Why The H*LL CPA Network Should Exist ? (28)
I'm talking about the bad ones.. they who dont pay the affiliates, just because they haven't (or not gonna be paid) by the advertiser.
Just heard from my friend he's not gonna be paid $xx.xxx from one of cpa network. and I'm pretty sure it will affect their cashflow.
I mean.. after he put all his effort to send good quality traffic, spent the bucks, everything is going well for weeks.. and suddenly they just cut it off because their financial problem, and start looking reasonable answer why they cant pay him.
Maybe I'm just a noob, but as long as I know that's what cpa networks are for.. shelter for affiliates. there are reasons why we say no to direct advertisers and build good relationship with our AM.
Please tell us the noobs, why should they.. (bad) cpa networks should exist if they don't act like they should be ?
Or maybe there's any blacklisted networks we should know ? (if allowed, I would name it "birdman list") 
Need your advise guys..
I've heard a number of stories like this in the past week with networks based in China...
In this case, outside China network is involved mate.. 
Starting a CPA network isn't particularly difficult.
Why you as a newbie or your friend as an experienced CPA marketer will join an unproven network is what doesn't make sense to me. CPA networks are not all universally safe for affiliates. You can try to complain about the bad ones, you can try to regulate the bad ones. Ultimately, it'll be a waste of time. Know what's good, what's bad, approach the good, avoid, the bad, and move on.
well said jennatalia..
I'm trying to avoid bad ones.. and it would be great if anyone share their experience, so at least we won't bother to approach the unproven and focusing the trusted networks.
both (recommended or blacklisted) would help us.
How to spot a not-so-credible network:
- Site is crap and unprofessional.
- No one has ever heard of them before or worked with them.
- They offer crazy advantages like daily/weekly wires for all affiliates straight away.
- They have virtually no approval process.
- Their offers are brokered up the wazoo.
- Lots of reports of late payments or conflicts with affiliates.
Tips:
- Ask about networks here before working with them. Credible networks are obvious: Neverblue, Glispa, A4D, etc. etc.
- Google the network. If you Google'd Glispa you'd see they just had a funding round in the 10's of millions. Seems legit to me.
- Ask your current, credible AMs to see if they know them. The affiliate marketing world is relatively small and well-connected. For any new network, someone you know will know someone who knows someone from their company. If they don't, that's not a good sign. If they do, chances are someone has some insight into who they are and where they come from.
- As an affiliate, when you join, ask about their payment terms, any regulations they have, ask if you need to submit a W8-BEN if they are a US company, etc. Ask if they have any direct relationships with specific advertisers and what verticals they focus on, and so on. Basically, vet them the way many networks vet you. If things smell fishy e.g. "Yeah bro we have direct relationships with all our advertisers - we don't broker anything!" Then you check links and they are all brokered... time to go. Besides being bad, you've been straight up lied to.
In most cases where affiliates get burned by incredible networks, at least in retrospect, it will be obvious that the affiliate risked a lot when they decided to work with and trust them.
In the case of many of the networks based out of China, there are frequent issues with communication and the advertisers, being Chinese, tend to have some 'different' approaches to things vs those in Europe/USA. Things like really heavy compliance and crazy terms where you'd be crazy to run the advertisers offer. Crap like "if your leads don't have over 20% retention then we are not liable to pay you for them".
On the other hand, some of the offers these advertisers have do HUGE volume and can make you a lot of money. But there will always be risks and pros/cons, it's up to you to know what they are -- there's no sense in being naive about business decisions.
Here's an excellent video from Malan on this topic as well:
Honestly there are always two sides of the story.
Established affiliate networks will always pay unless they have a legitimate reason not to.
That's why I suggest to stick with the ones that have been around for years and have a strong presence in communities like STM.
Originally Posted by bbrock32
that's why I'd love to know if anybody can share their (payment) experience with networks in the past, at least we can learn and not doing the same mistakes (and lost our payment).
anyone willing to share the list ? or it's not allowed to name the (bad) network here ?
Why are you talking on behalf of your friend?
Do they not have an account here?
Just want to make it clear : I'm not gonna name the network name here, and not interested to discuss about the case.
what happened to my friend is just a case that made me think to start this thread, and asking opinion how to choose good networks and avoid the bad ones based on this forum member experience.
would you like to share yours, jennatalia?
Can't go wrong with these ones: http://mthink.com/top-cpa-networks-2015/
Well funded
Thousands of affiliates
Strong histories of payouts
Really no real reason to use a different network--especially when starting out.
It's really hard to making a comment here without knowing more details from both sides. Like Besmir said the network is very unlikely not pay for no reason. There has to be something more to it.
A good way to protect yourself is by spreading your traffic across multiple networks.
I've been running on affiliate networks for around 8 years now. I've not been paid 3-4 times. 2 were because I made the risk of running with an unknown unproven network. 1 because they were in the middle of a big court case. And the other because there was a question in the quality of lebads, so I was paid a just my cost of traffic.
I do believe I've had extra protection because of my brand, but I think being an STM member now provides a lot of protection too.
Ask affiliates who got in the similar situation. Big guys can recommend networks that pay affiliates in full even if an advertiser doesn't.
The biggest reason crap affiliate networks exist? Greed and laziness.
Affiliates don't want to get on the phone with a "real" network so they get lazy and go with the ones that have no approval process.
Need a higher payout and less restrictions on an offer? This affiliate network has got them! Never-mind it's the same offer and doesn't make sense why you'd be allowed to break the advertiser rules but hey the CPA network you had never heard of before said it's OK so go nuts.
Been kicked off an offer for bad quality for the 3 or 4th time? Go to that new affiliate network they will never tell the advertiser who you are! Don't worry about actually fixing the quality issue or anything.
Originally Posted by Mr Green
Originally Posted by chempez
Originally Posted by chempez
I'd love to share if that was my own case.
I dont think it wise enough to name both of the affiliate or network name since I wasn't involved.
Then take your drama elsewhere.
Sorry if you feel that way about my curiosity Jen.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is what a forum for.. People start asking, and anyone (who are willing to) share their own opinion or experience.
Just a noob with less experience, asking for the thing I'd love to know from you guys. Feel free not to contribute if you dont want to..
Originally Posted by chempez
Your continued dangling of the network that supposedly wronged your friend followed by your subsequent change of heart to not reveal the network counts in my opinion as drama. If you think a network wronged you, provide evidence. Chat logs, emails, communications, proof of monies owed, something to build your case. Something that can prove to your peers--the members here on STM--that you were wronged, so that we as a collective may provide suggestions or leverage our personal connections to help make you whole.
I have met with representatives from each of the sponsoring networks at STM London, and I find them to be overwhelmingly supportive of their affiliates. During my conversations with each of them, they have told stories of affiliates who were running non-compliant campaigns, and the general trouble caused by fraudulent leads driven by the few bad affiliate eggs.
Going forward...
I suggest you read every single post here: http://wallstreetplayboys.com/
They describe--more eloquently than I can--the mindset, the struggles, and the skillset required to perform well not strictly in Wall Street, but really in any business.
If you find their content offensive, or you disagree with them on wealth creation / asset building, I strongly suggest you reconsider affiliate marketing as a career.
Originally Posted by chempez
Originally Posted by jennatalia
Running a network is very difficult, and you can run into a lot of legal & payment issues if you're not careful.
The most trust-worthy networks (in terms of payments) are those that have been around for a long time, have good cred in the industry, a strong compliance team, and has both a strict approval process and strict payment terms too.
Neverblue is a good example of this. They know the game, and protect themselves from losses so that they'll never go under (like others have) and so that they'll always pay their good & legit affiliates fairly.
My AM there is NeverblueJoao. Let him know you saw it from this post.
We are only sending to really established networks where we met the people personal on an tradeshow or where we know others having a long time relationship with them. It takes some risk away to do it like this then to send some small advertisers because they pay us what ever happens. We never had a problem in the last 5 years with this strategy.
Its for sure not a guarantee to be on the safe side. One of our contractors had to quit his mediabuying efforts because he focused 1 year on 1 network in China with the name bejin game ase and they stopped paying out for 4-5 month. Maybe one of you know them...
4-5 month ? That's massive number mate.. Got the clue for its name
Yes it destroyed one affiliate making around 15-20 k per month :-( If somebody knows something reliable for China mobile traffic please PN to me
I think i know who this is regarding to, but any chance your affiliate friend might not have been running compliant?
Affiliates tend to break the rules, and get away with it most of the time. Can't say this is the case for your friend but if it is you can't blame the network for not paying.
Always make sure you are playing by the rules and if not you cover your tracks and deal with a manageable risk.
Nope he was not doing some shaddy stuff, it worked around 1 year well for him and then they stopped. Seemed that more people where effected... He got some of the money later on but only a small part...
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