Jumping over and cutting out the Affiliate

[EliteWeb]

Hello WebmasterWorld!

I'm doing some research to find out some information about how webmasters and affiliates think and act while surfing. My question to you is while your surfing and you find something you want to buy and notice its an affiliate do you order through them or do you go to their source.

We all know that many sites on the net are really affiliate programs, when your ordering you are really ordering through another company. When you buy through the site the affiliate makes a few dollars on the sale. Do you willingly go about and avoid going through that affiliate? Do you just buy it through the affiliate giving them their credit, or do you see that it is an affiliate and goto the affiliate homepage official site and sign up yourself for their program to make a few bucks on yourself buying the product.

[roscoepico]

I tend to just sign up as an affiliate and buy through my affiliate link. Have saved upto 25% in some cases:)

[edit_g]

I go for the best deal - like most surfers do. I don't buy on "familiarity" I just go for the one which offers the best saving.

[BranMuffin]

You pose a very intersting question....My immediate reaction is as follows: First of all, we need to look at what type of person the surfer is and what type of purchase they are making. So, lets use me as the example for the surfer. I am an e-marketer myself and know the value of affiliate sales....with that aside....If I was making a significant dollar purchase of something that I needed to research on, I would probably navigate myself directly to the "manufacturer" site. However, if I was looking to purchase lets say skin care products and ended up on a site that sold my favorite skin care line and apon closer look realized that this was an affilate site and not the actual manufacturer, I believe that I would look at three factors: 1. Is the pricing in line or better than what I have or believe I should pay? 2. Do they offer complimentary products that would allow for me to do "one-stop shopping?" 3. Do they look like a reliable and reputable source?

People are lazy by nature. If they end up on a site that has the products they want and maybe offer additional information or sales then why leave? You, as a marketer, may be more inclined to follow the trail back to the manufacturer, but if it fits a need, why not buy.....In closing, I have been on a rant that isn't what you wanted sorry.....(just went and re-read your post....But, to tie it together....yes, I would sign up with an affiliate if it contained the 3 criteria mentioned above....and because I respect affiliate business I would try to support it most of my purchases.....

Sorry for getting off topic!

[digitalghost]

>>My question to you is

Wrong group to ask EliteWeb. WebmasterWorld is not the place to determine real world surfing habits. If you really want to know how people surf, visit a retirement home. <inside secret>The surfing habits of most seniors is a good indicator of the surfing habits of most AOL users and internet newbies including internet buying habits.</inside secret>

[EliteWeb]

Im my question I say I'm looking for the habits of webmasters. My question stems from if I were to do a site for webmasters or a site which catered webmasters needs and it supported affiliate programs would the webmasters themselves skip the affiliate and sign up for it themselves and take the money from the sale or give it to the site they found it from.

It is not only about webmaster related sites but the habits of those who are webmasters or know about affiliate programs how they surf and purchase. Like me personally when I go to a site and see something I want and figure its an affiliate site I will often, depending on the commission if its worth my time sign up for the affiliate myself and buy through my own link. Of course if they offer multi-tier affiliates ill sign up for the affiliate under the refering affiliates id.

[digitalghost]

All right, just gotta ask, with all of the products out there, why would ya pick one that has the potential to be easily scammed by people that are in the know?

To be honest, if the program is a good one, I'd try to find the supplier or drop shipper and a piece of the market supply. Why bother selling slices of a piece of the cake when I can get the baker to ship them for me...

[urasuccess]

The solution to what your are asking is to create a site based on the affiliate product you are selling and then at the payment button use the hyperlink from the affiliate websites payment button. This has mainly advantages, less likly to get riped off, your site is unique and different from the other 1000 people selling the same thing, also this allows you to use a pop up or form to offer a freebie that no one else is and to capture an opt in email to market to in the future.

[eWhisper]

I can tell you the habit of most people I know in my small circle that understand what affiliate marketing is (as most people really don't understand this entire concept).

If it's a small purchase, where the comission is going to be less that $10 or so, and I found the site useful and informative, then I'll let the affiliate get the comission for their hard work and the info I gained.

If it's a site where the info was just cut and pasted from other sites, or uses pop up windows, or anything else that's annoying and done just to put up an affiliate site, but really dosn't have anything helpful, then I'll cut out their comission no matter how small or large it is.

If it's a comission over $10, then I'll probably make myself an affiliate for that one product, or check to see if anyone I know is already an affiliate and then buy it.

As this isn't the surfing habits of most people, but just one person, not sure how helpful this is, but you asked...