To All You Affiliate Strippers Out There
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I know it happens. It has probably even happened to me. Maybe even you.
I’m talking about people who strip the affiliate IDs from your links when they make a purchase so you don’t get a commission on the product you promote.
Does that affiliate ID stripper really understand what they’re doing? Seriously, let’s analyze this.
Let’s say Johnny is our affiliate ID stripper. He reads your post about a product that interests him. Clicking on the link you provide, he notices what appears to be an ID in the URL — the magical connection that tells the service the product was referred by you.“Oh my!” Johnny says. “I can’t have someone else benefiting from my purchase. I want ALL the money to go to the company I’m buying it from.”
Johnny, you’re a moron!
Is it really that important to you, Johnny, where your money goes? So long as you get the product you are intending to purchase, why do you trouble yourself so? Honestly, the product is the same, heck, even the price is the same, but you have the time and energy to create a worry over how that money is divided among the players?
Let’s break this down even further, so that Johnny can understand the math.
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Product X sells for $30. You, the blogger, promoting Product X, get $10 of every sale you refer. So that means $20 goes to the company who owns the product.
Let’s see: $20 plus $10 still equals $30. So exactly what are you trying to achieve, Johnny, by diverting that $10 to the company and leaving the promoter empty handed? The price is the same, your product hasn’t changed?
So we must conclude that Johnny is like the bully in school that would trip people in the cafeteria as they would pass him by, thus causing an embarrassing display of food flying everywhere. Why? Well, because he can of course!
But let’s imagine that Johnny feels the promoter is only singing the product’s praises in the hope of making a sale. Well, duh! Who is going to buy a product with the headline, “Buy this product, it sucks!”
Of course, we hope the product is being advertised as truthfully as possible. And there are some promoters out there who, shall we say, may be just a tad over zealous about the product they’re selling.
The bottom line is that it comes down to you, Johnny, to determine when a product is right for you. If the promoter has done his or her job by providing the products strengths, and they appeal to you, thus causing you to make a purchase, the least you can do, Johnny, is to give the promoter the credit they deserve.
Leave a Comment
July 28, 2008 at 11:07 am
This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the topic – I’m always amazed in life the extent to which people will go out of their way for no actual gain to themselves, just to be awkward to you – perhaps it’s they’re jealous at the thought of you getting a share of the money they are paying?
Who knows, to me these people are just selfish, where would the Internet be if everyone was like this about everything – nothing would be free since no-one would click on ads – which in turn is what provides much of the free online services out there.
Zaths last blog post..Western Digital MyBook World Edition 1TB
July 28, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Ha ha this cracked me up… I often ask people if they have an aff link…. If somebody has taken the time to promote something and you like what you see enough to buy then why not let them get their cut…!!
Great post.
Forests last blog post..Shaners quick guide to living cheap – 20 frugal tips
July 28, 2008 at 4:27 pm
@Zath
It’s selfish, indeed. I think society has trained us to some extent in that regard. Troubling to say the least, but this goes beyond our natural tendency for self-preservation. I can’t remember the person who said this years ago (some historical figure), but it goes something like this, “It’s not enough that I should succeed, but that others must fail.”
@Forest
Me too. Now, before I make a purchase, I run down my list of names to see if they have an affiliate link for what I’m about to buy.
July 28, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Great post Mark.
This is really only a problem with Clickbank, as there affiliate system was built in the late 90′s I believe and doesn’t appear to have been updated since
I promote very few Clickbank products any more with the exception of a select few that are products that I use regularly, and I use another company for my affiliate program.
Back to the focus of the post, though, you are absolutely right. The only thing I can think of is that people believe others are only mentioning the product because they have a chance to get paid. This does happen, but you can usually tell who uses the product and who is trying to make a quick buck.
Kyle Eslicks last blog post..Why Won’t I Share My Affiliate Sites With Readers?
July 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm
@Kyle
I think part of it’s due to those who are out to make a quick buck. They’ve caused people to be overly suspicious so they include everyone in that same way.
July 29, 2008 at 1:56 am
I too, when I finally decide to buy a product look on the pages of the people which helped me to improve, if they’ve an affiliate link.
There are still “morons” out there (although calling them on that way, doesn’t IMHO help to solve the problem), but I’m seeing that things are changing.
Once the Net was full of scams, then came the moneyback guarantee. Now there are many places (blogs, forums) where a potential buyer is able to gather information about a product before the purchase.
Also the products have evolved. Once there where only ebooks and softwares. Today ebooks and softwares tend to be given away for free to build trust and the profit are made thru membership sites where you get mentoring.
Overall I’m in the opinion that the consciousness of the product sellers and the buyers is growing. Nevertheless there will ever still be in both categories some… morons.
ciao
alexander
Big Bloggers last blog post..7 cool tips on how to increase your RSSfeed subscribers this summer on the beach
July 29, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Hahahahaha, me and Johnny don’t play nice together lol, seriously, it’s just human nature to automatically not want to see anyone else benefit from something.
Like it matters? Ohhhhhh, you taught him Johnny! He helped you decide to get the product, but nor way can he benefit from the advertising he just did…that would just be unfair and outrageous! No instead, let’s get rid of the code that tells the company who referred you…the guy who’s article your read…and, let’s just give them all the money!
What’s that Johnny? It still cost the same? You didn’t get a discount for removing the code? Well whoopty do for you genius!
hahahaha
I love it man.
JK Swopess last blog post..Are you following Normal Joe?
July 30, 2008 at 12:33 am
OMG ROFL Johnny you have been a bad boy !. Go get your self a non- commisioned beer its free and the money goes to the shop oh but hey the shop owner gets something out of it darn now i have to go to that retailer on elf street but he gets something out of to . An advice go to the beer factory and jump into the beer maturity container you’ll get a whole tub and a spanking from the police free! .
I really liked you email dude . B/w there ‘s always an option to redirect you page to the cllick bank sell out page !. So buy a link and add few subdomains would be best when he brings his mouse over it all it would say is http://www.sellmybuns.com/psp
redirects to your page Poof!
Thanks!
July 30, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hmmm…..
Every time I see this title it makes me picture affiliate strippers!
August 6, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I guess this is why there is so much emphasis on cloaking affiliate links, even if you are completely white hat.
Louises last blog post..Paula Dean’s Cheesy Shrimp on Grits Toast Appetizer Recipe
August 7, 2008 at 6:50 pm
@Louise
Indeed. I see a lot of bloggers using some method to cloak their links. It’s not exactly a fool-proof method as the “Johnny’s” of the world will catch on, but at least it’s a way to increase the likelihood of receiving the credit you deserve.
August 8, 2008 at 9:57 am
great info dude nut the word strippers strick me a lot
:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
iqbalsayyeds last blog post..Great Chance to Win A Garmin nuvi 350 GPS!
August 10, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Great article…so very true about how people will strip you of your worth because they feel they need to do it. Like I always say…It’s gonna come bite ya in the butt soon!!!
Thanks for the article!!!
August 10, 2008 at 6:26 pm
@Barbara
Glad to hear that! Have a great week!