There is nothing wrong with waiting to promote a poker room until it is up and running. Some of the larger affiliates that have signed up are in fact doing just that. However, there is nothing wrong with promoting a site before it’s opening either. Every product in the world is pre-marketed.
To Dominique’s point that it is amazing that people have signed up in advance….not really, did you see the lines of thousands of people waiting for the latest Playstation 3….people were shooting each other over that. People are very excited about live webcam poker and we have many players that are very anxious to get started.
To allfreechips point: I think you misunderstand, the webcam is not of a poker dealer but the actual players at the tables. Also, to the idea that there are no costs to having affiliates, why do you think Bodog, soon to be Pokerstars, and other operators have restrictions on affiliates? Answer, because these companies don’t want to spend time and money on affiliates that are not going to produce. In addition the affiliates are being paid a percentage of the lifetime action in many cases so that is a real long term cost that can be balanced against the cost of direct advertising.
Finally to JohnV’s point: That affiliates only recourse is the forums. Well, I think again this is an indication that the relationship between affiliates and operators is often advesarial instead of a partnership. All the more reason for affiliates to choose operators that are dedicated to their success. The fact that you agree that the relationship is one sided, and I agree in most cases this is true, indicates that for most affiliates (not the super-affiliates) there is a feeling of general distrust. It is for reasons just like this that we developed an affiliate program built on mutual dedication to success.
At JacksNQueens.com we believe that we are both dependent on each other for success. Our affiliates provide players and exposure and we have to provide excellent compensation and an innovative poker room that will convert the players that are sent our way. No new poker room can survive without both elements and no affiliate can profit off of a new poker room without both elements as well.
VP Marketing
JacksNQueens.com