Testing a New CPA Network and Neverblue Ads

3 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on June 4, 2007 in Affiliate Networks, CPA Networks, Neverblue ads  

As i have time I try out new CPA networks to see if they are worth while or if they are full of false promises. Before i get on to talking about Neverblue Ads, I figured i would discuss how i test a new network out.

Testing a New CPA Network:
1. Search forums and Google to see what other people have to say about the network. (don’t let one bad comment keep you from trying but several negatives you may want to proceed with caution)
2. Contact the Network and ask for a list of offers and base payout. (you never know they may have an offer you are currently running but with higher payout)
3. Talk to the CPA network about payments. (are the payment periods flexible, can they do net 15 or bimonthly or even weekly.) (Note* prove yourself first then ask for quicker payments, off the bat asking for bimonth or weekly payments usually throws up a red flag)
4. Signup and check out the offers make sure the payouts match what they sent or are higher.
5. Start off slow. Usually in the first month i will only send enough traffic to atleast get paid out. (this ensures they do pay)
6. After first month and i receive payment and offers are performing well I will start sending more traffic. (Ask Your AM for reports or whats performing good etc.) (don’t go over board, I usually keep the 2nd month to a few K unless I am just overly confident i will get paid as for every dime i make i am usually spending money)
7. Now in your second month you should by now be working with your account manager asking for higher payouts, even setting goals for payouts etc. (this will not only help them out, it helps them to help you)
8. Into your third month and you received your payment for a few K from the second month. I would say you can rest assured they will pay you moving forward so you don’t have to hold back.
9. If at any point it is unprofittable or offers just arent converting, don’t be afraid to stop using the network. If they keep bugging you (via emails phone calls etc.) tell them to buzz off and/or delete your account and stop contacting you.

This is the method i use for testing. As a side note if a newtowk has offers i am already running and it is at the same payout I am currently at I will ask the new network off the bat if they can give me higher payout. Usually they will give something, then i will split test the offer. Each network tracks a little bit differently and sometimes the same offer on one network may convert poorly on another due to system or slow page loads etc..

So now on to Neverblue Ads. I have been testing them for the past few months and so far i am pleased. My account manager is Victoria Hansen. I will say this she may not know all the ins and outs of affiliate marketing (she is somewhat new as an AM), but she is up front and provides what information you need. I used the methods above to test out Neverblue Ads, and I can say they do payout and on time. They do have higher thresholds to be able to get bimonthly payouts than other networks, but they do offer it. They have exclusive offers, but do rerun some other networks offers. They are willing to work with you on payouts and even landing pages. I have made requests for some offers, some they had created or changed, some I am still waiting. The most important thing with the Neverblue Ads network, they were quick to respond, quick to get me information, and willing to work with me on payouts. Plus to my surprise I got a package in the mail from my account manager. It was a Neverblue Ads Dress Shirt, Coffee Mug, and a gift certificate to Salt Grass steakhouse (one of my favorite places to eat.) See the picture below.
Neverblue Ads CPA Network

So try out new networks you never know which ones will work for you and which ones won’t. BUT if you never try you may be leaving money on the table. *NOTE… Just because a network hasn’t worked for me or other people doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it. Only times i stay away from network is if there are tons of posts and articles about non payment.

Affiliate Managers Listen But do they HEAR?

8 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on March 28, 2007 in CPA Networks, Affiliate Managers  

Ok Guys since this is my blog you get some good tidbits of information but you also get to hear some rants from me. Well I have to Rant about Affiliate Managers.  I will state there are GREAT affiliate Managers out there but even the great ones can be better. Hopefully a Few affiliate managers will read this and catch a clue as i get hit up daily by new and old networks wanting me to push their services, somtimes i give them a try and sometimes i don’t. So here are my rants:

1. IF i signup for your network and i tell you how i promote my offers don’t keep asking me to try other things. Now I don’t mind the heads up; hey this offer is running hot on our network. But here is an Example. Lets say the offers you are running with the company are search only. Why would the Affiliate Manager contact me with information to push offers that arent even available for search? Or an area that you have told them you have no interest in promoting. This happens often!!!

2.Do Your Homework on the offers your Network Promotes. Example: (lets say i am a person that only promotes via existing websites, No search or email) I HATE getting an email saying, hey this offer is going great you should try it. Then i go into there system get ready to pull the offer then notice that the offer is for EMAIL ONLY!!!  or even better yet they didn’t email me but they hit me up on Instant messenger give me the offer speal then of course i am like great what banners sizers are available… then the AM comes back and says sorry it is only available for Email only….  Come on DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

3.You OVER EMAIL ME.  Don’t get me wrong, I like to be contacted every once in a while from my AM. Especially if they are coming with info on a new hot offer, or they get an offer i asked for etc…  But Geeze some of these networks seem to send you an email every 3 days then on top of that you have your AM emailing me every two days… So STOP OVER EMAILING ME!

Okay I got my rant out… feel free to leave your comments or Complaints about Affiliate Managers.

Which CPA Network is the Best?

6 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on March 21, 2007 in Affiliate Networks, Affiliate Tips, CPA Networks  

I get asked this all the time which CPA Network is the best? Well honestly it is a tough question to answer but yet it is easy. It is easy to say what CPA Network is best for me but it is hard for me to say for sure what CPA network is best for you. I use MANY CPA Networks, but i do have a few choice networks that are my bread and butter. But this post isn’t about me it is about you and what CPA network will work best for you.

First, search the CPA networks, see who has good reviews and reputation with other webprenuers. You can do this by visiting blogs, forums and even searching for review of CPA Network X. Once you narrow your list down to 20 or 30… yes there are hundreds of CPA networks out there but the key is finding the right one for you.

Second, DON’T automatically signup for all those networks. Contact them and ask them about their offers, ask for a list of there offers (with links if possible) and even rates (not all will give you the list of rates but if you ask about specifc offers they will tell you). Now go through them and compare the various networks. See what networks have offers you want.

Third, ask about those specific networks in forums like digitalpoint or earners forum. People will tell you their thoughts and experiences. Don’t let one bad apple ruin it for you. Meaning if one poster is adimant about not using Network X but everyone else is posting good things most likely the guy was promoting spam or illegal stuff and got caught and didn’t get paid (for some reason these types also love to flame networks after they get booted).

Fourth, Make sure there terms and payout terms are to your liking, Signup and start promoting. If you start doing well ask for higher payouts, many people don’t even know they can ask for higher payouts. You can and will get them especially if you can send a nice number of leads. Also you can ask for quicker payouts which helps when promoting via PPC.

Fifth, If you find you don’t like your AM at the network ask for another one, or try another network. Find one that appreciates you and just doesn’t treat you like every other 2 bit out there.

Lastly,  There are times Exclusives are Truely Exclusives, when that is the case and you know you can promote that offer well signup for that network. I have signed up for 3 different networks only for 1 offer as they were the only ones that had it. BUT the more you are in the Affiliate market you will realize that even Exclusives aren’t always Exclusives. Meaning that another company may have that same offer but the exclusive may be on the design or layout (this can make a huge difference in your conversions at times, I was promoting one offer on one network then tried same offer with similar but different landing page and my conversions increased by 10%!).

I hope this helps those in their search for the best CPA Network. In the upcoming weeks I will post a list of all the CPA networks I currently use, notice i didn’t say signed up with as there are some networks i signed up with tried some things and never used them again.

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