Re: Whoa doggy!!

Hi MaaMaw,

> I'm sorry, but I don't think that's an accident. I don't see how someone
> can be smart enough to figure all this out and dumb enough to forget to
> warn people that the link won't work everywhere. I mean, I know some
> people who ONLY do affiliate programs that run through Clickbank!

You would think they would be smart enough to REALLY warn people about this, but then using a clickbank affiliate link for demo purposes...

> The ONLY thing that happens is they click and are sent to a page on your
> own site (which they never see) which then redirects them to your PROPER
> affiliate link, so it IS meeting the requirement of opening a "top
> level window" or however they put it -- in other words, it opens a
> brand new, fresh clean window just like your affiliate link plus
> target="_blank" would do, OR it opens your PROPER affiliate link
> in the same window if you don't use "target" --

The .htaccess method doesn't show the affiliate URL in the status bar of the browser, although the target="_blank" would if it wasn't hidden by .htaccess.

This meets the requirements of a top level window.

> but in either case, the result is EXACTLY the same as if you just typed in
> your affiliate link and let it show, right?

Except it puts your cookie first, which I believe Clickbanks other coding (which secrets they don't care to share) gives it precedence over an adjusted URL (i.e. someone trying to steal your commission)

> That's okay.

> Being the tactful person I am, I won't ask if that's a good thing or a bad
> thing.

My list? It is just something I use to evaluate different offers from various people who appear to be selling codswallop. I want to make sure that I don't buy from these people or offer to be an affiliate of any program they are promoting. Again "if it walks like a duck and smells like a fish"... I don't know what it is... so I just go the other way ;-)

> The first few pages are instructions for the program (which comes with
> automatic resale rights) -- then of course you click on the "here's
> how you can make more money" link and you get a big pitch about why
> you should have this book customized with all your affiliate links
> (bzillions of them) so you can start raking in the bucks with this great
> book as the pitch for all those products.

Of course many people wouldn't realize that this product would cost the sales of people they sell this program to who participate in Clickbank affiliate programs. And frankly, there are lots of affiliate scripts and programs that this script would work with... just not Clickbank.

> The catch is, you have to pay $67 for the privilege -- and I said to
> myself, "Self, if I do this, the ONLY person benefitting over the
> long haul will be Jimmy himself, because you would have to be a total
> idiot to think anyone who gets this book is going to buy any of the
> products from you when they can pay a one-time $67 and buy from
> themselves."

> True, you get the commission for when the person who bought the program
> pays their $67, but it seems to me the buck stops there.

Yup!

> I could be wrong about this whole thing -- in fact, that's a distinct
> possibility, because there are TONS of people who bit; I can't believe the
> sites that are offering this piece of crapola -- but it makes no sense to
> me. I'm not saying it's shady -- only that it sure isn't going to be the
> great money-maker he implies unless I'm missing something really obvious.

> I thought all the legal disclaimers
> seemed a little odd...

Well, as a disclaimer of my own and in all fairness -- I have never used the program, haven't examined all of the details about it and make no pretenses to understanding its full operation. My opinion is based solely upon the demo I saw which created a link to Clickbank which is stated to be illegal and the result of lost sales according to the FAQ.

Although the program may work fine on some types of affiliate programs, unfortunately the onus seems to be on the user to examine the processing methods of each affiliate program to try and decide whether they will use it or something else. I had pointed this out to you in a message on my board on April 10th. I'll quote what I said which may benefit others who are considering affiliate programs. I said:

"...there are lots of affiliate programs out there that use some other method, so I guess you need to evaluate the purchase process before you determine which way to hide the URL."

One other thing I might add for anyone who has a developer that they work with on a regular basis is to ask for consulting. As an example, I have regular clients who will send me scripts and programs and pay for my time to install, test and evaluate them before initiating them. Sure, it costs some money upfront, but it is better to have to pay the money upfront then lose more money in the long-term.

Funny thing about this too...

You would think that it would be people who are new to the Internet and business that would ask for such a thing... but it isn't.

You had mentioned in a response to my post that you were already using this program, and although you were a little suspicious of it, it seemed to be working. I guess I could have taken the cue and looked into it then, but I figured "she's got something she is using; it is working -- case closed."

Sorry about that MaaMaw.