Affiliate Marketing Pitfalls

People have always wanted to earn money and many have spent a great deal of time trying to work out how to achieve better results at the same time as doing a lot less work.  As far as affiliate marketing is concerned there are quite a few pitfalls you need to know about, even though it is an excellent way to make money.

In order to discover these drawbacks carry out a quick search on the Internet for “making easy money” or” work from home” and thousands of websites will appear on your screen about this subject.  However, when you click on many of these sites you will notice the same format which more often than not consists of a guy with a huge house in the background offering you pots of money upon signing up.  Could this really be you?

Let’s face it – we all know that the only way to have a stable income is to work hard initially, so before joining any affiliate program, some proper research needs to be carried out.  That, of course, is the beauty of the Internet, where all the information you could possibly need is right at your fingertips.

It’s so easy to do.   Simply type in the name of the affiliate program you want to find out about and add the word “scam”.  At the same time, it’s a good idea to join a few work from home forums and ask other members the questions you need answering.

With any affiliate program it is necessary to ascertain that there is 100% disclosure without you having to pay anything upfront.  For example, a program which will not tell you their compensation plan until you have signed up or who are not prepared to inform you of what is involved in the work without you buying a kit, should be avoided at all costs.

36 Comments

  • Jorge EZ Affiliate

    Reply Reply October 2, 2008

    There’s a lot of information out there that I think is not accurate and it’s just designed to make money from newbies. There are a lot of products out there that promise you’ll become rich in a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. This is simply just not true!

    ALWAYS do your research AND work hard!

    Jorge

    Jorge EZ Affiliates last blog post..3 Great Strategies for Finding New Niches for Your Affiliate Websites

  • I didn’t think affiliate programs ever needed you to buy any kind of kit, especially one for information before choosing to market their products. I know I’d steer clear!

    Dream BIG!

    Velma Gallant
    The Queen of JOY!
    Lazer Clarity Coach
    Host of Welcome Changes Radio

    Velma Gallant, The Queen of JOY!s last blog post..Howard Falco ~ Download

  • John Bandy

    Reply Reply October 2, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    I know you will be glad to get the family home where you can sit back, relax, and start making plans for that young man. I wish I could have read your article about a month ago. It is good advice for someone just starting. Thanks and have a great weekend.
    John

  • James

    Reply Reply October 2, 2008

    I would agree with Jorge many newbies fall victom to marketers that claim their products
    will bring them wealth beyond their wildest dreams with minimum effort.All I know If It
    sounds to good to be true It probably Is Just a
    bunch hype and deception.What they do Is play
    on people’s emotions.Don’t be a victom!

    See Ya PaPa

    James

  • dorothy hoffman

    Reply Reply October 2, 2008

    hi reed this is dorothy hoffman congraulation on yournew baby babys are so wonderful and i go crazy when the family brings their babys around they are a miracle from heaven i sure love them very very much again congrats

  • Carrie Pierce

    Reply Reply October 2, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    So glad to hear the latest re:the baby. Thanks for keeping us posted.

    Your points about Affiliates- and the many pitfalls- are so very true- and I want to shout ‘Hooray for you’ for addressing them upfront!

    There are so many novices in online business today- and also so many gullible folks out there blinded by the promise of fast wealth…both personality traits that can lead to being taken advantage of easily.

    So glad to read that you are providing pointers to keep folks on the straight and narrow path that leads to true success.

    Keep up the great work!

  • tmobil8

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hey Reed, Thomas here, thanks for the baby updates! very cool of you to do that for us. On a side note about affilaite marketing, te affiliates that i have, well over 200 of them, they all know where i stand when they signed up, i gave them a free sign up and one free campain for which ever website they like to advertise with. Usually a wbsites affilaite program would have you upgrade to make money, ut not mine. Till next time buddy , thanks again.

  • Rivers Corbett

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Reed…now you will be busty as a juggler..smile!
    Great article on the basics that aren’t necessarily the basics…
    Rivers
    Founder: JVBusinessSchool.com

  • Jay

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Reed, my experience with affiliate programs has been mainly with physical products and luckily it is working out just fine. In my digital product experience as a customer, I am very diligent about offering someone else’s product only if I truly believe it is of good value. And the good ones come from those IM’ers that you see and hear from more than once.
    Jay
    http://www.TheSmallBusinessNanny.blogspot.com

    Jays last blog post..Selling on the Internet–Who Knows What They Are Doing?

  • TrudyVan

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hi there Reed, TrudyVan here. I agree with you one hunderd percent. I see it on a daily basis in my training room. Our members have been burned so badly all because they do not have the knowledge

    There are loads of affiliate programs out there on the net. Such a pity some of them are out and out scams. Thank you for the information. I will pass it on to my members
    Kindest regards
    TrudyVan

  • Jussi Koiranen

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    I understand you’re really busy now! He looks healthy. I think this topic could have gone more indepth to the topic with very little.

  • Ajayi Flora

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hi Floren and Marissa PLUS Young Floren,what a great decision to have him circumcised very early,healing up is quick and best acheived too. but carefully take care of it,with all the rules of hygiene. best food for him is exclusive breast milk from his mother for the first six months,more than six times daiy.i know you will give the best attention to Marissa too ,you will both be very busy,its an exciting experience,you can”t be bored ,For now i have not started any internet job, am not experienced, more over i have no bank account internationally,but i like to have one.secondly i find it impossible to pay for products online, may be as a result of my global location..i feel i need tutoring and a lot of assistance,it will be great to start off.hum so long,taken much of your time, just give the baby a peck. Regards .
    FLORA.

  • Fatherspirit

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Thanks for another great article Reed!

    Sorry that I can’t elaborate on your topic in this comment; too many deadlines to attend to.

    Your friend in marketing,
    David Braybrooke. ‘Fatherspirit’.

    Fatherspirits last blog post..? Tips For Growing A Cat Garden! ?

  • Richard

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Full marks for the aricle Reed; it’s all too easy for the newbie to get burned in this business. Fortunately I tend to be cautious and did quite a lot of research when I got started, but there’s still far too much hype – you need to cut through it to find the gems.

    Keep up the good work!

  • Lynda Mekalick

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hi Reed,Marissa and baby – and everyone else.

    You’ll all be glad to get home, enjoy!

    I have always made it a policy to steer clear of affiliate programs where the “owner” shows you pics of his huge mansion and stable of flash cars! Yes they may well be his – but when he’s charging you anything from $300 to $5,000, then I’m not surprised that he has them after so many people have fallen for his sales speil!!!Besides, what earthly use to you is evidence of HIS success. You are interested in YOUR success – and if the program is genuine, then he will be focusing on HELPING YOU, not bragging about HIS material possessions!!

    HEAPS of good advice in your post today, Reed.Thank you.

    Cheers
    Lynda

  • Dora Kok

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    I was very delighted to read about the birth of your baby boy and congratulations to all three of you!

    Yes, I was conned by one and it shows you cannot be too careful.

  • Peter

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hallo Reed,
    Thanks for the ARTICLE about the catch of newbees. It is very easy to point on others and do the same. No one of thes “Helpers” is pointing on the follow ups costs involved.. find the niche… do a perfect (almost) writing what you intent find the autoresponder ups what is this find out are the mailer of a reply the value for a listbuilding etc. etc. No one is telling the truth about the workload behind. I’m sitting on the fence and trcking the developement of Salesletters, Websites, and the influence of softwaredevelopement. It is more than fantastic to read wordfindings whereby these guys not even know the reason of such wording but are using it. They are including into their measly low cost ebook a code for copying the url into every website you can grab until you detect the trap then it is too late you paid already butthat is another kettle of fish..
    to your success
    peter

  • Wayne Bell

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Great post and some very good advise Reed. My wife Susan and I have been involved in Affiliate Marketing for a little over five years now and although we have fallen for a few scams (just like I am sure most of us have), we where very fortunate early on to find two of what we consider to be, the best affiliate programs online. They offer awesome support and all the contact information is front and center for all to see. If any of your readers are considering Affiliate Marketing or adding to their online Business, I stronly urde them to check out”> http://milliondollarlinks.synthasite.com/CHECK-OUT-OUR-TOP-RATED-AFFILIATE-PROGRAMS.php ….. They will not be disappointed.

    Regards And Happiness
    Wayne

  • PV Reymond

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    I agree with you, there are many affiliate programs out there that are promising people a lot of money in a short period of time, but if you join them you’ll see that you make no money.

    The point is that when you jump online for the first time you are without direction, you don’t know what to do or where to go… Then, these programs come out promising a lot of money and most people fall into the trap.

    In order to make a lot of money online you have to work hard, at least in the beginning… All the things you need off line you have to incorporate online.

    Thanks,
    ^PV Reymond

    http://www.pvreymond.com

  • shiva

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Reed,

    the topic was excellent, i have burnt myself so i am giving little more time to myself, but i believe you, i will be in your team any shortest possible time. There is SAY in India “even cat drinks hot milk after cooling it.”

    shiva

  • Wayne G.

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Your right a 100%.I’ve been trying to make mony on the internet now for a couple of years. Everybody offers affiliate sites for free stateing you’ll will make money with them. Let me tell you it does’t work that easy.I have not make a dime on them.I think the best way is for you to have your own site first. Need to do alot of research on your site before you begin to even build it. Been taking in alot of training on all area’s of the subject. And still not quite ready yet. Takes alot of time and effort,but in the end I think it going to pay off .

  • MaryBeth

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Okay, I agree with you. So who would you recommend we try?

  • Damji Dharamshi

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    There Is Difficult To Choose Write Program When All Are Riding On The Same Cart.

    Damji Dharamshi

  • Liz Nichols

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    There are products and methodologies that will reduce the time it takes for someone to make money on the net and improve the likelihood of success. However, it is very true that the majority of “get rich quick” sites on the net are just gimmicks and do not work for the vast majority.

    Sure, you can make a few bucks fast with a little knowledge and luck, but sustaining a business takes time, effort, and a little start-up money. Without the time to devote to building a sustainable business, no one should get in in the first place.

    Liz Nichols

    Liz Nicholss last blog post..Video Social Marketing: VidEngage

  • Jorge EZ Affiliate

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Reply to James…

    “All I know If It sounds to good to be true It probably Is Just a bunch hype and deception.What they do Is play on people’s emotions.Don’t be a victom!”

    James,

    I could not agree more… NEWBIES, don’t let yourself be deceived anymore.

    Unfortunately; the scams out there make it VERY difficult for honest Internet Marketers to provide their products and services.

    A rule of thumb for me:

    If you cannot get them on the phone before buying… Don’t do it!

    Just my recommendation.

    Take care.

    Jorge

    Jorge EZ Affiliates last blog post..Affiliate Marketing in a Recession? ABSOLUTELY YES!

  • Hey Reed,

    I know exactly what you mean. I’m a little tired of the loooooong sales pages that really say nothing and boast about how much money they make. Unfortunatley for someone new it’s very inticing – i’ve been there. I’m new to the make money online niche but I can tell you that honesty is the best policy. That way you get repeat customers.

  • Supernatural Season 4

    Reply Reply October 3, 2008

    Reed,

    I do not agree to get involve in purely internet marketing esp selling scrappy ebook just to get money out of newbies. We should offer good and usable product to be marketed and not digging free stuff and sell it to innocent people.

    Supernatural Season 4s last blog post..Episode 3 – In the Beginning

  • taofeek

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    congrats to reed and marissa for the new born baby.thanks also mfor your business infos.i enjoy every bit of your information and luck,money,knowledge and information plays a very big role if not the biggest role in life.i hope you understand all these i’ve mentioned.my warm regards to your family.cheers

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    @Jorge I agree with you 100%

    @Velma I’m glad you knew that a lot of people are taken by scams like that

    @John thank you

    @James I agree way to many “too good to be true” products out there

    @Dorothy thank you

    @Carrie thank you, if I can prevent just one person from being taken it was worth putting this post up

    @Thomas, @Rivers thanks

    @Jay that’s a great way to do it

    @TrudyVan you’re welcome

    @Jussi what do you suggest would improve it?

    @Flora, @David, @Richard thank you

    @Lynda it’s much more important to follow someone who talks about their peers and partners successes then their own. It bugs me that there are so many people who only show off all these flashy things (that’s not what life is about) unfortunately it helps them sell but in reality in the US if you make more than $32K a year you are already doing better than 50% of the nation… and that’s a lot of people http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/CutYourTaxes/make-32k-youre-in-the-richer-50percent.aspx

    @Dora thank you

    @Peter I agree this industry unfortunately has a lot of lies and hype, it really saddens me.

    @Wayne I’m sorry you’ve fallen for some scams but I applaud you for sticking with internet marketing most people do not last 5 years.

    @PV great points, you interested in guest blogging? shoot me an email reedfloren AT gmail.com

    @Shiva interesting saying, never heard it before thanks for sharing.

    @Wayne congrats on sticking with this for a few years most people drop out by then, I applaud you. I would agree with you your own products and sites make it a lot easier to make money online

    @MaryBeth I’ve never had problems getting paid via ClickBank

    @Damji not sure what you mean

    @Liz I agree with you 100%

    @Jorge great tip regarding the phone

    @Luca I agree honesty will get you a lot farther and you can sleep at night too… well unless a baby wakes you 😉

    @Supernatural and what products do you sell? Personally I think selling information is great since I feel that the information products I have purchased have made me the person I am today.

    @taofeek thank you

  • Kenny Ritchie

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    I agree with Reed most of the Ebook’s I’ve purchased have been top quality product recently.

    Even the ones I wouldn’t recommened I’ve learned from it helps you climb back up higher if you realise your mistakes and don’t repeat them.

    Top Tip: Don’t promote what you’ve not consumed.

    Kenny Ritchies last blog post..three free internet marketing resources

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    @Kenny great tip don’t promote anything you haven’t gone through

  • Chris Imamshah

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Great post. I too have been scammed with useless products for affiliates or online marketers, including a coaching program that I did that did not live up to its promises at all. So I’ve blown a few thousand dollars to learn what I’ve learnt so far. I did not buy into “get-rich-quick” programs but bought “work hard and follow my lead programs” which still ended up being a joke and a rip-off.

    My philosophy with my online business ( as it is in my offline life also ) is that while the internet may seem huge and it is since it’s a worldwide community, honesty will always do you better than scamming people and tarnishing your reputation. You can never recover from a tarnished reputation online.

    In the end it is our responsibility to do the research before jumping into something.

    Thanks again for a great post.
    Chris
    http://www.fastinternetmarketingtips.com
    http://www.christineimamshah.com

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 12, 2008

    @Chris I like what you said: “honesty will always do you better than scamming people and tarnishing your reputation. You can never recover from a tarnished reputation online.”

  • Doug Holstein

    Reply Reply October 25, 2008

    I love your work Reed. Great article on getting the foundations right first.

    Founder: JVBusinessSchool.net

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 26, 2008

    @Doug thanks.

  • Phoebe

    Reply Reply November 14, 2009

    I wonder what others would have to say about this.

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