Hmm. I feel a rant coming on….

I hope that it’s educational rather than just ranting for rants sake.

But something really has been bothering me recently so I feel it is about time to let off a bit of steam.

Although it probably applies in most niches, in this particular case it is applying to the Internet Marketing niche as this is the place where it is really starting to bother me.

Let me start by saying that in no way do I think that I am one of the biggest affiliate marketers in the niche, but as I have made a consistent monthly 5 figures in sales as an affiliate for the last few years, I am able to help even the biggest marketers shift some product.

So, what’s my point?

That people want me to promote their product, but on the other hand show total disregard for any common sense when asking me to.

I really wish that I could name names on this post as a few of them are some of the biggest, but feel it probably wouldn’t be ‘sensible’ of me.

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Case Study 1:

Subject: Can you help me with this?

I just launched my new product and could use your help getting it in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

[The email goes on to give other details]

I’d love to have you on board and, of course, will return the favor when the time comes.

Thanks!

Affiliate X
———————————————————

Although we have exchanged emails here and there we have never promoted each other’s products. In fact, when I asked him to help me out in my last launch, I never got a reply
(from the same email which he sent this).

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Case Study 2:

Subject: Hey Ben…

hey man, just wanted to let you know about my launch on
MM/DD/YYYY

let me know if you wanna know more details and if you’re open that day?

Affiliate Y
———————————————————

So although I have promoted about 6 of this guys products in the past, he has never promoted me even though he had promised to promote my last launch.

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Case Study 3:

Subject: Re. [Personal From Ben Shaffer] (replied to an email that I had sent him in July!)

Hey man – I just had a quick question.  As you know my product launch ends monday at midnight.

Was curious if I could bribe you into 1 last email?

[Email gives other details of the launch]

Anyway, let me know if you can slip one in.

[Email gives other details of the launch]

Thanks again
Affiliate Z
———————————————————

This was a ‘personal’ email from one of the biggest players in the industry. Unfortunately, even though I have supported him in a big way in the past and made him a lot of money, he also refrained from answering any of my previous personal requests (apart from this one where he had his own)

Bare in mind that the above three marketers are people who are extremely talented marketers whom I really respect a lot for what they have achieved. All are far bigger than me and make far more money than me also.

I have loads more that I could show you, but particularly wanted to show you these as they are recent and also show that even extremely successful marketers could achieve more if changed just a few things.

So, what does make a successful JV proposal?

1. If possible, either have had contact with the marketer before or be introduced from someone that does know the marketer. Not only do people do business with friends, but there also needs to be an element of trust that the launch will go smoothly and the commissions will be paid.

2. Think what is in it for the marketer. Generally money is not enough (to an extent). There are so many launches going on every day, that the choice to promote you just because of the potential commissions is probably not enough. Especially if you don’t have a large list or a reputation, Think what else you can offer:
eg.
- an extra bonus for the marketer’s list
- instant commissions
- a reduction in price
- a reciprocal mailing
- integration of the marketer’s product

3. Often, the reason why a marketer does not want to promote is that they will lose more by promoting for you than they will possibly gain. What may be beneficial for you, may not be beneficial for the other marketer. Some things that stop a marketer from promoting you product may be:
- a squeeze page before even arriving at the salespage
- a low price point
- a popup/exit popup
- a poor written or executed salespage
- too many backend/integrated offers

Any potential partner is or should be looking at the opportunity on what it will do for their business and if they are losing more than their possible gain then it is unlikely that they will promote for you.

4. Always make it as easy as possible for your potential partner to promote for you. People are naturally lazy and if you can provide an easy way for them to make some easy money then you may have a chance.

For example:
- always include a copy of the product immediately downloadable
- supply promotional materials
- explain the product and what it does in a few sentences
- say who else is promoting or has promoted and what results they have had
- provide a link to the salespages
- give an affiliate link to the marketer

5. Realize that time really is of an essence and many successful marketers know what they are doing months in advance in terms of promotions. It is extremely unlikely that they will push anything aside for you.

6. Perhaps the most important role is to see it from the other side when the marketer says “WIIFM?” (What’s in it for me?). Apart from affiliate X, none of the above three examples gave a WIIFM.

Before I go, let me just tell you about another annoyance that seems to have become more and more common nowadays. That is when people hold a sale and want me to launch it because they need to raise some money for _______________ (fill in the reason here).

The proposal is generally written with some guilt there describing the money that needs to be made.

So, why do I dislike these?

Firstly, because they almost always come from people who have never helped me out before but yet want me to help them. Secondly, in 99% of the cases, the product being sold is a jumbled together set of resell rights that which my customers would hate me for if I had the audacity to offer it to them. Thirdly, because I like to be able to choose where I spend my charitable donations and don’t like to be made to feel guilty in the process.

I personally think that this approach is a misguided version of ”reason why” marketing. By all means do a launch of a product because of a “reason why”. However, the correct approach is that you are doing it because of this or that reason and therefore are able to give a better offer than you usually would be able to.

Alright, rant pretty much over. Please feel free to heckle me below or tell me you agree with me or just say something amusing

But please do leave a comment saying something at least…

Keeping it real in an unreal world,

Ben Shaffer