Can someone help me understand something PLEASE?
 

With Economy the way it is, with porn sales lower than it's ever been. You would think people would be more motivated to making money. These are the times you would think people would be hungry for success, and making money.

I've been working in this business straight for 15 years now, never took a break. Day in Day out. Yes, Retirement would be an easy out, but why. There is so much more money to be made in this business and I enjoy it.

This last few weeks, I've been reaching out to a few Big Sponsors to put together some High Volume Sales Deals together in a certain niche that has been golden. Hand Picking the people I want to work with to monetize what I have and can be profitable for everyone, including our webmasters.

It seems harder and harder to get replies, I leave messages, emails, to get a reply nowadays is almost impossible.

How hard is it to make a phone call, to add skype to your computer. It's so frustrating that companies can look like a 100 Million Dollar company with all their branding, but to get on the phone for a few minutes is impossible.

3 out of the last 5 big companies have the worst support. I won't mention names. But they are THE BIG GUYS.

What is it with these people? Do you think everyone is Burned out? Over it? Or they just don't give a shit any more?

Do you think people are motivated to make money when they have little money?
Or are they motivated to make money when they have a lot of money?
I think this depends on the individual.
One thing is for certain - loans must be paid.
Cash flows need to flow smoothly on the cash flow river into the lake of retained earnings. No support for a few days is a like a big stick in the river that stops the water.
Sometimes you can get a flood that floods a road.

No question that a few have to be burned out. Other then that though I am not sure.

Without Support, you aren't making money to pay back your loans. I really don't get it.

if you've ever worked for a company where things are getting harder you'd understand.

the bosses start demanding more from the employees, stress them out, threats of cutbacks and firings.

the employees get so stressed and frustrated they don't give a shit anymore and stop doing their job.

it leads to an accelerating downward spiral.

also they prob have cut back staff and the remaining staff have had their workloads doubled or triples so they are burnt out, overwhelmed or planning their exit.

My guys work super hard because they have been with us for a long time. They see what is happening, they see the decline in sales. But they come in and give 110%.

They answer customer service calls the same way they did 10 years ago. Nothing changes.

But I guess it all depends on the company, so you may have a point.

I've contacted three of the biggest companies out there because I have a sure fire way of generating them hundreds of thousands of dollars extra a year and they won't even reply. It's baffling.

So you feel my frustration?
Maybe we should talk? :thumbsup

Treat your employees with respect and they show it by working their asses off, not Yoda wisdom there, Dave.

This is True.

I understand how you feel on this one Dave. My biggest problem is finding people to reciprocate traffic. I have plenty to give, but hard to find it in return.

And you are right about messages not getting replied to, I've contacted one company to send them traffic, asking for none in return, and have never gotten a response to the four ICQs I left two different people. It's good traffic too, mobile at that.

Also, I see many dragging feet. There are ways to make extra money, mobile being one. And I notice people will complain about sales, but they won't do other things to monetize their traffic.

We were actually in discussions about mobile and some possible biz and then communication had stopped. I followed up twice after that, so if you want to do a mobile deal for some joins, you just let me know. =)

I got pissy about that same thing the other day Dave.
People have always been horrible at emails and most do not use the 2 days business etique rule what so ever.
However im seeing the same, its even harder today and that goes for company VP's CFO.

Owners for the most part seem to be on the ball today though.

http://www.gfy.com/fucking-around-and-business-discussion/979199-current-industry-situation-people-lazy.html

Not knocking you Kristin but we have been trying to do business with you guys for ummm 5 years.
Few emails and everything ready to go then nothing :)

Wasted work :(

email sent from adam at slickcash . com

Welp, I apologize if that is the case... I'm unaware of receiving emails from you, but if you did send them and I didn't respond, my apologies. Even if it isn't something we can't do, I'd always let the person know that as well.

If you'd like to see biz we can do together, hit me up.

ICQ #: 147-945-440
kristin @ topbucks.com

Burn out on a massive scale.

<------ is also burned out. :disgust

I know exactly how you feel; these past two months, I've had a hell of a time getting people from various companies to reply to emails/skypes.

Even worse, are ones who keep promising to provide 'x by y date' then who keep vanishing when 'y' comes and passes; they don't even bother making up excuses anymore for not delivering on time.

Then, I see those same people spending a lot of time posting on GFY or Facebook, for example. It may be on their own personal time, but not in the case of those posting here all day long everyday during their usual "work hours".

Those people/companies I simply blacklist; if they don't want new business, screw them.

I've always thought the majority of company reps were useless to begin with, but now the valuable ones are even fewer and further between - not like owners are any better at replying lately, either :2 cents:

Ohh its not you Kristin pardon if i made it seem that way :winkwink:
It is in the non-board personal :)

But its nothing specific towards you guys either, i have always liked TB
People just do not seem to have much of a process as im sure they deal with a LOT of people and just forget....which honestly should not happen.

I'm sorry, but I gotta have more cowbell.

Oh not at all - like I said to you, we have to take responsibility for previous reps we have had as well.

And agreed on the people forgetting - I think that's one of the biggest complaints for large shows. Too much booze and then not being able to remember that killer deal you landed.

I've done it before, now I take out my phone and jot down notes at nighttime so I don't forget. =)

Thanks Adam, I replied as well. Just confirming.

Exactly, that's the part that pisses me off more. They are here on GFY talking about their new promo's, then they buy advertising everywhere. Announce if anyone needs anything to simply email them. I always go to their site first, look for a phone number and call. I have never been able to reach anyone lately. For every email I send, it takes 5 - 9 days for a reply. My fricken email comes to my cell phone.

The part that really fucks with me, I tell them I have something for them. It's not like I am selling them something. Its like me telling them, hey what's up. Want to make an extra 100K a year. As if I'm kissing their ass to make them more money. But again, maybe nobody gives a rats ass anymore. And the ones that do, will be the ones that will ride this wave through.

Isn't that the damn truth.. I can count the affiliate managers that have been on ICQ and answered on one hand.

If I was running a program and someone emailed asking for some specific banner sizes or something.. not only would I not ignore them but if I had to I would spend all day making sure that person gets what they need so they can send traffic to my site and make me money. Especially when it's something that you can give to other affiliates as well.

Mailed you from robert wol dot net

Thanks, what you do and your sig are totally different. Who knew. :thumbsup

Contact me Dave I have been saying the same exact thing for I don't know how long...
Lets talk it sounds like we are both on the same thought process here...

tom

Look at it on the positive side. It provides clarity for you so you'll know who not to hit up or do business with.

Strange, been keeping an eye on my junk/spam folder and main inbox and nothing so far. :warning

I think there's a number of different factors at play, some are burnt out, some don't have the resources to weather the storm, some have lost the drive, some have moved on to other ventures. However, I know at Smartbucks we are taking a different approach to the current economic conditions and we are actually hiring and building so that things improve we will be ready to be a leader rather than just a survivor...

In Fact, Here's 2 new fulltime positions I posted just yesterday if anyone wants to join a kickass company:

Mobile Applications Developer
http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=979668

PHP Web Developer
http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=979665

Any other biz people would like to discuss feel free to hit me up anytime! :thumbsup

Lets do some business together, we can provide good and great designs for your promos and sites.

For the reps out there, here are a few bits of advice:

- If someone requests something, give them a reasonable deadline. The easiest example is a banner; don't say "right away, you'll have it in 15 minutes" - then vanish for 10 days. I guarantee the affiliate would rather hear "Honestly, our designers are overloaded right now, but I've added it to their list and we'll try to squeeze it out by friday".

- Don't string people along. If someone presents you an idea, or is trying to sell you something, be direct in your answer. Instead of "we'll think about it, meet on it, sleep on it" and then never get back to the person (when you had no intentions to actually think about it for a second), simply say "we don't think we have any interest at this time, but thanks for considering us". Don't make people keep chasing you, wasting their time and yours.

- Answer ALL emails in a timely fashion. Even if you are too busy, sending a reply of "I got your email, but am really busy and will reply to it within the next few days" is a LOT better than no reply at all. Of course, if you reply that, make a note to actually follow-through.

- Don't give out your IM info if you are never online. It frustrates people for no reason to always see you as offline.

Bottom line, while it's true that 95% of people who contact you at shows or via emails are going to waste your time and never deliver on their promises, it's your job to take each case as if it could be a winner. You never know if the email you disregarded fell into the 5% and could have been big money, to both your company and yourself.

I think these reps get away with such a poor performance, mostly, because the owners aren't hands-on enough. How many times do you see the same people circle around, jumping from company to company, always "mutually parting" and getting quickly scooped up again based on the fact they worked for "x" big company in the past; so they must rock.

The truth is, most of those who "part mutually" got fired when the owner finally notices they have brought nothing to the bottom line, and they ask around and beg for a new position, citing they will bring over their rolodex/contacts and usher in tons of new business and they left the old job because their owner was an asshole, or wouldn't pay them their worth, etc...; the new program buys this and months later, sees they were full of shit and they are on to the next sucker.

Will send from my Gmail account now.

I like this.

Glad to see I'm not alone here.
I'll be checking out your sites to see if there is anything there I can work with for my traffic.

Thanks man.

I have been dealing with b2b for years... maybe I'm a bit, warped but I always thought it sucked. Even if I'm trying to give people money (not ask for it) I still only get like a 2.5% response ratio through email. Icq/skype is only slightly better, at least people will add you but they don't always respond. It is better when you already know the people, but that's just a small percentage of contacts.

I have learned that dealing with clients and them dealing with me, if you don't get a response back (when you're already communicating) then email them again. People forget, get side tracked, pc's crash, or are just flat ass busy and need a reminder, sometimes several of them. If "you" want to get shit done, "you" have to force it to get done... really is no other alternative.

Spot on here.

Very well said here. Maybe we should work on a book. :thumbsup

Got it :thumbsup

I'll tell you guys something out of experience, I used to go after everyone for their business since day one. Great support, never missing a check and always providing them with all the tools they asked for. Being at the shows over a decade ago, I used to treat everyone the same. I have stories I can write a book on, Working with guys that made .28 cents on their first pay period, to being invited to their lake homes. You never know who you are going to meet, or what that person is going to bring to the table.

You treat everyone equally and respectful, and the money will follow for everyone you work with.

Actually, just emailed you something that might be interesting - let me know :)

I feel you Dave. I've been slowly gathering beta testers for a very unique site, a first of it's kind, all exclusive content, and mofos who otherwise should be jumping all over this site, don't respond to any method used to contact them.

Maybe everyone is just so rich they don't care anymore.

I think good support is hard to come by in general. It is very frustrating and I don't understand it myself. Luckily I haven't run across it too much in this industry. I respond to e-mails and ICQ almost instantly and I would hope that other companies do the same. Affiliates always seem to be pleased with how fast we answer them. I know a lot of other big sponsor programs that have great support too. I do see a lot of laziness though and that is what bothers me the most. Especially from the smaller affiliates who expect $$$ without any extra effort. Affiliates can be far worse than the sponsor programs they promote.

We have traffic , ressources and we reply o everyone , fell free to hit me up.

I think you nailed it with..."Maybe everyone is just so rich they don't care anymore"

Great assessment. And that is not just limited to reps.

Maybe they do not want to work with you?

I think that a lot of people and companies are more concerned with only working 9-5, taking weekends off, going on vacations, than getting work done. Everyone seems to think that copying everyone else and waiting to see what everyone else is going to do next, is the right answer.


Way less hard workers and even less innovators.:2 cents:



I see it everywhere. Those people are my favorite people to compete with.:thumbsup

I totally agree with the fact that there are a lot of big companies out there with the worst customer support ever and I don't mean in this biz alone.