Program Owners - What Methods Of In-House Traffic Generation Are You Using Right Now?

[gaybucks_chip]

well if they make shitloads full of traffic... they´ll run their own paysites. thats the bloody truth and its as easy as that. as soon as they make you lots of dough they figure out, that content doesnt cost a fortune AND they don´t have to split the pot with anyone else.

Perhaps it's a case of "Grass is always greener" but I have to disagree with this statement.

Program owners have to deal with shooting or buying content (I don't think that programs with only leased content are going to fare very well in 2007), constantly updating, continuing to provide materials to affiliates (galleries, blog entries, reviews, etc) plus dealing with server admin issues, bandwidth bills, security breaches, member/customer service issues, etc.

Affiliates, on the other hand, have to attract quality traffic, send it to the sites that convert, and collect a hefty check. Now, of course, I'm simplifying the process of attracting traffic... but what I'm saying is, traffic alone is a pretty significant task, and it is but one of the tasks that a program owner has to juggle.

Not to mention that an affiliate, if a program stops converting, needs only to shift to a different program to get sales back up. Not nearly as easy for a sponsor.

Honestly, AJ and I have said many times that if we had it to do over again, we would probably focus on traffic. But we've gotten pretty good at content production and all of the administrative side of running a sponsor program, so we'll probably stick to that

[Xstr8guy]

There are still enough good affiliates and good publishers to go around.

I disagree and, so do many other program owners, ones who have been around 10+ years are now starting to generate their own in-house traffic because the quality of affiliates has dropped well below the bar.

I don't why you insist on stating this as a fact because it's completely untrue. Desslock is right. There are plenty of good affiliates around. I value all of our affiliates and certainly don't consider them an incovenience at all.

I know you're thinking "What does this guy know? He's only had his own paysite for a few months." That is true. I don't know what affiliates were like 10 years ago. But I do know that the business was a lot easier for everyone back then. So it's definitely not fair to compare 1997 with 2007.

However, I have been (and still am) an affiliate in a few affiliate programs for the past 6 years. I'm not the biggest and baddest affiliate either. No one is going to confuse me with a 'Big Fish'. But I've made myself and a few good affiliate programs several hundred thousand dollars in that time. And I'm quite certain not a single program administrator that I deal with will think I am a pain-in-the-ass and would refuse my contribution..

Btw, your constant bad-mouthing is very counter-productive. I'm not an active affiliate of your program. But if I was, I'm sure your negativity would cause me to think that you considered me worthless.

Go ahead... I dare you to close your affiliate program like Corbin Fisher. I bet in 2 months you will be announcing the 'GRAND RE-OPENING' of the CondomCash affiliate program.

[Lee]

I don't why you insist on stating this as a fact because it's completely untrue. Desslock is right. There are plenty of good affiliates around.

Okay then, please define 'good affiliate' in your opinion?

10 sales a week? 20 sales a week? 30 sales a week?

Im really interested in finding out what you classify a 'good' affiliate

Regards,

Lee

[Xstr8guy]

Okay then, please define 'good affiliate' in your opinion?

10 sales a week? 20 sales a week? 30 sales a week?

Im really interested in finding out what you classify a 'good' affiliate

Regards,

Lee

A good affiliate is an affiliate that promotes our site. I don't judge their value on sales only. Even placing our images on low-traffic blogs has some value to me. It at least gets us exposure. And maybe the low-traffic affiliate will grow and then the sales will come.

I don't have affiliates that DEMAND anything. I had one rather large player ask for freehosting, unlimited access to content, etc. I ignored him.

[padabum]

Okay then, please define 'good affiliate' in your opinion?

10 sales a week? 20 sales a week? 30 sales a week?

Im really interested in finding out what you classify a 'good' affiliate

Regards,

Lee

Lee... is there EVER enough?? :cash: :cash: :cash: :cash:

But maybe back to topic.... how come people say always talk about the good old days in the most romantic ways??? that kind of sounds like that tune the cab drivers here in amsterdam have since about 20 years. they always keep telling me since years, that 5 years ago their income was better. if its rapidly decreased since 20 years they should all be starving now... or they got fuckin rich driving their taxi 20 years ago.

We should see it POSITIVE: No run around Webmaster with 5 photoshoots will be able to get into the business too fast anymore... if they want a piece of the cake...well they have to handle some money (buy/make content, buy/write software... and so on) welcome to capitalism :heartu:

BUT just like u figure out now, that you want to generate your own traffic to market your sites, the affiliates with the big traffic find out that they can run their own sites at fairly cheap costs.

If you wanna see how real inhouse traffic is generated (not the TGP junk)... take a look at sites like justusboys.com (they have their own member area AND send their rest traffic to affiliates)... or maybe xtube.com or take a look at gayromeo.com... they all make the sites that rock the house and they dont have to pay huge amounts of money for advertising, cause their users spread the word themselves.

[Xstr8guy]

Lee, I sometimes think you take this harsh stance on affiliates only because it's trendy and/or controversial. Otherwise, why would you bother continuing to doing things like this?

[desslock]

Okay then, please define 'good affiliate' in your opinion?
10 sales a week? 20 sales a week? 30 sales a week?
Im really interested in finding out what you classify a 'good' affiliate
Regards, Lee

What is the point of that question? Are you implying that there is an economics of scale here? This reminds me of the earlier discussion regarding Corbin Fisher not wanting "onezies / twozies" affiliates. You are paying on performance....PLUS receiving branding by people reading your name.

In any kind of business, there is a "cost to acquire a customer." It could be the money you pay a magazine to run your print ad, or the money you pay affiliates.

In a related tangent, perhaps you shouldn't fall into the adult industry's weird method of dehumaizing its customers (i.e. refer to them not as humans but "traffic") Note JustUsBoys or Xtube were invoked earlier as impressive performers for sending websites business.... and why might that be? Maybe one reason they are effective is because they have "members" ..... not dehumanized nanites in the matrix.

Steve

[padabum]

i can sign the last part of your post at 100% desslock.

[IntenseCash.com]

I would say that around 70% of our traffic comes from affiliates. The rest is misc traffic we produce and I think it is a good mix. I wouldn't say that affiliates have dropped below the bar and are not worth what they used to be, I actually think affiliates are worth more. It doesn't matter how many sales they send they are all great affiliates. If they are promoting you that is worth its weight in gold. Keeping affiliates happy is one of the most important things for us because if they aren't happy with us they go somewhere else. No matter what affiliate programs should always generate inhouse traffic, it doesn't matter how things are going it is always a good idea. For us affiliates are the best source of traffic and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Mark

[mickey]

is it me or did this one get a little of track ?

good read though :broccoli:

[Xstr8guy]

is it me or did this one get a little of track ?

good read though :broccoli:

Oh they all do eventually.

[mickey]

Oh they all do eventually.

hehe a shame really.. could have been a good thread..

[Xstr8guy]

hehe a shame really.. could have been a good thread..

Maybe if you ask a question you will be able to further the discussion. Sometimes all these threads need is a good kickstart.

[Lee]

Lee, I sometimes think you take this harsh stance on affiliates only because it's trendy and/or controversial. Otherwise, why would you bother continuing to doing things like this?

Because that rewards those affiliates who are making sales and it costs me nothing.

There is a difference between raised payouts being used as a promotion to affiliates and 'prizes' being used a promotion, one builds affiliate loyalty, the other attracts more affiliates

Regards,

Lee

[mickey]

Because that rewards those affiliates who are making sales and it costs me nothing.

There is a difference between raised payouts being used as a promotion to affiliates and 'prizes' being used a promotion, one builds affiliate loyalty, the other attracts more affiliates

Regards,

Lee

why use affiliates in the normal sense anyways ? why not just go out and make a deal with 5-8 big traffic producers that can deliver a steady flow of quality and leave it at that ?

anyone tried this and if so what where your results ?