Affiliation Discussion

[notreal]

Ah, yesh, Affiliation.


Actually, most site owners think affiliation is vital to success. Not truuueeeee. In fact, affiliation can hurt you in many ways if not done correctly.

In my opinion, there are just a few things that can insure affiliation will help you rather than bring your site down. : )

1) Never affiliate with a website that has a thousand different affiliates. Your banner/link will become lost in a sea of many, and will most likely never be clicked on. Try affiliating with a site with influence that doesn't have many affiliates, then your banner or link has a better chance of catching somebody's eye.

2) Do not affiliate with a website or forum with the exact same purpose as your own. One or two, sure. It might catch a few members. But who wants to join/view a site that says the exact same things as the one you are on? If you have an Avatar message board, for instance, try affiliating with a General forum. Then, Avatar fans will see your banner or link and have a better chance of being interested in what your site contains.

3) If you want to get on the site owner's nerves, I suggest you spam their website with your link or banner and annoy them to the point where they never want to affiliate with you. If you want to be viewed as a respectable web master, try talking to the site owner privately with respect, alright? Don't shove your link in their face right away. Wait until you receive a response. If he/she says yes, THEN give him/her your site banner or link. Common courtesy.


Anyway, discuss affiliation methods, pet peeves, or anything else on affiliation here.

[night]

I hate when people claim that they are affiliated with a popular website when it turns out that they aren't. Like what. If people find out, you will gain an unwanted reputation, so I don't know why people would anyways.

[notreal]

Mmm, that can only hurt you anyway, I suppose. It's free advertising for the website in question, so it can't help the person who claimed so *at all*.

Say a forum "affiliates" with DH without Muso's permission. As the forum gains activity, people will be clicking on the link/mini banner...but does the same go on the other side? I think not.

It's just plain silly to do that, but I see it so much! XD Good point, Night.

[night]

Thanks Shay. <3

Also, ded affiliates aren't col. There are a few affiliates on the list on the DH table, and some of the sites listed are dead. Theres no purpose, you don't get any activity from the site if the link is ded or no one goes there anymore. xD

[notreal]

Hmmm. I can agree with that to an extent, I wouldn't start affiliating with a ded site. Breaking off affiliation with someone, however, is rather rude. How can you imagine just emailing someone and being like "LOL UR SITE DIED I'M GAINING NOTHING, NOOOTTTHHIIINNNGGGG. NO AFFILIATION KTHX."

[night]

Agreed, but leaving up ded affiliates is lulzy. Expecially when there is a large amount.

[notreal]

True. Also, if a site takes down your link, I would be sure to be on top of getting their link down right away. @_@ It's a two way street, bub.

[night]

Yup.

Ugly affiliate banners are annoying. I won't be clicking on your link if it looks like you made it in 5 minutes in MSPaint, sorry.

[notreal]

Actually, I know tons of people who have made their affiliation banners in MS paint. It's not appealing to the eye at all and it looks like you don't care. At least request a banner from someone who can do it. Actually, it might be a good idea to make a Site Graphics thread here. Might attract some graphics nerds. :3 brb making