So it seems that the subject of launching a site via the traditional JV model has stirred up some controversy.
This post is going to compare this “scummy” Internet Marketing model vs a more sustainable model.
Traditional Model
You pick a date, and then spend all your effort on schmoozing the big list owners and setting up the site to get highest earning per click for the affiliates. On top of that a contest will be in place to give away cool items such as ipads, experience days, and other shiny items.
The reason this model works so well in the world of internet marketing is the “shiny object” syndrome. Every month a new fad appears, currently it’s pintrest, could it be sitizen’s next month?
Your salespage will be set up for maximum hype and use all the pressure tactics such as blind salescopy and playing with emotions by selling hopes and dreams.
Now the trouble with this as a list owner is that you can get carried away with the “hype” and promote because you want the prizes and don’t care how good the “product” is, and if it will actually help your customers out.
With the rise of “churn & burn” marketing I’ve seem plenty of people go from making thousands on that first mailing to then making zero in a few months when profits have been put in front of ethics.
Ultimately the JV model is a cash grab, and it’s no different to the mobile phone market. Big money can be made today, but if you still have stock left once the hype is over then you’ll struggle to shift it.
To make this model work you need to constantly have new products and keep generating that newbie list to prevent the list you worked so hard to create from being burnt.
Community Model
This model works if you still want to sell the same product a year from now.
It’s about getting the people who buy / use your product or service to tell friends about how they’ve used it and what the benefits are. Typically the “salespage” will explain exactly what the product does, who the owner is, and be free of the normal marketing BS you have if you want to attract a “guru” to promote it.
Customer service will be a priority and the owner themselves will want all the users to succeed. Refund rates will be exceptionally low, and if you have a question then generally other members of the site will be ready to help out.
Social media will also be a key feature of these sites, you can form friendships with like minded people in the same niche.
Strike The Perfect Balance
To me it’s important that you focus on your marketing and make sure that the page will convert as well as possible. If you want to be successful you need to attract affiliates who are able to promote your site, so you do need to have ways of attracting the “big fish” who can send you lots of traffic.
As an owner make sure that you spend your advertising dollars in the right place and get to know the people who you want to promote your business. If you’re a traffic exchange owner and want to have the TimTech community help you then spend money with them and buy the tiered badges and take the time to meet the TELive community.
If you want the other “big players” in TE / Safelist Land to promote you then buy login adverts and credit specials then tell the site owner what the conversions were and how much profit they made you. This sort of information will get you onto the radar and show you as a serious business owner not someone after a money grab.
Place banners to their site inside your members area and add a follow-up message to your autoresponder. Integration marketing is the only strategy that works as well today as it did last year.
Be True To Yourself
It’s up to you how ethical you want to be. If you’re happy with “churn & burn” marketing where you only care about the profits you make today that’s cool, but when you mail out next month and make no sales don’t be surprised.
Andrew
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