Oh yes, do not even get me started on production quality. I have seen companies get the best models and then not know what to do with them. Directing is an art. It's not as simple as saying "get naked, jerk off, suck, do this, do that." Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and if production isn't one of your strengths then you should let someone else be doing it.

(When I say "you," I mean no one in particular, other than those people I am talking about.)

To me, allowing someone to go in and rip whatever they want is laziness on the sponsors part. A part of getting sales is marketing. You can only rely on affiliates to do so much marketing for you. At the end of the day, as a sponsor, it is your responsibility to get it to convert.

Sales and marketing are very different things and I think a lot of people do not realize that. Treat affiliates as sales people and back them up with great marketing materials. Even the best salesman in the world needs good marketing to back them up. Whether that be brand, pretty packeting, sales sheets, or in porn, the hosted gallery template.

I am surprised that the average sponsor hasn't realized that the big dogs in the industry have hot models who are well directed AND great marketing materials. Their websites use the latest CMS, their template is cutting edge and they add VALUE wherever and whenever they can. Anyone can pick up a camera and shoot some porn. The business side of things is what separates the amateurs from the pros.

I would like to think that we already know this, but based on a lot of what I see out there, apparently a lot of people do not.

As for affiliates, they are nobody. And I say this as an affiliate myself. At the end of the day, I am not out of too much if nothing "sticks." Sure, I have some hosting costs, perhaps some script costs. There is my time. I may even have an LLC and do things as a business (I do).

I do not, however, have thousands upon thousands of dollars invested in CMS. I do not run mission critical servers because I will have a shit-ton of chargebacks if I don't. I am not under pressure to find the next model willing to work within budget for my next update, that I have to provide even if I do not have the sales this week to justify the cost in doing so.

In other words, there are a ton of things I do not have to worry about as an affiliate. My biggest worry is driving traffic.