Why I avoid affiliate programs like the Bigfoot apocalypse plague

Published: Wed, 01/02/19

A few years ago, one of my business partners asked if I had an affiliate program and seemed kinda shocked when I said no.

It's a good question, though.

I mean, why NOT have affiliates?

Isn’t it like free mooney?

Here are a few reasons:


1. Physical products

I don’t sell digitally delivered products for a multitude of reasons, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. And, after dabbling with affiliates selling other physical products in the past, I realized what a headache it is.


2. FTC

Due to various FTC rules (the way I understand them, at least), I would have to monitor what my affiliates say when selling my products.

Otherwise, I could be held liable for false claims.

Not very appealing...


3. Crappy money manager

I suck at managing money owed to others.

It throws off my accounting mojo, and makes my brain itch just thinking about it. Not to mention the coming onslaught of chaos that is going to result from the “conservative” justices in the Supreme Court recently opening up a Pandoras Box of problems, allowing each state to charge their own different sales tax.

I can’t say for sure.

But, I suspect this will be especially burdensome for any publishers using affiliates.


4. I preach to the choir, not the uninitiated

This is the most important reason:

With the exception of Copy Slacker (which originally I was going to try to sell to cold traffic) each of my product’s sales letters is written to people who are "pre-sold" on me, and are on my list already. I do this deliberately. And (for many reasons), as I'm not interested in selling it to cold (or even lukewarm) prospects.

This makes them unsuitable for most affiliates.

Anyway, that’s the bad news for affiliates wanting to sell my products.

The good news?

Actually, I’m not sure there is any “good” news.

Not for the vast majority of affiliates, anyway.

But, I am busy sizzling up a program of my own that will allow a few smart marketers with their acts together and who know how to actually sell and create long-term customers -- and not just "push & pitch" -- to create an entire side business (or full business) if they want, just out of selling my products.

Anyway, so that’s why I don't do affiliates.

I’ll be talking more about my “not really an” affiliate program soon.

On another note:

Tomorrow I’m girding up my loins for the "Super Villains of Persuasion" book launch. I’m going to be giving over 30 videos to people who buy via my instructions during the launch.

Until then?

Grab the first Villains book here:

http://www.VillainsBook.com

And read it (it can be read in one sitting).

Then get ye some sleep.

With the obnoxious number of emails I’m going to send, you’ll need it if you stay to the end…

Ben Settle