How do you choose programs/sponsors?
 

Recently started running sites in some niches I've never tried before.
Found tens and tens of programs to push on my sites.

I usually go for the program's content, PPS&revenue rate. I also do a little reading on gfy about the program (If i found any info).

How do you choose what you promote, what's your criteria?

if it looks like it will sell.

If they buy you drinks at shows, free teeshirts, etc. push their shit. :thumbsup

Tried that, seems like sites I wouldn't think would sell converted much better than sites I would actually pay&join. Seems like I don't think like my visitors, but we're all different so this "if it looks like it will sell" is kinda relative.

not what I was looking for, but good point :)

Well, if i like what the program offers i give it a try and then see how it's going. If i like the results i continue to work with it. If not - it's time to move on.

I like to see semi-regularly updated content and affiliate tools. I don't want to have to email someone and wait everytime I need a couple of images.

As well, if anything about the program doesn't match with what the rep said (on this board or elsewhere), I ditch it immediately.

++++ Must maintain ratio below 1:2,800 raw (prefer below 1:1,400 which is my global average per month, double that is about the max I will tolerate).

+++ Good reputation with affiliates.
+++ Prior positive business relationship.
+++ Owner and affiliate reps appear "Affiliate Friendly"
+++ Affiliate gets credit for all processing options, especially default from site index.

++ CCbill/Verotel
++ Miniumum payment <= $100 (NATS)
++ Free Checks/ACH (NATS) (Or at least below $2)
++ Cookie life >= 7 days (Prefer 30+ days)
++ 95%+ Leak Free Tour (Prefer 100%)
++ Content appears to be good for targeted niche.
++ Ample selection of FHG/Tube dumps
++ Sponsor actively removes pirated content.
++ At least $12 or more per monthly subscription as comission.
++ 50% or more revshare lifetime, $30 PPS ($25 minimum)

+ Updates once a month or more. (prefer weekly)
+ No pre-checked hidden cross sales. (Especially for revshare)
+ Urls do not appear on promo material (especially large urls)
+ Does not appear over promoted or saturated.

Very few sponsors satisfy all these so I try to choose the ones who come closest.

(Couldn't stay away from GFY for long could I? :1orglaugh)

nice list! thanks for sharing, although I don't get some of your points:
+ Affiliate gets credit for all processing options, especially default from site index.
+ Urls do not appear on promo material (especially large urls)

Uncredited cascade billling or a situation where the affiliate tour say uses ccbill but the default tour a surfer sees when typing in the sponsor's site uses a different biller which cannot read your ccbill affiliate cookie. The result is that essentially your CCbill cookies are worthless when the surfer does a type-in. It's like having no cookies. It's a sneaky trick that most affiliates aren't aware of.

The situation above can be kind of complex. You need to research things and understand what can and can not be done to know what is going on. To be fair there are some sponsors who probably don't understand that they are screwing affiliates.

This one was a "+++" not a "+" because in my experience it can effect conversions by up to 30%. :upsidedow

Many sponsors have large urls on promo material. Sometimes even banners. An increasing number of surfers will just type the url in rather than click it. I don't have a problem with logos, only urls. If the sponsors does this realize that a certain percentage will do as described and that you are then providing the sponsor with free branding.

It's not something I insist upon but given the choice between two equal programs I will favor the one without urls on affiliate promo material. This one can hit your CTR somewhere between about 1% - 10%.

It all adds up. Check it out.

1. -10% CTR (Large url on banner, so surfer types it in instead)
2. -10% (traffic leaks)
3. -30% uncredited processors/cascade and useless cookies.

You are then facing something near a 40 - 50% drop in sales than if these things weren't there.

so what is the name of the one program you promote?

No ones perfect and sometimes I settle like I said, but I like Naughty America, lots of CCBill sponsors (example: ClubDom), and Kink.com (before my conversions went to hell). Nubiles and Anilos are also good.

Thanks for sharing with your list now I know where we must made a little improve
Can you tell me in which niche you work?
Thanks

I normally run a test sending them a few thousand visitors, see how they sell

I'm also interested in Cookie length, can't stand 1 day cookies, when I find a 30 day or more I send them a lot more traffic

If it converts sales with low traffic its a winner :pimp

+ Urls do not appear on promo material (especially large urls)

I do not think a small url/plug on your own material (a makeshift copyright notice) isn't entirely shady. You are right - its a great hidden way to brand your product by using the affiliates as a method of getting your word out. This is a very small fraction in my opinion. CLEAR links to have your surfers click-thru on the page itself is of much higher priority.

I like to think of surfers as drunks - haha - they all look at your page all blurry and do not see the small details - so it has to be clear, big, and a proper path to get the money. Not just design wise but unique, good, proper content.

A tiny 2 cents to add to the post.

+ Good support and email/icq reply within 24 hours.
+ Easy to use webmaster ares (NATS, Ccbill)
+ Good range of pay sites and designs
+ Lots of hosted galleries, hosted tube site, flv videos
+ Payment on time every time!
+ No previously own failed programs.

That's one of the main things I look for too. More and more sponsors are doing this with their promo material.
But if a sponsor lets me make my own promo banners for them, I'll use them.

I don't mind logos at all. After all, I'm sending surfers to their site. But I want to make sure as much as possible they go there through my affiliate link, rather than typing the url in the tool bar.

I fucking hate this. :mad:

Edit: what do you mean by large urls? A small url would probably be more likely to be typed in by someone.

I look out for this as well (when I'm thinking clearly)

Some nice points so far, but pretty sure there are some more. Share people, share! :)

Who does this: Sponsor actively removes pirated content?
I can basically find about any paysite's content somewhere for free.

I ask people then test them.
http://convertingsponsors.com

Payouts($$ per sale and if they pay), Content(exclusive) and promo tools are good things to look at.

content is a king
if it's niched site and i got that kind of traffic then i'll definitely give it a try. later then depending on sales

check http://www.signbucksdaily.com/ for a complete list of adult sponsors

....then so too can the surfer. See?

There are some who actively protect their content. Look for people who openly use a service such as RemoveYourContent. Perhaps start a thread asking for sponsors who protect their content.

i always ask my mother