What do affiliate networks really think of cloaking? (13)
I've never tried cloaking before but I probably will one day. When I was playing around with the classic mobile/pops combo (the usual verticals: sweeps/AV/installs/Casual Dating) I noticed in Adplexity pretty much ALL the landing pages that had been running for more than a week were either very borderline compliant or off-the-charts aggressive. I find it hard to believe that affiliate managers are blind to the fact that a majority of their converting traffic is coming from cloaked/non-compliant pages. If you're new at this game and you're not willing to risk burning bridges with one of the most important relationships affiliate's have (the networks) then you're operating a huge competitive disadvantage if you are limited to compliant landers.
So when it's time to cloak what is the best approach? Don't ask/Don't tell? Do other people actually discuss this openly with their AMs?
I'd love to hear from some actual AMs on this topic though I understand it would be difficult for them say anything publicly other than "don't cloak it's evil and we'll ban you". But perhaps they could answer this question at least? Do you think that majority of your converting traffic in these verticals is really coming from compliant landers?
There are several factors that play into this equation. GEO, traffic type, offer type, payment processor, carrier, merchant.
Best, build an relationship with your AM and when you start running an new offer ask if it takes aggressive.
Or just do it, which in the worst case leads to non payment of any leads (if stated in the offer terms). When just doing it, get quick payments terms before ramping up.
This is a sensitive topic, don't expect AM's to really give you an answer on a public forum.
Affiliate networks are "between two rocks" in this situation, on one hand, they need affiliates that can send volumes and convert, on the other hand they also need the advertisers, otherwise they will have nothing to promote.
They need to walk on the fine line here, which means that they are effectively turning a blind eye on the rules breaking campaigns but at the same time, they need to keep it at a level that is acceptable for the advertisers. So while they are not going to actively hunt for your incompliant LPs, whenever an advertisers finds them on their own, don't expect the affiliate network to cover your ass. (unless you have special relationship with them 
As someone who runs traffic internally for one of the biggest mobile ones in the world I can tell you networks only really care about 01) their profits and a very close 02) the quality backing out for the advertiser.
It all depends on how lenient the advertiser is, as well as the relationship between the aff network and the advertiser, and the relationship between you and your aff network / AM.
Some offer descriptions will list all kinds of restrictions, but when you ask your AM, they'll tell you you can run very aggressive, and that creative approval is not required.
Some aff networks / AMs will turn a blind eye to you running more aggressive than the advertiser allows, UNLESS and UNTIL you get caught by the advertiser. At which point the aff network will have more than sufficient grounds for not paying you.
On the other hand, if the advertiser is very strict on lead quality, your AM will tell you that you'll need to run 100% compliant, so as not to jeopardize their relationship with the advertiser.
The best thing to do, is to ask your AM directly as to how aggressively you can run each offer.
Equipped with this information, it would be your choice whether to cloak or not, depending on the risks you're willing to take (or not).
One observation I've made: Offers that have strict requirements for compliance, will not necessarily convert better than those that allow aggressive.
So, it's definitely possible to make money by running aggressive without breaking the rules. Just ask your AM for offers that allow aggressive.
Hope that helps!
Amy
Thanks everyone for the responses. So the general theme that Im reading here is it's ok to have an open discussion about this with AMs (privately). It's an issue they deal with every day so they're not going to lose their marbles if you ask about it... Good to know.
Originally Posted by zedtee
If you REALLY want to start a dialogue, you can start by asking your AM "what do you think about cloaking?"
Based on the response you get, you can quickly gauge whether there's ANY tolerance/leeway/flexibility on their part. And you'll have the option of either discussing further or ending the conversation right there depending on their response.
Some of the answers you get may surprise you. I'll end my post here.
(Disclaimer: I can't be held responsible for your potentially jeopardizing your relationship with your AM by bringing up this topic. Please proceed with caution.)
Amy
Sounds like a 'read between the lines' kind of thread! 
I asked this question a while ago as like you I found an offer that was being ran and presented the same LP to my AM for the offer I found and they kindly asked for certain things to be changed.
To be honest, I'll give you the network's perspective.
If you're gonna do it, let the AM know. They sanction it or roll with it - you're protected and you'll be paid out regardless. If you don't let them know and you're caught running something uncompliant, you're giving them all the reason not to payout as they will not be paid by advertiser.
An AM will consult with their Bus Dev and assess the following risks:
- Who is the Advertiser, what would they think?
- What GEO is it and what are the Punishments/Potential Implications.
- What is the history with this particular affiliate, can they be trusted?
The more you disclose to your AM, the more protected you are. Period.
^Eoin tells it like it is. He'll let you know which offers you can push boundaries for and which ones you can't.
Thanks for chiming in Eoin! Nothing like hearing it straight from the horse's mouth! 
Amy
If you are good at it, you can learn a lot as well:
Follow the seasoned guys.
See what masterminds they are joining.
What topics are discussed again and again.
What landers and offers you see running in the wild, but nobody talks about.
And so on.
You can learn a lot here if you can read between the lines.
Well...
Ask your AM: "Hey, what would happen if all of your Young Hungry Narcissists stopped cloaking and started promoting AliExpress and Academic Singles (50+) for the day?"
Using the supplied creatives, of course.
*two days later*
"Wait, hold on a minute. You've cancelled the afterparty?"
I just wanna take a moment to acknowledge all of Amy's disclosures! I love them! (yes I totally get why you post them kudos!) Great thread too.
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