At Affiliate Summit there were at least 150 Affiliate Networks. Not all had booths some were just sharks in the crowd. The one thing you will always notice is every affiliate you meet is a “Super Affiliate”, making millions a month ballin out of control, and every Affiliate Network you talk to has the best offers, highest paying offers, fastest payments, etc, etc…
So how do you sort through the bullshit? Being I am not a network I don’t really care. Someone who comes up and tells me they are a super affiliate making millions a month I give the same amount of respect to as someone who comes up and tells me they are living out of their car trying to learn how this business works.
The Affiliate Network side though has a bigger impact on our business so I try to cut through the BS with them and in the last 6 years I have come up with a pretty good system.
If you were at the Affiliate Summit I am sure at some point you were approached and the conversation went something like the following:
Affiliate Network: Hey John, what do you do?
John: I am an affiliate!
Affiliate Network: What do you promote?
John: Weightloss, grants, dating, ringtones, whatever.
Affiliate Network: You should run with us we have the highest payouts, super fast payments, and best converting offers.
Now most people are not sure where to go from here. I know I didn’t when I first started. I remember back in 2005 when we were slingin ringtones for 15$ a lead and out of the blue an Affiliate Network offered us $25 a lead. We jumped all over that but soon realized it was junk when we made 20% less per click.
And that’s what its all about – EPC (Earnings Per Click).
So Here is how my conversation goes now:
Affiliate Network: Hey Jeremy, what do you do?
Me: I am an affiliate!
Affiliate Network: What do you promote?
Me: Weightloss, grants, dating, ringtones, whatever.
Affiliate Network: We have the greatest ringtone offer ever you should run it with us!!!.
Me: Listen don’t waste my time. I am currently making $1.50 EPC how much can you beat that by? Are you confident you can beat our current payout.
Affiliate Network: absolutely we can beat that epc. Like I said we have THE BEST PAYING OFFERS
Me: How much EPC do you think we could make with your offer?
Affiliate Network: 1.80 at least.
Me: Ok lets do this. I will send you over a contract that guarantees us a min 1.80 EPC and lets test it for a week.
Now its time for them to shit or get off the pot. I have had many networks take me up on this and sometimes it does work out (usually to my amazement). Some might only want to do a 24 hour test. Its up to you what you want to accept… personally I don’t like going through all the crap of getting in a new network and switching out links just to find out it does not work (which happens most of the time). If you are going to waste my time I want to atleast get paid for it 
So what tips do you have for cutting through the Affiliate Network pitch BS ?
August 18, 2009 at 7:54 am
Well, you seem to be very arrogant.
August 18, 2009 at 9:31 am
You may rephrase it a bit, but by doing this you’ll save yourself both time and money.
August 19, 2009 at 5:18 am
I thought that when I read the part about showing the same amount of respect to a super affiliate than he would to a guy living out of his car.
August 18, 2009 at 8:31 am
It’s all about the margin…high payout is meaningless if the offer is a dud.
August 18, 2009 at 8:36 am
Wow, I’ve never had a network guarantee EPC. Usually networks like to BS the EPC.
August 18, 2009 at 9:00 am
Brilliant! This was my first summit (I also came to ASE09) and I basically repeated the first version of what you said whenever was approached. Thanks for saving some years of learning
August 18, 2009 at 9:42 am
Nice way to handle this, but my favorite part of the post is the bull shitting image.
back to work..
August 19, 2009 at 8:40 am
Yeah in this post picture speak louder than words … lolzz
August 18, 2009 at 10:10 am
You may rephrase it a bit, but by doing this you’ll save yourself both time and money.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
August 18, 2009 at 10:29 am
Offers are definetly more important than higher margins…it took me a lot of time to understand, but finally I’m done…
August 18, 2009 at 11:17 am
i love that pic. the sh*t has justrelease from bull stomach.
August 18, 2009 at 11:57 am
I try to ask why their network is better than everyone else. If they give me the same stupid “We have the highest payouts and dedicated affiliate managers” answer I move on but if they come up with an original answer or can truly offer something I don’t already have I will listen more.
August 18, 2009 at 1:28 pm
It’s pretty amazing that 150 affiliate networks could all have the highest payouts. I just workd with a few CPA companies because most of the offers are pretty much the same.
August 18, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Great advice. It is hard to cut threw the bullshit. I am having trouble with this right now.
August 18, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Great call with the EPC contract…love it.
August 18, 2009 at 1:25 pm
That’s a pretty appropriate picture.
August 31, 2009 at 12:05 pm
LOL
August 18, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Amen brother. It’s almost impossible to get an accurate view of which networks are worth it.
August 18, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!
August 18, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Good stuff. I wish I would have known to ask at the Summit.
August 18, 2009 at 2:51 pm
hmmm contract???? Is there anyone who made it shoe???
August 18, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I never really thought about the whole contract deal, that’s a good thing to keep in mind.
How many actually will go with any type of contract ?
August 18, 2009 at 3:22 pm
An EPC guarantee… genius!
August 18, 2009 at 3:29 pm
SMART MOVE. I think i’m stealing this dialog from you at the next summit.
August 18, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I have felt that most of these affiliates programs are bs. I haven’t met one yet at a networking event that made less money than the next guy.
Brooks Perry
http://www.vbpoutsourcing.com
August 18, 2009 at 4:23 pm
great idea about epc contract
August 18, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Great post? How do you tell those that truly are good from the bad ones! Who should I use for my site?
Thanks!
August 18, 2009 at 4:59 pm
You are forgetting another key point. Does the network promote it’s own offers? Which many networks do, and if this is the case you have to decide if the extra $0.10 eCPM is worth you moving traffic and letting another network have access to what you are doing…
August 18, 2009 at 5:03 pm
That bull has just had a colon cleanser!!
All networks want to work with the cool “in” affiliates.
All “in” affiliates want to work with the “cool” networks.
I was just a shark in the crowd, having drinks/dinner with affiliates, other networks, friends. If we picked up some super affiliates, terrific, if not it’s not a big deal.
Affiliate marketing is almost all word of mouth.
The ONLY differentiator for networks are offers that nobody else has, or geographic diversity.
Rates, payouts, guarantees, pre-payments are all complete givens to anyone that has the track record.
Network EPC as a metric can often be all over the place, both high and low. Sometimes it’s high because there are bad affiliates or a network is using contextual links, which can seriously distort numbers, or low because one affiliate is using PPV and it backs out OK for him/her at 5 cents epc.
So, pass the salt, I need a pinch of it.
BTW I said I would post the video of the Shoe Mania bag I saw in the Hilton when I saw you at the party in the penthouse of the London, so here is the link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DZxQbrpDYQ
August 19, 2009 at 10:20 pm
awesome love the bag
August 21, 2009 at 9:58 am
Capitalising SHOE brand … lolzz
August 18, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Lovely tips shoe, i’m gonna stick with you tactics… for sure
August 18, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Lovely post, am going to stick to your tactics and see how it works…
Thanks
August 18, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Shoe, How Do You Recommend Negotiating a Contract Like That?
August 18, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Builidng a strong rep, thats how….
September 9, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Oooo IC i will try it
Thank’s
August 18, 2009 at 5:43 pm
SO my take on this super affiliate b.s, not the affiliate shit.
the affiliates that suppossedly make millions/month are scum. They are lying, straight up….i mean if you were really an affiliate making millions/month, I highly doubt you would be living in a house worth less than $500k, or driving a basic car….I know some people are legit, but they don’t really want to make it well known. I know a few people raking in 6-7 digits a month, who are fairly unknown.
In fact, just because these people drive bentleys or have MM $ houses, doesn’t prove their good for their words too… but its the other things they do, give to charity…HELP FRIENDS who are on teh verge of going bankrupt, which shows they are truly raking in the dough.
so next time a super affiliate comes around, ask them why they have to scam an average joe out of their $2 shipping and handling to get that $5000 paycheck a month, and show that they made that on their blog….THey are not the real deal.
However, there are people like Jeremy in the industry, who are legit, but other people are just wannna –b’eesssssssssss
August 19, 2009 at 12:55 am
I agree with your saying Totally
August 19, 2009 at 8:09 am
You are right in every aspect of what you have written.
When I go back in time and evaluate the first few months after I got into affiliate marketing, I still wonder at the scam that I fell into. There are thousands of people claiming that they are earning millions from affiliate marketing and offering products, ebooks and memberships that are absolute crap.
August 23, 2009 at 11:05 am
You raise some really pertinent points. Scammers and rip-offs operate everywhere, and it is so much easier to tell online lies.
August 18, 2009 at 6:11 pm
It seems you’ve learnt the tricks of the trade.
August 18, 2009 at 6:46 pm
So much useless information out there, its like a huge bush of BS.
August 19, 2009 at 12:15 am
As jason calacanis would say….”affiliate marketers are polluting the internet”
and for any of you smart asses that want to question that:
Here is the video to prove it:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3854316513792230466&ei=4ImLSqepGZHKqwL8uMikCA&q=jason+calacanis+keynote+affiliate+summit&hl=en
August 19, 2009 at 12:17 am
Skip to about 17 minutes by the way. if you really want to see it
he rips on Affiliate companies too! LOL
August 19, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Jason is a pretty smart guy. His emailing list is top notch.
August 18, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Hmm, feel like sharing a template for the contract that you send them?
August 18, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Yeah, Good Idea, I think it would be nice to sign a contract right there in person too.
I guess it makes sense for bigger affiliates though…
I dont make much as affiliate, but I really hate how “the best customer service” networks toss you around untill you make at least 4 digits a month… Don’t really like affiliate managers anymore and usually go with cj who doesn’t have them and doesn’t bug me every day, even if epc is lower.
August 19, 2009 at 11:35 am
Well sign a contract then move codes ..damn very tiring work
don’t you think so ??
August 19, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Yup i think so
September 9, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Yup I a gree with u all
August 18, 2009 at 8:25 pm
great idea, i must try about epc contract
August 18, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I’ve been getting emails from networks acting like I had contacted them at some time. Just spam letters. I see the need to ignore the ones that don’t offer anything better than the others.
August 19, 2009 at 11:59 pm
They do not understand in this way they are digging holes for themselves.
August 21, 2009 at 6:33 pm
When you get spam mails it just ruins their reputation and you dont want to deal with them anymore
August 31, 2009 at 12:02 pm
wow that is good info, thank’s all
August 18, 2009 at 10:25 pm
There is so many affiliate network outhere, we have to choice the good ones and suitable with the site.
August 18, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Wow. work that EPC contract. Good call.
Thanks,
McMillan
August 18, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Many of you are missing the real message in this Post. It starts with DUE DILLEGENCE becasue the offer or even a contract means zilch unless your going to get paid. Most don’t have near the leverage and “name” that Shoe does so you would be well advised to not even try to bluff. Shoe did good. I used to ask for payment in advance for a 3 month CPM Campaign on my site before I ever launched the first creative. No exceptions and you can pound sand if you think your name will impress me.
Iv’e seen this: Sign numerous contracts as a network. Guarantee the moon. Maybe 2 or 3 dozens. Then NOT Pay the affiliate and I just made a ton of money as a Network and since all the data on my site was designed by Uncle Walt in Disney Land. I win and YOU LOOSE.
Any Network who makes this kind of deal without first doing their own due dillegence is going to fail. Period.
Lets start at the basics for a little due dillegence on ANY network:
Carefully examine the site. Is the source original. REAL Names of the principals. Real contact details that you test. A phone number and a real address. Reverse the address to see what it is. Take the copy and google it. Take the owners names and google them. Take the Networks name and Google it. If you don’t spend at least 30 minutes in research of a potential Network your asking for failure.
Offers mean zilch. /continued
August 21, 2009 at 2:01 am
Very well put, Dr Fact Finder. Promises mean nothing, and people will do and say anything to get you to commit, to then screw you at their leisure. If you don’t do your homework, you’re bound to get screwed, period.
August 19, 2009 at 3:47 am
Awesome idea with the contract
August 19, 2009 at 4:34 am
Been there seen that. I am a super affiliate, LOL.
August 19, 2009 at 5:49 am
Well, I think for me as an early affiliate it’s more about cutting through the crap of the so called “guru’s”.
I’ve got one email inbox with 1k messages unread and at least half of that are messages from the “guru’s” telling me they made $xxx,xxx in 1 month or whatever.
August 19, 2009 at 7:02 am
You had me at the bull. The picture is really funny. Who is telling the truth that what its all about. I get email claiming the certain programs can make you millions! But if it could why are they giving it away…
August 21, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Yea some of the emails I get are just ridiculous. Claiming to have the secret to make millions and millions just by doing nothing. Some of them are complete liars. and yea I agree with you, that picture is just great.
August 19, 2009 at 7:02 am
They are not afraid even of your bad post. They do not know you are very bad when you bad.
So if they unable to deliver what they promised, I am sure in next hours all internet affiliates will come to know about this company and their bad performance.
August 19, 2009 at 8:05 am
Its is true that if the EPC for a product is lower than another one, but they are offering a higher payout, the product is of no use to me as an affiliate.
But what is surprising in your post is the guarantee of an EPC. How can someone give a guarantee on the EPC?
Is it really possible?
August 20, 2009 at 5:32 am
Wow! I had no idea all of this stuff goes on in relation to affiliate marketing. It sounds like you better do your homework.
August 21, 2009 at 1:35 am
Too bad there’s dozens of factors that determine an offers EPC that are not in the control if the affiliate network.
August 21, 2009 at 2:51 am
A picture is worth a thousand words.
That sums it up.
August 21, 2009 at 5:15 am
I have to agree about the affiliate network. What a article…
August 21, 2009 at 10:58 am
Yes we saw that in videos and whole hall covered with so many affiliates …
But I think sharp employee like Dina create the difference
August 21, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Love the picture… i can pretty much see your point, but i have to admit im a bit confused about the bit regarding you having the same level of respect for a super affiliate as for a guy living out of his car.
August 23, 2009 at 11:48 am
I think it is more of a question of respect for the person, rather than his business acumen….or should I rather say, lack thereof!
August 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Interesting post. I am just learning all that goes into affiliate marketing. Thanks for the heads-up! -Norene
August 25, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I’m kind of a biginner in matter of affiliate networks and your post really help me to understand some things, all though I was almost going out from this page because of your top picture
August 26, 2009 at 6:40 am
If you are in a niche one of the 20% of affiliates which make 80% of turnover, than simply skip the complete affiliate network. Make a direct contract with the merchant.
Additional: Typically (at minimum here in Germany) you have 2 money eating guys between you and the merchant: The affiliate network AND an additional marketing agency. If you skip them both, you get around double earnings…
August 27, 2009 at 3:48 am
I don’t want to waste your time,but I want to know more about the Affiliate Network,I didn’t learn about it before.
August 31, 2009 at 11:58 am
Yes, i agree with you, i want to learn about Affiliate Network. I am newbie and i don’t know where i must start learn. can you tell me shoe or all member in here, Thank’s
September 2, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I to agree. some real insight from the shoe man would be great.
Thanks
Jason Berkes
September 9, 2009 at 8:50 pm
YUp, i am a newbie too, i hope i shoe can tell me where i must start, Please……..
August 27, 2009 at 3:50 am
Why I can’t find my comment left just now?Moderating?
August 31, 2009 at 11:55 am
that is great post shoe. I am just start learning to be affiliate marketing.
August 31, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Love the way ur conversation goes! will try handling them your way next time
September 9, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Wow that is great post shoe. I am newbie here and i want learning to be affiliate marketing.
Thank’s for sharing
cherees
April 5, 2010 at 1:22 am
I never really thought about the whole contract deal, that’s a good thing to keep in mind.
May 5, 2010 at 3:32 am
always enjoy reading your blogs, will show this to my daughter who believe it or not was asking me about this today.
August 25, 2010 at 8:24 pm
The Affiliate networds are definitely confusing, well can be. But we try and stick with SEO for the most part of the marketing side of things go.