Webwork - 1:59 pm on Apr 22, 2007 (gmt 0)

I'm moved to write as a result of reading the following statement in another thread currently running in this forum:

once I find a merchant in that 1%, I generally keep my mouth shut since I don't want a zillion other affiliates to sweep in and potentially bump out some of my sales.

Not so long ago I made a similar statement, suggesting that my examination of available affiliate programs lead me to believe that few programs offered anything of unique value and that perhaps 1% of what I evaluated looked "marketable". (That 1% does not include "a sucker is born every day" marketing, such as enlargement pills, etc.)

The popular belief, or fact, that only 1% of affiliate programs really work compels the question: If only ~1+% of affiliate programs hold out a meaningful promise of success then why on earth aren't those 1% of available programs trumpeting that fact to the world?

I can accept the affliate marketer's defensive position: "Don't tell anyone about the 1%! Why invite competition?" However, what about the affiliate manager? Why wouldn't the Affiliate Program Manager "get the word out"? Presumably "more sales" would be a good thing for a business so why wouldn't an affliate manager of a "1% program" light up the global billboard with the announcement: "We're part of the 1% and we've got the data to prove it!"

Do you believe, or is it a fact, that the invisibility of the 1% "success ready" affiliate programs is attributable to incestuous behavior of affiliate managers who, by design, don't get the word out - except to an inner circle of friends?

Perhaps this is the truth: The (secret) 1% of "success ready" programs is an urban legend. The truth is some programs may have a more compelling offer and value proposition but ultimately the success of any person or offer is a function of individual skills, techniques, technology, timing, etc.

Or maybe the great truth of affliate marketing is that 99% of people involved with affliate marketing are wannabes, that there are enough good programs to go around, but only 1% of affliate marketers have a clue about how to come out on top?

In your experience, which is the great truth of affliate marketing:

• Affiliate Program Managers often fail to get the word out about programs that sell.
  
• Affiliate Program Managers are incestuous, not widely publicizing opportunities, perhaps to the detriment of the business owner.
  
• The legend of the secret 1% is effectively sucker bait, exciting many to invest time, money and effort on programs that are big on promise but invariably fail to deliver.
  
• The secret 1% of all programs is only to be found in the confluence of due diligence (evaluating all offers, including newly announced offers), the application patiently acquired skills and being in the right place, with the right insight, at the right moment - which may, properly, include getting a "heads up" tip from an affiliate program manager due to your past efforts and success.