I was PMed by advertiser to run offer directly thru him instead of CPA network

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moolahaffiliate

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Mar 6, 2008
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Hey Guys,

I was actually PMed by an advertiser to run a particular offer directly through him after he saw my post where I mentioned I was running his company's offer through a CPA network.

It's NOT that I'm doubting him as he seems legit with his use of his company's email in our correspondence but I wish to know why an advertiser would "recruit" affiliates directly to run his offer when he could do so indirectly through the CPA network he's working with?

Is this "unethical" as it bypasses the CPA network thus forgoing it of the "middle man" commission it earns?

Those of you who've been contacted by an advertiser directly, I would appreciate if you share your experience.

Thanks!

PS: No offense D (the advertiser who PMed me) if you're reading this :p Just wish to gather opinions from fellow AMs. You might wanna clarify by replying to this thread or we can talk when you're online later on.
 


Check all the terms and if the payout is better and you can handle the possible payment delays, go for it. You can still split test between your network and direct with him.

This is a big step that many affiliates are hoping to get to one day, I'd suggest looking into it seriously as this could be a huge difference maker for you.
 
most big networks have a circumvention clause that could cause problems for the advertiser and indirectly hurt you.

Also if an advertiser is willing to cut out their business partner (the network) what makes you think in a couple of months you wont be cut out next?

If you ask me what the advertiser is doing is dirty and unethical
 
As long as you haven't signed an agreement with any network that you won't work with any of their advertisers directly, I'd go for it. I would probably split test the offer with the same offer through the network until you felt comfortable dealing directly with the advertiser. I've actually never done it so I'm not responsible if things get messed up for you.
 
It can be a pain in the ass getting money directly from the advertiser
They will always pay their networks before you.
 
mkrongel said:
most big networks have a circumvention clause that could cause problems for the advertiser and indirectly hurt you.

Also if an advertiser is willing to cut out their business partner (the network) what makes you think in a couple of months you wont be cut out next?

If you ask me what the advertiser is doing is dirty and unethical
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I was just going to say that.

In addition, the value that a network brings to an advertiser is being able to give them an immediate pool of affiliates to tap into. Finding and recruiting affiliates that drive volume is time intensive when your running an internal program. If advertisers go around the network and essentially steal their affiliates (that they took the time & money to find and recruit), it's extremely unethical in my opinion. A networks greatest asset IMHO (I don't run one, but the person I quoted does) is the number & quality of it's affiliates and their ability to drive volume for an advertiser...which is why networks have you agree to a non-circumvent.
 
I'd say if you went and proactively hunted down the adavertisr yourself and try to cut a deal that would be one thing. However if the advertiser knew you were running with some other network I'd assume they'd want to support them. If I knew an advertiser was actively perusing the affiliates we brought to and worked with to get their offer successful, I'd definately drop the relationship with that advertiser, Immediately. As a network.
 
i've been approached many times, for the 15-20% I'll let those select networks I work with deal with the headaches of payment issues/delays, net 15 payments and subsequent cash float paying me weekly, and the ability to leverage aggregated volume to put pressure on some sketchy advertiser who decides a bender to vegas is more fun than paying anyone so the network fronts the cash to me and tries to collect or get legal involved.

I also agree with Smax/Mike that this is real bad business to try and cut out the network knowing that particular aff works through networkXYZ.

Not saying don't do it- just realize you're now in a different league with regards to ease of payments.
 
Although Mike and Smax have good points, this is business. You take the extra percentage you can get for going direct and possibly deal with some bullshit, or you give up that percentage and let the network deal with the possible bullshit. Weigh those two and take the better.
 
sometimes its worth going direct other times the risk of not getting paid out is not worth extra. Negotiate with Networks and you can get some amazing payout deals that you would never think possible
 
Rage9 said:
Although Mike and Smax have good points, this is business. You take the extra percentage you can get for going direct and possibly deal with some bullshit, or you give up that percentage and let the network deal with the possible bullshit. Weigh those two and take the better.
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When the adv cuts a network out, i would bet that the same advertiser will cut you out once they find your placements. That Adv knows you work with the network by looking at their stats, once they get a step closer its easier for them to see your placements and do the same to you.

A few extra pennies today can cost dollars in the future. If this was an advertiser of ours no matter how big i would drop them quick and fast
 
i've had much better conversion rates going direct on some offers instead of through a network. never had a problem w/ payment either. i think a lot of people must say advertisers don't like to pay because they are just repeating what the affiliate networks say (and want people to believe). :)
 
An advertiser cutting out a network is pretty shady. Usually what they are doing is they will pay you higher than what you get on the network, but lower than what the network is getting. It's really a shady move for the advertiser to do to the network that brought them the traffic anyway. If it happened to us, I would drop that advertiser.
 
I agree with smax, its one thing if you as an affiliate are willing to take on the extra issues of going direct. Its another thing if an advertiser tries to recruit the best affiliates on a network and cut the network out. At that point he is only one step away from your keywords / placements and whereas a network usually will do the right thing (for at the least public perception if not ethical business reasons) its much harder to guarantee a single advertiser would.
 
conv3rsion said:
I agree with smax, its one thing if you as an affiliate are willing to take on the extra issues of going direct. Its another thing if an advertiser tries to recruit the best affiliates on a network and cut the network out. At that point he is only one step away from your keywords / placements and whereas a network usually will do the right thing (for at the least public perception if not ethical business reasons) its much harder to guarantee a single advertiser would.
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Not to be a dick or question anyone's integrity, but that's the reason I cloak everything. It's a fine balance between exposing your general ideas and strategies to your account manager and showing your complete hand.
 
The PM was more along the line of I know you mentioned this offer, if you're running it right now I can get you a higher direct rate since it's my offer.
 
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