Associate Programs Newsletter #13
CONTENTS:
1. Virtual Merchant’s growing pains
2. Virtual Merchant’s hot new competitor
3. Research on credit card facilities
4. Message Board grows more useful
5. DatingCash gets more generous
6. Snippets
7. Articles at AssociatePrograms.com
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1. Virtual Merchant’s growing pains
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Last week I reported on my growing interest in credit card processor Virtual Merchant. I’m intensely interested in this program because – for me anyway – its success rate for associates appears to be utterly astounding, far eclipsing results I’ve achieved with Corey Rudl’s highly successful Internet course, whose last monthly commission was $US845 https://www.associateprograms.com/corey .
Bill Long, President of Internet Media Solutions, which owns Virtual Merchant, says that if you add credit card processing facilities to your online business, you can increase sales by by up to 200% percent. It’s a sales pitch which attracts a lot of sign-ups – at $US150 commission each time. I achieved 15 in my first three weeks, on a site which attracts about 400 or so webmasters a day.
Let’s see, 15 x $150 equals . . . Pinch me, somebody! I must be dreaming.
I joined very recently, on August 12, and all my sales are still shown in Virtual Merchant’s online statistics as unverified. I haven’t received a single dollar in commission yet.
Let me repeat: I haven’t received a single dollar yet.
Apparently the Virtual Merchant server has been down lately?
“Your information is very accurate,” Bill Long said.
“Yes the server was down for a few hours on Sunday. With the size of our system, when the server is down for maintenance for only a short time, everyone goes into a panic.”
I hear that you’re installing a new server?
“We are installing a new dual PII system on a 10 megabit connection. It should be operational this week. We tested it with 30 hits per second and the needle didn’t even begin to rise. It will be lightning fast with immense capacity. The stats deal has been a manual one so far and thus is slow and tedious. This should be corrected within the next two weeks.”
Are you too swamped to answer all email?
“Handling the email is like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a floor mop. The popularity of the program is huge and thus the questions: We get asked how to do HTML, how to make a web page, how to find people on the Internet as well as many good questions.”
I hear you’re working on a Frequently Asked Questions page?
“We need to address some issues and provide a vehicle for more information. The plans include a web site with FAQ and auto-responders and a few other nice little things.
“Most importantly is the issue of sales. I will be the first to admit that the sales process has taken forever and I am extremely unhappy about it. I have taken extreme measures to create a system whereby the applicant will have their merchant account in 5 days and the reps will be paid no less than 10 days after that. To date the entire process has taken up to 45 days and even longer. I am committed to knocking that down to 15 days from application to pay day!
“I must say, in fairness, that much of the delay is caused by the applicant not providing the necessary information in order to process their application.
“We are working 15 and 18 hour days to make sure this program is by far the best in the business. I will have a pretty exciting announcement for everyone next week. I am not at liberty to discuss the details now but hang on to your hat. I want to make sure all the ducks are in line before we introduce any major expansions. Been working very hard to get the international program online and hope to have the web site up this week,” Bill said.
“I would ask that everyone have a little patience and work together to maintain the integrity of the program. I will remain available for anyone to call or e-mail. I may not be able to respond immediately but I will respond. If anyone does not get a response in 24 to 48 hours, I would ask that they please try again. We are here for the long haul and dedicated first and foremost to the customer, then to the representatives of this program.”
Anyone thinking of setting up an associate program should be able to learn a few useful pointers from Virtual Merchant’s experience. Want to try to hold back a tidal wave with mop?
Perhaps that $US150 commission – plus $US25 from each sale made by people under me – is just too generous?
[UPDATE: Virtual Merchant is NOT recommended. See later editions of the newsletter.]Well, hang on to your hat. Virtual Merchant now has a competitor who is offering to pay substantially more…
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2. Virtual Merchant’s hot new competitor
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Just when I was wondering how Bill Long’s Virtual Merchant could afford to pay a generous $US150 commission plus $US25 residual, along comes a credit card processor offering a similar service and paying even more – $US175 commission plus an amazing $US50 for every sale made by someone you sign up.
The new competitor is Thomas Harpointner’s Advanced Internet Solutions (AIS), based in Atlanta, Georgia. AIS already offers a variety of Internet services including web hosting.
“We’ve been offering credit card merchant services to our customers for quite some time now but decided to turn it into an affiliate program just recently,” Thomas said.
“I have a strong sales background and know that a good, self-motivated, dedicated and honest sales person is difficult to find. I feel that once you’ve found such a person, he/she is one of your company’s greatest assets and should be well rewarded for his/her efforts. Therefore, we decided to pass the bulk of our profits on to our affiliates in the form of greater commissions.
“If at any point you find yourself dissatisfied with the service, support or income you’re earning with the other credit card program you’re currently promoting, it would by my privilege to have you join our marketing team.”
The AIS program has an interesting idea I haven’t come across before – a nifty way of tracking which banner or link is getting the best results. You can have an URL like this (example only) www.aismedia.com/x/cc.cfm?DRNxADID containing your Dealer Reference Number and what AIS calls an “ad id” which tells you which link or banner was clicked on – a great idea.
Should I now switch from Virtual Merchant which is producing phenomenal results for me (all unverified) to a AIS, which offers a higher commission? I don’t think it makes sense to recommend two credit card processors. You’re just likely to confuse your visitors that way.
I like Bill’s professional looking web site and it’s getting excellent results, so I’d be mad to switch – right? Well, on the other hand . . .
If you’re fortunate enough to own more than one web site you could test one program on each. As far as I’m concerned, I’m withholding an opinion yet, but I’ve joined both.
Here are some of the services AIS offers:
Secrets To Making Money On The Information Super-Highway
Electronic Marketing Business Kit (EMBK)
AIS Merchant Services (accept credit cards)
(Each link identifies that you clicked from this newsletter.)
[UPDATE: I made good money for years from the The AIS Media affiliate program. It eventually closed.]=====================================
3. Research on credit card facilities
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When people are telling you about staggeringly generous commissions you can earn (“Make money on the Internet!”) and you’re wondering if it really could be true at last, it’s easy to lose the plot a little.
If you join an associate program you are a lot like any retailer selling a range of goods and services. When you’re shopping offline, you soon learn where to go for the tenderest steak or the toughest boots. You learn whose opinions you can trust. You know that any decent, respectable retailer has to do a bit of research before offering reliable goods for sale.
I reckon it makes good business sense for online retailers to do the same.
Many other companies apart from Virtual Merchant and AIS provide credit card facilities. If you want to do some research on the subject, two good places to start are:
LinkExchange Digest archives
https://list.audettemedia.com/archives/archives.html
I-Sales HelpDesk archives
https://www.adventive.com
I’d love to hear any conclusions you reach. Email me or tell everyone by posting your findings on the Associate Programs Message Board.
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4. Message board grows more useful
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The new, improved message board now includes an alphabetical section. Want to see what people think of ClickTrade or Spree.com, for example? Just look under C or S.
Want to see what new posts have been made since your last visit? Just click on the Day or Week link in the left-hand menu.
Have you had some experience with Virtual Merchant or AIS Merchant Services – as a merchant or an associate? How about sharing your knowledge with the visitors to the Associate Programs Message Board?
https://www.associateprograms.com/discus/index.php
You don’t have to remember that URL. Just remember AssociatePrograms.com . There’s a link to the message board at the top of every page at AssociatePrograms.com.
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5. DatingCash gets more generous
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Yoav Dror-Freeman writes:
Allan
Good news from DatingCash:
Webmasters who haven’t reached the $100 minimum check amount will anyway receive a check for July and August earnings. As this will be the first check you will have received from us, we’ve decided to add a special 20% bonus to the amount you actually earned! All checks will be sent Sept. 5th.
We have also decided to introduce a newsletter for our webmasters, to include current web developments, Internet marketing and other interesting stuff.
Yoav Dror-Freeman,
“DatingCash” program manager
https://datingcash.com
(DatingCash pays 30% commission.)
Back to TOP
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6. Snippets
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REFER-IT
Refer-it, the search engine that pays, obviously aims to be the place to go on the Net for people interested in associate programs – and is willing to pay to get people there. Harvard graduate James Marciano will pay you $US2 or $US3 for each person who signs up for a basic or premium membership which offers all sorts of useful benefits, such as affiliate tracking, your own web site, etc, etc, with more benefits to come. If you’ve been living on Jupiter and haven’t heard of Refer-it, pop over there now and check it out. Seriously, this program has huge potential as more and more people recognize the value of associate programs.
refer-it.com/owner.cfm?OWNERID=1337
AMAZON.COM
A report by consultancy firm Icegroup analysed Amazon.com’s results for the second quarter of 1998 and found that each order cost Amazon $US40.81 to process, but the value of the average order was only $US35.59, generating a $US5.22 loss for each order. I wonder how long Amazon.com can work on building market share instead of profits.
news.com/News/Item/Textonly/0,25,25516,00.html?pfv
REEL.COM
Online video store Reel.com Inc. has formed a partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times Online that gives Reel.com strategic placement within the Sun-Times Web site.
internetnews.com/ec-news/1998/08/2806-thumbs.html
TITANIC
At $US9.99 a copy, Reel.com is making a loss on each of the 220,000 copies it has sold so far of Titanic.
zdnet.com/intweek/daily/980902a.html
HOW MUCH?
I keep getting new visitors to AssociatePrograms.com asking me: “How much do you make from associate programs?” I gave some answers recently. See the newsletter archives:
Remember-the-Carpenters/
JIM DANIELS
I’ve just received my monthly commission from Jim Daniels for selling his excellent introduction to web marketing, “Insider Internet Marketing”. It was $US110 – my best yet from Jim.
MORE NEXT WEEK
I was planning to write about another exciting program but I’ve run out of time. Next week . . .
$45 A POP
I’m doing my best to scare advertisers away from this newsletter by charging $US45 a pop – no discounts, price to rise as circulation rises, payment in advance. If you contact any of the following advertisers please tell them AssociatePrograms.com sent you. Thanks. If you really must advertise here, send a blank email to classads AT AssociatePrograms.com for details. I don’t accept everyone who asks.
classads AT AssociatePrograms.com ]
Where did Procter & Gamble and Red Sky go to to get the highest quality Internet advertising editorial for the FAST Summit website?
https://www.ChannelSeven.com
ChannelSeven.com, the Networking Source for Web Development, Marketing and Advertising Executives. Coming Up: Complete FAST FORWARD coverage, Ch7Europe.com, Ad-Gallery.com, & The Momentum Celebration!
Planet Earth Communications
planetearthinter.net/gsm
New and used offline GSM mobile phones and new accessories with free delivery worldwide at discount prices direct from the UK. Non-MLM. Associates join free and get an instant personalised website. Good commissions. Online ordering by credit card via a secure server. The company also operates as Planet Earth Internet at planetearthinter.net offering free instant online website creation for any promotional purposes, free email accounts, free fax calls via the Internet, business opportunities, international discount telephone calls, worldwide personal ads plus new features being added all the time. Tony Mackenzie.
Free! A subscription to The MeetingCity Times Newsletter. Great travel discounts and much, much more for the travel & event planner. Keep informed! https://www.MeetingCity.com Don’t Wait…………Do it Now!
Want to improve your banner’s click-through ratio? Now there is a free monthly e-newsletter dedicated to banner design. Read about it and sign up here:
Banner Tips
bannertips.com/joinlist.shtml
Each month you will receive an e-mail containing banner design news, banner statistics, case studies, tips on improving your site’s traffic, and marketing & advertising tips. Back issues are available.
All the best
Allan Gardyne
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