Beware Affiliate Program Scams
May 4th, 2008
The lure of making money with affiliate programs appeals to many people. It may be the thought of working from home for a few hours per day, or quitting a dead end job you hate. It may just be the lure of making extra money to buy gas and groceries that lure many people into affiliate programs and affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is a way many people believe that can be self employed without a huge financial risk and yet make a good income. Affiliate programs cost nothng to join in most cases and you’re paid on your ability to sell products or services for companies.
Unfortunately, this lure to work from home and make easy money sets many people up for being taken by scams. Affiliate marketing is not immune to this. There is no way to list every scam that has been pulled.
One way to prevent being taken by an affiliate program scam is to sign up under a reputable affiliate marketing network like Commission Junction. There are others such as Share A Sale, LinkShare, COPEAC, Azoogle and NeverBlue Ads to just name a few. These companies normally prescreen merchants who apply to become associates.
Another red flag is offers that sound to good to be true. Stop and think about it for a minute. If the offer they’re giving you sounds out of this World, why aren’t they making the money for their self? If it’s a bonfide deal, they won’t be afraid of answering your questions. And if "everyone can do it" then chances are everyone is doing it and not making money!
When someone contacts me about selling their products, I immediately start researching the person and the company. One of the best resources is affiliate marketing forums like Digital Point or ABestWeb and 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Forums. If it’s a scam, chances are there are others on these forums who know and will give you a heads up.
There are many great affiliate marketing programs in existence today. There are also many companies that are fraudulent and scammers. When deciding who to go with, check for testimonials and use Internet affiliate marketing forums to check the company or person out. Use the internet to dig up the dirt. Ask about the company’s track record. Just remember, no track record at all can be nearly as bad as a negative record. Beware of new companies coming into the scene. If they are worth it they will still be there in a few months time and you’ll still be able to make money with their affiliate program.
Entry Filed under: Business