My biggest obstacle as a newbie

[Jaded Affiliate]

My biggest obstacle as newbie comes down to the fact that most of the products we promote as affiliates are complete crap. Even if you think the product you are pedaling is of "value" we as affiliates know deep down this is bullshit. Nobody needs this crap. What we do is seedy and at the end of the day someone is getting completely ripped off as we line our pockets with their hard earned money. It only takes a quick glance at the highest gravity products on Clickbank to realize that affiliate marketers are pedaling some truly shit products.

As affiliate marketers we are at the lowest rungs of the ladder, operating in the darkest corners and most seediest shadows of the world...probably somewhere in Thailand living the cliche affiliate "laptop lifestyle."

Some of you may disagree with me but I think if you look deep into the matter there is some partial truth that what we do contributes nothing to anyone and in fact, is more damaging than anything else.

My question is this: How do you hamster away what you do? I know many affiliates are straight sociopaths and lack a moral true north so to speak. These guys probably bank the most and its no wonder why affiliate marketing attracts them. But I also know that many of us are normal people just trying to make a nice living in this world before we roll into the yawning grave.

Do any other affiliates think about this?

 

[thehuffman]

"DAMN."

my first thought as I read your post... I feel you. I'm a newbie as well and I'm having a hard time balancing on the ethical and moral tightrope. There's certain niche's I won't get involved in, but just from looking around there are companies promoting good stuff. Maybe stay away from clickbank? It seems that place has been littered with people who have created their own crap and are trying to sell it for XXX. I've seen good stuff around my networks... You just might have to do a bit of digging and ask your AM about what to do to sell something you can truly rally behind and not lose your humanity in the process.

 

[thehuffman]

Also dude I will say that I work for a company who's marketing is similar to a lot of the top CB offers: the page style, layout, copy style... and in the past I would have thought that stuff to be total crap too. However, having worked at this company for over 3 years I can firsthand tell a lot of stories where our company has helped people... my boss is just terrible at webdesign and is stuck in the 80 & 90's sales/marketing styles.

 

[Jaded Affiliate]

Also dude I will say that I work for a company who's marketing is similar to a lot of the top CB offers: the page style, layout, copy style... and in the past I would have thought that stuff to be total crap too. However, having worked at this company for over 3 years I can firsthand tell a lot of stories where our company has helped people... my boss is just terrible at webdesign and is stuck in the 80 & 90's sales/marketing styles.

Yeah, I cringe hard at that old school copy design. The thing is you still see it ALL THE TIME. Some of the highest selling affiliate products still use that kind of copy on landing pages. My brain literally can't process how that style of copy can hook a buyer. As a consumer I run far away whenever I see that type of crap on the internet, but I write it because for some fucked up reason it sells.

Part of me wants to sell as much of this crap to any idiot willing to buy and part of me wants nothing to do with leaving a wake of complete garbage in my path.

I do agree that it is important to find a product that you can 100 percent get behind. I think living in a consumer oriented society takes it toll on moral people but those who lack it can truly thrive. I'm trying to find some middle ground.

 

[marketerbybirth]

@Jaded Affiliate you are amazing man! the way you are summarizing things, is something awesome. however, don't lose hope there is still a lot to come. In this business, one really has to suppress his inner human and emotions. You have to sell stuff to earn money, don't think a lot about the customers. Its actually the nature, that derives them to take out their credit cards, and this is the way money is getting rotation... Wish you best of luck ahead!

 

[azgold]

Not every offer, product or vertical is crap. Stick to your ethics and only choose offers or products that you believe provide value. That's it, simple.

There are some verticals I will not promote, no matter what. And I always try to find stuff that I believe people could actually use or have fun with. I'm not the only one who thinks this way, either. There are many ethical marketers, many who make a good living.

If you honestly believe what you said (which is offensive, IMO)....
As affiliate marketers we are at the lowest rungs of the ladder, operating in the darkest corners and most seediest shadows of the world...probably somewhere in Thailand living the cliche affiliate "laptop lifestyle."

Some of you may disagree with me but I think if you look deep into the matter there is some partial truth that what we do contributes nothing to anyone and in fact, is more damaging than anything else.

...then what on earth are you doing in this business??

Be discriminating. You might have to poke around a bit more but what is so hard about that? Especially when there are lots of people and resources to help you if you get stuck on how to find a suitable offer or product.

Not sure if you're just venting because you're frustrated. If so, take a deep breath and start again. On your own terms.

 

[Freevy]

It's not just about -affiliate marketing- or online business. This is the way the world works!
Read this.
Marketing Morality

 

[Jaded Affiliate]

It's not just about -affiliate marketing- or online business. This is the way the world works!
Read this.
Marketing Morality

That was a good link there. Taking personal responsibility and seeing the consequences of marketing certain products is the mark of the affiliate professional IMO. It is true though, the sociopath will make more money in the end because his immorality knows no bounds.

He will gladly tackle the adult vertical in his creepy and fiendish ways and make six figures everyday feeding the addictions of others as well as his own. All the while this affiliate is clueless of the consequences. He says that the market made the decision for him but this is a lie as the article points out.

But lo...the article also says we are not to judge to him. At the end of the day we can only take responsibility of our own actions.

As for me, finding a harmless product that is fun and provides some kind of healthy value will be key to my success.

Bank deeply my friends and never stray from your personal values.

 

[azgold]

Bank deeply my friends and never stray from your personal values.

Love that, great motto!

 

[T J Tutor]

The moral imperative seems to be a turning point for so many in business. Unfortunately, not everyone's morals are the same. This is where they tend to cross.

Is it morally correct for a Mormon to promote God to an Atheist? It is if you are a Mormon, but it is a moral indiscretion to an Atheist.

Is it good judgement to pitch pornography? It is if you are a porn star, it may not be so to an Evangelist.

Would it be appropriate to promote bacon cheeseburger coupons to an obese person? The obese person may not care and would likely want the coupon if they liked bacon cheeseburgers, however, their doctors (et al) would object. Who are we to object? None of us want to have our freedoms governed by others. We use demographics that do not include these, and hundreds of other qualifiers, to eliminate what we may consider inappropriate audiences and/or offers. Who are we to make that moral leap on behalf of others.

I agree that there is an abundance of crap offers and companies, but there are crappy moral objectives as well. Isn't it crap if we simply begin eliminating offers based on our own moral judgments alone, then we are not staying objective and the second you take your eye off the objective ball, your business may be diminished dramatically and unnecessarily.

Researching a product to determine if it is well received by a niche and/or a specific demographic should always be an imperative. However, if it is a product in demand, and you decide it is a crap product, you are passing judgement on the benefits others may see in it or may have already received. That is not what a marketer is all about.

As I see it, as a non-sociopath, if a company service or product is lawful, has a demand, and can be promoted successfully and in accordance with all of the Terms of Services we must adhere to, then there is little cause for eliminating it as a potential source of income simply due to a personal moral imperative.

That said, I find that most do well promoting offers with which they can relate in some way.

@Jaded Affiliate , you state that "Some of you may disagree with me but I think if you look deep into the matter there is some partial truth that what we do contributes nothing to anyone and in fact, is more damaging than anything else."

You are stating that we are all alike (in a negative light), not true. I know where you are coming from, but it is hollow succor for those trying to get into the business and struggling. You will scare many off with this type of remark. There is no "partial truth" that I "contribute nothing to anyone" nor is it partially true, not in any way, that what I promote (and how I promote it) "is more damaging than anything else"!. Yes there are those that are unscrupulous in this industry, but this is true of every industry. Just learn to be a very objective marketer that follows the law and the various Terms of Service to which we agree.

It's not up to you and I if the over weight person gets a Popsicle. It's their decision.

 

[Jaded Affiliate]

As I see it, as a non-sociopath, if a company service or product is lawful, has a demand, and can be promoted successfully and in accordance with all of the Terms of Services we must adhere to, then there is little cause for eliminating it as a potential source of income simply due to a personal moral imperative.

What good are moral values if they don't guide your decisions? If I think pornography is immoral because it fuels addiction then I'm not going to promote the adult vertical even though it is legal and has market demand. If you think a particular vertical is harmful or destructive to the person consuming it but promote it anyways for profit you have been corrupted. In fact, this is the definition of corruption.

It's not up to you and I if the over weight person gets a Popsicle. It's their decision.

Demand and choice are interesting indeed. The majority of people in today's society do not have a choice in the products they consume. The choice is made for them by marketers. Yes, they pulled out their credit card and bought. On the surface it looks like they made the choice but peel back the layers and you see this is not the case.

If we look at our own choices many of them are not informed by personal values. They are informed by the social narrative and a system that is profit driven. Wake up Neo...haha.

You make some good points and I do agree I went over the top in my original post. If my post deters new affiliate marketers from giving this craft the ol' college try then I doubt they have thick enough skin to make it in this business.

 

[azgold]

@tjtutor - as always, a cool head and calming voice of reason. Love the way you think and explain things!

@Jaded Affiliate - whoa! I wish I had as much power over people that you seem to think we all do! I'd be rich by now. Kind of sounds like mass hypnosis.

I don't think TJ is telling you to disregard your ethics, at all. In my opinion, he is saying not to make decisions for other people (customers). Also, not to judge others because they sell some products that you don't want to. They wouldn't be able to sell them unless there were people wanting to buy them. Right?

We live in a democratic society with a lot of free will. Just because you don't agree with something, doesn't make it wrong for somebody else. I think TJ was also saying that.

As I said previously, be discriminating and follow your own sense of ethics. No need to bash other marketers. We're all striving for the same goals, just taking different paths.

 

[Jaded Affiliate]

I'm not bashing other affiliates. It's none of my business how people make money. Make no mistake; I am not asking for advice. I am only reaching out to see what other affiliates think about the morals of marketing and how it works in to what products they promote. This is not a thread that needs to be taken as a personal attack on affiliates who have differing opinions, beliefs and values. Anything goes and will not be judged.

In fact, a discussion with a highly sociopathic affiliate would give this thread some real depth.

 

[azgold]

In fact, a discussion with a highly sociopathic affiliate would give this thread some real depth.

Oh, that would be interesting!

 

[kenyan]

Morals and advertising...people will do whatever they want to do. I used to have that moralistic, simplistic way of thinking a few months ago. The truth, however, is that life is one big grey area. Understanding the workings of the human brain (and why some things such as porn and weight-loss products are so popular) will help you tap into human nature and make a good living from affiliate marketing. The key here is to have a balance as well as respect legal boundaries. Leave the moral talk to the nuns, the pope and the religious folk

 

[azgold]

Morals and advertising...people will do whatever they want to do. I used to have that moralistic, simplistic way of thinking a few months ago. The truth, however, is that life is one big grey area. Understanding the workings of the human brain (and why some things such as porn and weight-loss products are so popular) will help you tap into human nature and make a good living from affiliate marketing. The key here is to have a balance as well as respect legal boundaries. Leave the moral talk to the nuns, the pope and the religious folk

Well put!

 

[Pierre Barnard]

Agree with Jaded Affiliate.

 

[AffiliatePartner]

My biggest obstacle as newbie comes down to the fact that most of the products we promote as affiliates are complete crap. Even if you think the product you are pedaling is of "value" we as affiliates know deep down this is bullshit. Nobody needs this crap. What we do is seedy and at the end of the day someone is getting completely ripped off as we line our pockets with their hard earned money. It only takes a quick glance at the highest gravity products on Clickbank to realize that affiliate marketers are pedaling some truly shit products.

As affiliate marketers we are at the lowest rungs of the ladder, operating in the darkest corners and most seediest shadows of the world...probably somewhere in Thailand living the cliche affiliate "laptop lifestyle."

Some of you may disagree with me but I think if you look deep into the matter there is some partial truth that what we do contributes nothing to anyone and in fact, is more damaging than anything else.

My question is this: How do you hamster away what you do? I know many affiliates are straight sociopaths and lack a moral true north so to speak. These guys probably bank the most and its no wonder why affiliate marketing attracts them. But I also know that many of us are normal people just trying to make a nice living in this world before we roll into the yawning grave.

Do any other affiliates think about this?

Life is what you think it is my friend...
If you are selling something you believe to be crap just because you think it will make money then you are doing things wrong.

As affiliate marketers we help people sell their products and services.
Just like a store.

If you owned a store full of junk you would probably not feel too great selling your inventory.

But if you had a store full of things that you felt were interesting/ useful/ and just cool stuff all around then you would probably enjoy being in your store, and showing customers all of your cool things for sale!

When i first started i thought i had to sell junk ebooks that could be given away for a simple email address.

but that is not the reality of it!

You can sell ANYTHING!!!

As an affiliate marketer your job is not to be a sneaky person that peddles junk to unsuspecting buyers, but rather to find products and services that you think atre awesome, that you would use! then take those products and show them to others along with their benefits.

If you dont believe what you are selling or just doing it for the money the customer will be able to tell. humans have pretty keen intuitions to this type of thing.

Until you change your mentality towards your job, it will not improve.

"for as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he"

Hope this helps!
May your future be filled with prosperity and joy!