by pebbleworm on Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:31 pm
Here's how affiliate links work...
It's like selling Avon products. When people sell an Avon cologne to us for $10.00, Avon gives them $2.00 (only an example as I know nothing about Avon products, actually). When we buy the cologne directly from an Avon store, the price is still $10.00 and Avon keeps all of the money (to pay for the store space and sales persons, perhaps). But the point is, it doesn't really matter if we buy them from an affiliate or Avon store, since we're still paying $10.00.
Same with affiliate programs, if we take off the affiliate ID and go directly to the home page, we don't really save money. Fact, we are only making that company richer and probably depriving a hardworking online entrepreneur of his/her chance to make a few bucks, not even enough to buy a portobello burger.
Online companies pay affiliates a commission for a very important reason, they help promote the product. It's not easy to do that. We usually have to put up a site, add some content, and promote it.
These online companies pay these commission from their own pockets. If we don't use the affiliate ID's they'll be happier because it means more money for them and less for us webmasters and online entrepreneurs.
For those banking on affiliate programs to earn a few bucks. It's not a simple process of setting up a site and plastering the content with affiliate IDs. We need to establish a presence in a niche first since a loyal readership is more likely to buy a product or register for a service under our affiliate links.
There are affiliate links that I don't like either and they are usually on sites that are obvious click-traps.
Thanks.