The affiliate marketing industry is forecast to reach $6.8 billion by 2020. What began as a way to earn modest commissions from links to Amazon and other sites, has clearly grown into a real business opportunity. However, with this much money on the table, it’s not surprising that more than a few affiliate marketing program scams have popped up trying to capture some of this growth. To avoid falling prey to one of these scams, here are four tips to help you out.
By now, most people know not to fall for “get rich quick” schemes. You know, those opportunities promising you will make $5,000 in your first month by doing nothing or six-figures in your first year by working only one day a week. However, there are desperate moments where making a quick buck sounds very appealing. Save yourself the hassle, disappointment and wasted money, and avoid this affiliate marketing scam by steering clear of any program promising unrealistic outcomes.
We have great affiliate marketing threads that show members profiting from their campaigns, but keep in mind that any results you see on affLIFT are 100% dependent on the work that the person has put into their affiliate marketing campaign. Your results may vary. But, we're here to help!
The best way to avoid affiliate marketing program scams is to do your research. When you come across an affiliate program, spend some time digging into the details – How does it work? What is the product or service? What do current customers say? If any of these answers raise a red flag for you, do not pursue them further. This due diligence can help you weed out the bad programs from the good ones.
This is why we encourage affLIFT members to rate the companies in our Link Directory. It's a great resource for investigating traffic sources, tools, etc. because all of the listings are rated and reviewed by other affLIFT members.
In general, most affiliate programs will not ask for a fee to join. If an affiliate marketing program requires you to pay a membership fee to join, this should tip you off that it may not be legit. Most programs that ask you to pay to join are just another loosely disguised pyramid scheme. When in doubt, don’t pay. There is definitely a better and free affiliate marketing opportunity out there.
If you aren't sure about an affiliate program, you can ask about it in the Affiliate Offers section of our forum.
Some scammers go to great lengths to fool people into joining their bogus affiliate marketing programs. These scams are the hardest to detect because they look real – they have products, services and customers that seem legitimate. They often use the names of famous companies to make it seem like they are a real program. The best way to avoid these scams is to check with other affiliate marketers you know and trust. The word will eventually get out about these kinds of affiliate marketing scams.
These affiliate marketing program scams aren’t meant to scare you away from the industry. There are many real opportunities out there and a lot of real money to be made. As with any relatively new and fast-growing industry, it’s always a good idea to take a little more time to fully understand what you’re signing up for. With a little caution and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to earning a nice part of the $6.8 billion coming in to the affiliate marketing industry.
Related Article: What is affiliate marketing?
Be Wary of Get Rich Quick Schemes
By now, most people know not to fall for “get rich quick” schemes. You know, those opportunities promising you will make $5,000 in your first month by doing nothing or six-figures in your first year by working only one day a week. However, there are desperate moments where making a quick buck sounds very appealing. Save yourself the hassle, disappointment and wasted money, and avoid this affiliate marketing scam by steering clear of any program promising unrealistic outcomes.
We have great affiliate marketing threads that show members profiting from their campaigns, but keep in mind that any results you see on affLIFT are 100% dependent on the work that the person has put into their affiliate marketing campaign. Your results may vary. But, we're here to help!
Thoroughly Investigate Any Affiliate Marketing Opportunity
The best way to avoid affiliate marketing program scams is to do your research. When you come across an affiliate program, spend some time digging into the details – How does it work? What is the product or service? What do current customers say? If any of these answers raise a red flag for you, do not pursue them further. This due diligence can help you weed out the bad programs from the good ones.
This is why we encourage affLIFT members to rate the companies in our Link Directory. It's a great resource for investigating traffic sources, tools, etc. because all of the listings are rated and reviewed by other affLIFT members.
Don’t Pay to Join a Membership or Program
In general, most affiliate programs will not ask for a fee to join. If an affiliate marketing program requires you to pay a membership fee to join, this should tip you off that it may not be legit. Most programs that ask you to pay to join are just another loosely disguised pyramid scheme. When in doubt, don’t pay. There is definitely a better and free affiliate marketing opportunity out there.
If you aren't sure about an affiliate program, you can ask about it in the Affiliate Offers section of our forum.
Avoid Fake Products and Services
Some scammers go to great lengths to fool people into joining their bogus affiliate marketing programs. These scams are the hardest to detect because they look real – they have products, services and customers that seem legitimate. They often use the names of famous companies to make it seem like they are a real program. The best way to avoid these scams is to check with other affiliate marketers you know and trust. The word will eventually get out about these kinds of affiliate marketing scams.
Good Luck with Your Affiliate Marketing Business
These affiliate marketing program scams aren’t meant to scare you away from the industry. There are many real opportunities out there and a lot of real money to be made. As with any relatively new and fast-growing industry, it’s always a good idea to take a little more time to fully understand what you’re signing up for. With a little caution and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to earning a nice part of the $6.8 billion coming in to the affiliate marketing industry.
Related Article: What is affiliate marketing?
