Associate Programs Newsletter #78

My ever-patient wife, Joanna, has kindly agreed to click on every URL in this newletter, so if I mention Stefanie's $4.99 review of bookstore programs the link will actually work. (I got it wrong last week.)

Thanks, Joanna. Sorry, Stefanie.

[UPDATE: Stefanie's report was being sold via Fatbrain, which was swallowed up by Barnes & Noble.]

CONTENTS:

1. No more affiliates, says Net Detective
2. Mature move shows respect for affiliates
3. Free way to keep track of WebSponsors links
4. Food.com pays out in three ways
5. One Minute Shopper promises lifetime value
6. What are the highest commission earners doing?
7. First e-book for Linux users
8. We're the biggest, says CJ.com
9. Dirty Tricks Department (1)
10. FDA drops in on affiliates
11. Focalex increases payout to 35 cents
12. FREE WebPage-O-Matic website builder
13. Mark Joyner offers "stampable freeware"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPONSOR<<<<<<<<<<
ADD SEARCH TO YOUR SITE -- MAKE $$$
Add a Overture.com's Search Box to your site for FREE
and MAKE $$$ when your users search. It's that easy
And if you sign up between November 17 and Dec 15,
you'll be entered into our "Build Your Office Sweepstakes"
and the chance to win a $4,000 laptop computer and printer.
Click here to learn more:
www.Overture.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

=========================================
1. No more affiliates, says Net Detective
=========================================

In a landmark decision fantastic for its affiliates, Net Detective has "closed" its affiliate program.

No, not closed down, it just won't take on any new affiliates.

It's the first affiliate program to do this, as far as I know.

Net Detective, which has has just over 4,000 affiliates, does not anticipate reopening membership, says Jean Harris of Net Detective.

Jean says Net Detective stopped accepting new members for several reasons:

1. Many of our affiliates are very successful. Our top 35 affiliates earned an average of over $4,000 each in October. Our top sales affiliate made over $23,000. We felt that maintaining this level of success is important. If we continued to "divide the pie" we would dilute the income of these key affiliates to the point where their level of interest in promoting our products would be diminished.

2. When we looked at our long-term goals, we concluded that we would be more successful by establishing a small highly motivated sales organization (motivation being a function of profitability) than a large organization with a low level of motivation. It is amazing what a few motivated and dedicated people can accomplish.

3. We currently have just over 4,000 affiliates who have signed on with us. We expect this number to be reduced significantly, through attrition. 80% of our sales are made by 12% of those affiliates. Administering the remaining 88% is not cost effective, although most of it is fully automated. We have concluded that quality is more important than quantity.

4. We are hopeful that our relationship with our affiliates will evolve into one where the Net Detective affiliate membership is seen as having inherent long-term value. Our plan is to ultimately allow our affiliates to build up their business and then sell it to other qualified people, should they wish to do so. Our model for this is the basic automobile franchise arrangement. Many details remain to be worked out, but that is our goal.

"We believe this concept of transferability (combined with limited availability) will provide a new level of motivation for the affiliates that has been missing up until now," Jean says.

"Perhaps in the not too distant future you will see an ad on eBay offering a Net Detective affiliate membership for sale by the owners, with price based on revenues. What would an affiliate membership producing $100,000 per year cash flow be worth?"

Net Detective
http://www.collector-club.com/DET/members/

===========================================
2. Mature move shows respect for affiliates
===========================================

Ken Evoy, who announced when he launched his "Make Your Site SELL!" - http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/myss - 5 Pillar Program that it would restrict the number of affiliates, said this week that he foresaw closing membership "somewhere between our third and fourth product. I'm guessing that the server-side product will be number three."

Regarding Net Detective's decision, Ken said: "It's a mature move - a true respect for affiliates who have been vitally important in building a company. Congrats to Net Detective."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPONSOR<<<<<<<<<<
Join the Internet Call Manager Affiliate program and earn $7.50
for every paying customer you refer to our service! ICM is the
must-have program for surfers - it's a $5 per month service that
notifies users of their incoming calls while they're dialed up to
the Internet. All you need to do is put a banner, button or ad on
your site and watch your commissions grow on your weekly reports!
Sign up today! Go to
http://www.internetcallmanager.com/agents/iia0148 and check out
the Partner Programs, Affiliate Program section!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

==============================================
3. Free way to keep track of WebSponsors links
==============================================

Jim Reardon, who does very well with the WebSponsors program, has created a new free program called WebSponsors.pl which scans your website files and searches for expired WebSponsors links.

Jim says WebSponsors has about 500 offers, and about 300 which have expired - a hassle to keep track of, especially since they don't typically tell you when they expire.

"It generates a nice little report telling you what offers and what files you need to change.

"I created it because I needed it, and the first time I used it I found 25 expired links over my site!" Jim says.

It's available FREE at:
http://www.amusive.com/scripts/

==================================
4. Food.com pays out in three ways
==================================

Food.com lets you order delivery or place orders for takeout (in the U.S.) from a wide variety of restaurants, whether for home or office. Through LinkShare, Food.com is offering 10 cents per click, $1 for every customer who registers with Food.com and $5 every time a referred visitor orders food.

=============================================
5. One Minute Shopper promises lifetime value
=============================================

"We are an all-affiliate network, we don't sell off our site," says Ron Garber of One Minute Shopper.

"You place our MinuteStore on your site and we do the rest." He says constantly changing name brand products at steeply discounted prices are offered for a limited time, with limited quantities available.

One Minute Shopper pays 20% commissions on all products, paid monthly.

The program "gives the affiliate partner the lifetime value of the customer", Ron says.

One Minute Shopper's President is Joe Kaminsky, who, among many achievements, was President of the Ann Klien division of Sara Lee Corporation for three years where he increased sales to over $4 million and gross profit to 53%. He helped build the Sirena apparel division from $3 million to over $40 million and participated in the buy-out of Sirena from Sara Lee.

[UPDATE: This affiliate program has been discontinued.]

=================================================
6. What are the highest commission earners doing?
=================================================

Rick Beneteau is delighted with the quick success of his Ezine Marketing Machine program.

He says that ALL the top associates in the program so far have the following things in common.

They have:

1. Bought The Ezine Marketing Machine (can't sell what you don't know, right?)

2. Have started writing and promoting articles, and/or are

3. Mailing this opportunity to their opt-in list and/or newsletter/ezine on a regular basis, or are

4. Placing classified ads in ezines, on a regular basis. You are provided with classified ads (4) as well as a "best ezines" link and 2 links to ezine directories in your partner page.

"Want a nice commission check in time for Christmas?" Rick says. "Read the above again."

The Ezine Marketing Machine costs only $29.95 and has a generous two-tier commission.

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/ezinemoney

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPONSOR<<<<<<<<<<
Clicks to Cash with Be Free
Start earning money with your site today! Be Free(sm), a leader
in affiliate marketing, e-nables web sites to add value and
create a new revenue stream by partnering with some of the
hottest e-commerce sites. It's simple. Place merchant links on
your site and earn up to 40% in commissions from every sale
generated. Be Free provides all the tracking technology needed
to record sales and commissions. Quick, easy and FREE.
Visit http://affiliates.befree.com/Affiliates/index.jsp to learn
more.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

==============================
7. First ebook for Linux users
==============================

Ken Evoy's "Make Your Site SELL!", which is incredibly good value for only about $17 (US), is now available for Linux users.

"MYSS! is the first ebook to be specifically geared for download and installation by Linux users," Ken says.

See the cute little penguin on his home page:

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/ken

[UPDATE: After selling more than 100,000 copies, "Make Your Site SELL!", is now free here http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/myss ]


=================================
8. We're the biggest, says CJ.com
=================================

Affiliate network Commission Junction, which is one year old this week, now has 239 merchants - "more LIVE than LinkShare" - and over 55,000 affiliates, says Affiliate Recruiter Linda Woods. (LinkShare says it has more than 400 merchants.)

Commission Junction has added a search box and Refer A Friend to the promotional tools affiliates can use.

Actually, does anyone CARE who's the biggest? The fact that CJ.com provides a good service is much more important.

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/cj

==============================
9. Dirty Tricks Department (1)
==============================

I thought long and hard before deciding to tell you about this dirty trick. In the end, I decided to go ahead. I hope you can use the information to help protect your online business.

I'm astounded at the depths to which some people will stoop, apparently in an attempt to be well listed in search engines.

A guy in New Jersey has copied a simple little page of mine which ranks well in HotBot.

This ethically challenged individual has left "Allan Gardyne", "AssociatePrograms.com" and "Associate Programs Directory" on the page but changed an URL so that it links to HIS site.

A link to my message board was merely commented out - it was still visible when I looked in the source code.

I wrote to the thief two days ago asking him to delete the page. (Yes. I know. I'm far too kind.)

He hasn't replied so now I've written to his web host.

Perhaps it's all a silly mistake, but I can't imagine how.

NEXT WEEK: More dirty tricks.

==============================
10. FDA drops in on affiliates
==============================

Ian Rakow, who launched MDHealthline.com in February as MDPharmacy.com and changed its name after an unfavorable report by Silicon Alley Daily in March, has stopped selling Viagra and other prescription medication.

"Recently 25 states in the U.S. have joined to form a 'multi- state task force' forcing Internet pharmacies to either move offshore and hope that the packages make it in, or conform to the laws and stop prescribing on the Internet. To make the situation worse, the FDA has now begun investigating companies, and worse yet, their affiliates," Ian says.

"One company was recently raided by 36 federal officers and all the files and computers were seized. MDHealthline.com has ceased all sales of prescription medication in the interest of protecting ourselves and most importantly our affiliates. The FDA has dropped in on some affiliates at their residence to ask questions and research their practices. Needless to say, this is very scary to an affiliate who does not represent a large company with endless funds for legal battles."

MDHealthline.com has more than 3,500 affiliates.

Ian says it manufacturers quality vitamin/herbal alternatives, including Super Herbal V (Viagra substitute), Ultimate Libido for Women, Advanced Diet Formula, Supreme Sleep and Super Mood.

It has a two-tier commission program.

http://www.MDHealthline.com

========================================
11. Focalex increases payout to 35 cents
========================================

Focalex has increased its per-subscriber payout from 25 cents to 35 cents, says Affiliate Program Manager Corey Mathews.

That's a useful payout for something you don't have to sell.

http://www.Focalex.com

========================================
12. FREE WebPage-O-Matic website builder
========================================

Want to build professional looking websites quickly and easily using an awesome FREE website construction tool?

WebPage-O-Matic is a free tool which will design a high quality and coherent website for you. It requires absolutely no knowledge of HTML or design principles.

"A 5-year-old could create and promote a beautiful website with WebPage-O-Matic!" says Mark Joyner, CEO of Aesop Marketing Corporation.

You simply fill out a few simple fields, click a few buttons, and that's it. WebPage-O-Matic creates, uploads, and even promotes your multi-page website for you automatically.

It comes in personal and business versions. Both are free.

[UPDATE: This product is now outdated.]

===========================================
13. Mark Joyner offers "stampable freeware"
===========================================

Mark Joyner's Internet Marketing ProShop is offering what he calls "stampable freeware".

He has set up a simple system which makes it easy for you to stamp free software with YOUR referral URL.

When the user of the software eventually buys something from the ProShop, such as Mark's highly popular "1001 Killer Marketing Tactics", Swiss Army App or web hosting, you'll earn a commission of up to 50%.

"I'm really excited about the potential for our affiliates," Mark says.

Here's how Mark explains the system:

1. We create some freeware that promotes our various products.

2. Any of our affiliates can download the freeware and stamp it with their unique sponsorID.

3. They promote the freeware and the app does the rest. Any sales that occur as a result of someone downloading the freeware they stamped will be credited to their account.

"This is the first of a whole series of apps we are going to release in this manner," Mark says.

The instructions are easy to follow. I promise.

To start giving away WebPage-O-Matic and other freeware, join the Internet Marketing ProShop associate program:

[UPDATE: Mark sold his business to the innovative guys at NitroMarketing - http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/nitro]

All the best

Allan Gardyne