I am totally amazed today, even slightly shocked.

I was working on a new site today and needed some products to fill in until I had my own done and set-up.

First place I stopped was a well know Marketing Guru. When I say well known I mean most people in internet marketing would know the name. Of course I am not going to say it here. I signed up for the affiliate program without a problem, what happened next really surprised me…

First off I made it to the links page, where I wanted to get my linking codes. I couldn’t believe that all the links had XXXX at the end. Since I’ve been in many affiliate programs over the years, I figured out that the XXXX would need to be replaced with my affiliate ID, even though the page didn’t tell me that. What if I was a complete newbie and didn’t have a clue? I wonder how many people use those links and get NO credit for any sales that make. Why wasn’t there at least some text on the page that told me the code would need to be replaced? Just amazing. I did receive an e-mail saying my ID would be sent to me. Why wasn’t that the first e-mail I received? Now, all was not lost, if I needed help with my links I could contact support. Gee, why do I need to do all the work? Oh well, I will find some one else to promote.

The second one was a free membership site I thought was up to par. This one I thought paid on the one time offer. First I had to to really do some searching just to find a link to the affiliate, or so I thought it was to the affiliate program details. I was taken to a page that listed a number of offers I could promote. Naturally the first one was the free membership site. I clicked the banner that I thought was a package to promote the offer, it came up 404, page not found. The other link, a text link went to the membership sign up page, not the affiliate program. Well, not even a chance to promote that one. Once again, I will find some one else to promote.

Moral of the story? If your going to have an affiliate program, make SURE the system works and you make it super easy for people to promote your product(s). Think about it, how much trouble would you go through to promote some one else’s product? Too many other fish in the sea. What about folks that are new and have no clue as to what they are doing?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to slam any one, I was just very surprised. And from a Guru that probably preaches the same things. Well, two marketers lost an affiliate today.

If you do not realize it yet, to get folks to promote your products, you need to make it drop dead easy. So easy they would have a hard time messing it up. Think about it as if your an affiliate.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you think guru status and guru income is out of your reach think again. I just gave two examples of how you can beat two guru’s, with your eyes closed.



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