to consumers. If you look back in history (minus the tubes) this is how most of the big guys got big. They paid their affiliates well and they built up a brand. Affiliates would send them some traffic and see great ratios and then think "Holy shit these guys convert great!" and send them as much as they could. It was a partnership with both parties benefitting near equally. Unfortunately a lot of these companies got greedy and decided that their affiliates were earning too much. They decided to take out more of the cut by using various slick tricks. They no longer are a good deal for affiliates but they choose to rely on their momentum and the stupidity of affiliates.

There are openings in 2011 for good programs like this to take over. They just have to shun all the common tricks their peers are using and offer the affiliate and customer a good deal. Sure many affiliates are stupid and will fall for the tricks others are pulling but there will be some who will realize a good deal and in the long run the numbers should speak for themselves.

Do you think I won't send you traffic if you offer me a fair program which converts 30% better and rebills 30% better than the other clowns at the same price point? Of course I will. But all your marketing means jack shit. I'm actually looking at the numbers and I'm checking your program for bullshit. I'll notice if you are better than the other guys both pre-signup and post-signup. Affiliates are running businesses too. We're not a bunch of idiots sitting on the couch jacking off to your sites and looking to make some beer money. Please quit treating us as if we were.

Yeah.. a-lot of the big boys got fat by having affiliates put their brand in front of everyone on the whole internet. Having a swarm of affiliates promoting your brand is a wonderful thing, if you think about it. You pay them this or that when they generate a sale, but even if they get it every time without question - you're still getting your brand out there in a BIG way.

You are so right about affiliates not being stupid. If I ever know how to generate traffic again, it's no bet that I will always be ab testing ... always. Whoever pays more for the traffic: "Gets it" (double meaning)

[MrMaxwell]

It's true that the farther out from '98 we get, the worse tgp traffic gets:

This is what I did with one sponsor on occasional hun listings

'06
Total: 246730 176698 0 185 1:955 0 0.00 $5,473.18
'07
Total: 68545 48853 0 29 1:1684 1 1.65 $3,735.65
'08
Total: 106123 87211 2833 26 1:3354 0 0.00 $2,211
'09
Total: 33864 26141 893 17 1:1537 0 0.00 $1,190.18

(The dollar amounts, don't go by that - I sent galleries very sporadically)

[MrMaxwell]

I vote this the longest business related post without any big scandal or contests in gfy history.. I am a mastermind, for creating it. Choke on my superiority!!

[czarina]

of course it is!

[MrMaxwell]

[Fabien]

YES YES AND YES

But you got to dig the niche, the sponsor and get traffic for it.
The weardiest, the best but of course it's harder to get traffic and if you get a deal at 60/40 revshare, now you're talking !

Anyways, it's not about quantity, it's about quality.

If you send 225 qualified surfers and make 3 sales out of it, which will rebill at least 3 times. IT'S WORTH IT !

On the down side.
Making a fucking tube, costing you a fortune to run to make the same damn money but you're send 60 000 + surfers to the sponsor and they won't rebill, worst, ask for refunds or chargeback is a pain in the ass !

[CaptainWolfy]

Yes of course it's still ok to send traffic to affiliate programs..!

[the Shemp]

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

I vote this the longest business related post without any big scandal or contests in gfy history.. I am a mastermind, for creating it. Choke on my superiority!!

you did good, bro
ive got some new submitters from this thread ...

[fris]

Originally Posted by the Shemp

you did good, bro
ive got some new submitters from this thread ...

can you send me a list of ad spots and prices?

[email protected]

thx

[Cherry7]

I think the main thing to find is a sponsor that has the same audience as your site / traffic source...

We have several affiliates from arty indy websites and they make good sales at racios that don't seem to have changed much over the years...

Affiliates that send us traffic from very different niches find that it will convert poorly...no surprise there.

From galleries we have very varies results, from free posting we have had ok results, and then sales from galleries posted years ago, we paid for listing and had no sales for months and then after we stoped, sales came in...

I can be a long time between a punter visiting a site for the first time and buying... trust issues ?

We do not cheat our affiliates, why would we?

We think we offer a good deal though, after all we make the films photos, pay for the hosting, etc 50% for the traffic is a pretty good deal....

[Wizzo]

There's certainly still good money to be made with affiliate programs.

[MrDeiz]

Originally Posted by the Shemp

you did good, bro
ive got some new submitters from this thread ...

would like to get ads rates too
daizzzySIGNBUCKSDAILYcom

[magicmike]

Pic your sites and niches. The answer is still yes.

[the Shemp]

Originally Posted by fris

can you send me a list of ad spots and prices?

[email protected]

thx

Originally Posted by daizzzy

would like to get ads rates too
daizzzySIGNBUCKSDAILYcom

right here, bros ....

http://shemp.com/webmasters/rates.htm

[izzynew]

I've been looking around for some new sponsors to replace some who are not converting well and what I've found are some very strict TOS.
I'm all for knowing where you stand before you begin to promote a sponsor, but if you look at sponsor TOS over the last year or so they have tightened up dramatically. Many sponsors update their TOS without telling affiiates (because we are expected to check them regularly). And with some sponsors there are so many 'get out clauses' in their TOS, they could get rid of most affiliates without paying them if they chose to do so.

I'm not naming any names here - if you read your sponsor TOS you may have some of these, but hopefully you won't:

• Sponsors who demand to know the exact place on a page on each of your websites where you are showing each of their banners.
• Sponsors who previously encouraged affiliates to name their brands on their sites and who now say this is a violation of their trademarks.
• Sponsors who used to encourage affiliates to build landing pages which looked like their own sites and now ban them for doing so.
• Sponsors who are now saying you must have a warning page (even on a blog) when they didn't say this before.
• Sponsors who insist you do not link to the join page even though their tours are crap.
• Sponsors who insist on no changes to the anchor text used in their links at all, even if it reads ridiculously on your blog.
• Sponsors who insist you do not change their link codes with php or a cloaking plugin, even though their codes break your sites.
• Sponsors who change their link codes and not changing them immediately on all your sites can be reason for banning.
• Sponsors who say they will ban you for spamming if you get too many chargebacks in a pay period, even though there is often nothing you can do about it.
• Sponsors who say they will ban affiliates who send them traffic from certain countries, even though, even with .htaccess coding this isn't always possible.
• Sponsors who say they will ban affiliates if their ref codes are found on a forum, even if the affiliate didn't put them there.
• Sponsors who have no idea that the average TGP or blog needs more than 8 of their galleries to promote.
• Sponsors who insist you do not modify or compress their pictures in any way and then send you zips full of 2meg pics.
• Sponsors who suddenly want to know more details about their 'foreign' (non US) affiliates than their own mother knows.

And then you get:

• Sponsors who let you fill in the sign up form, say you will hear in 48 hours, but you never hear from them for 6 months and thats to tell you you're banned for not sending any traffic.
• Sponsors where you make an immediate sale or two when you sign up and then your ratios fall back to 1:4000.

I could go on but I've probably said enough.

[SallyRand]

Originally Posted by dynastoned

This is why GFY has gone so far downhill. The guy asked some pretty straight forward questions and he gets drilled. You guys are fucking slow.

As far as tubes and TGP submissions go I haven't really touched either in a while. My blogs still do well. The ratio's will never be what they used to be but sure you can send traffic to affiliate programs and make sales. I'd stay away from the drive by programs though and stick with the guys that have been around.

Traffic Summary for ******* from 2011-02-16 to 2011-02-28
66367 52 1:1276 $35 $1820.00

You have nailed it perfectly on all counts!

MrMaxwell is on a long road to Comeback and is working on catchup and more power to him!

Lots of whiners and haters around here and lately it has been virtually impossible to carry on any kind of sensible business discussion.

[Cherry7]

[QUOTE=izzynew;17956287]And then you get:[LIST][*]Sponsors who let you fill in the sign up form, say you will hear in 48 hours, but you never hear from them for 6 months and thats to tell you you're banned for not sending any traffic.
QUOTE]

So many sites out there, surly it is not so hard to pick a few, e-mail them, and ignore the ones that ignore you...

from the other side of the fence, we write to our affiliates every few weeks, but get very little feedback.
They seem to be happy doing what they do...