Originally posted by Dominique
…By coddling them (affiliate programs) when they are heading in the wrong direction we do neither ourselves nor them any favors.
I agree completely.
Affiliate should be accessable, reasonable, professional, and do their jobs with enthusiasm.
HOWEVER, affiliates who allow themselves to be bullied, intimidated, or pushed around will continue to be victimized and taken advantage of until they are put out of business.
There is a very fine line between being a strong affiliate and becoming a “problem” affiliate (in the eyes of the programs). But it’s just as dangerous on the other end, when you could be perceived as a push over who never speaks up and can be shaved at will.
Look at my recent confrontations with Tradal and Club Dice, and in the past with Windows and Casino Rewards. Tradal backed down, Windows and Casino Rewards joined APCW, and Club Dice is calling me every other day about “working together” (code term for they want better placement).
My point is this: Had I not stood up to these guys in such a way that demonstrated I can be an affective affiliate but will not stand for their bullshit, I guarantee you all they wouldn’t respect anything I produced… whether it was on Integrity or the APCW.
Sorry for the rant…
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By the way, Aleph…
You didn’t hear this from me, but the reason casinos need affiliates is that they aren’t as smart as we are. If they could do the job without us, they would… but they cannot.
We don’t give ourselves enough credit sometimes. We are all well-above average intellegence… and dare I say we could beat the shit out of affiliate managers on a game of Jeopardy!