AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Webmaster Discussion
#61

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

I never promoted AEBN a whole lot. I tried, but because of their policy of paying the originating affiliate, I never made a lot of money. It looked like it was going to take a long time to build up my own stable of buyers, so I gave up. The commissions were so low that I couldn’t see spending a lot of time on it.

So, I’d see the odd .69 cent commission, or more often, Stats Remote would register a sale but there’d be no dollar amount showing.

Yesterday, I got a $3.30 commission, which is 330% higher than what I normally make in day. And this morning, I got $8.62, which again, is 862% higher than my daily normal.

With these kinds of improvements, I’ll have to consider putting up some links to my theatre.

#62

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Well now that you mention it…

Titan is back on AEBN and our first week out we are already the #2 gay search term on the site! And our sales are surprising even me! 9 out of 10 of our most watched films are Joe Gage, so maybe you should try a TitanMen/Joe Gage themed post and see how it does?

Titan:
http://gay.theater.aebn.net/dispatcher/movieSearchResolver?sort=Newest&count=0&hasExclusive=false&hasDownloadToOwn=false&locale=en&hasReviews=false&searchType=Title&studioId=20813&hasScenes=false&hasPremium=false&hasDownloads=false&hasXxx2Burn=false&theaterId=14077&offset=0&genreId=102

Joe Gage:
http://gay.theater.aebn.net/dispatcher/movieSearchResolver?sort=Title&count=40&hasExclusive=false&hasDownloadToOwn=false&directorId=18508&locale=en&searchType=DirectorName&hasReviews=false&hasScenes=false&hasPremium=false&hasDownloads=false&hasXxx2Burn=false&theaterId=14077&offset=0&genreId=102

#63

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

[QUOTE=Titanmen;156907]Well now that you mention it…

Titan is back on AEBN and our first week out we are already the #2 gay search term on the site! And our sales are surprising even me! 9 out of 10 of our most watched films are Joe Gage, so maybe you should try a TitanMen/Joe Gage themed post and see how it does?

Titan:
http://gay.theater.aebn.net/dispatcher/movieSearchResolver?sort=Newest&count=0&hasExclusive=false&hasDownloadToOwn=false&locale=en&hasReviews=false&searchType=Title&studioId=20813&hasScenes=false&hasPremium=false&hasDownloads=false&hasXxx2Burn=false&theaterId=14077&offset=0&genreId=102

Joe Gage:
http://gay.theater.aebn.net/dispatcher/movieSearchResolver?sort=Title&count=40&hasExclusive=false&hasDownloadToOwn=false&directorId=18508&locale=en&searchType=DirectorName&hasReviews=false&hasScenes=false&hasPremium=false&hasDownloads=false&hasXxx2Burn=false&theaterId=14077&offset=0&genreId=102[/QUOTE]

The problem is on the affiliate side, not manufacturers. A new title always get a bump the first month.

#64

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

For the most part I like the new statistics. I wish they’d tally up all of our signups for the month. I had to count across the graph day to day to figure out I had 23 signups for February. Plus now — after all these years - AEBN has bothered to inform me that when they’ve said “signups”, it meant
converted signups + “free daily”.

Does anyone know exactly what someone who’s accomplished the “free daily signup” has actually done? Does that mean there’s a “free daily signup” available for tomorrow and another one on the day after that as well?

Steve

#65

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

I was under the impression someone who made a free daily signup was just someone who created an account and then did not proceed to make a paid purchase (i.e. they get no content) I assumed it was a way for AEBN to add emails to thier mailing list maybe??

Its all guess work at the moment!

#66

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

It’s the end of the month and my stats are pathetic. Here is the email I sent to my rep, [email protected]

Mandy,

I have been an affiliate since 2001. The changes to the commission structure this month have been disastrous for me! Please take a look at my stats to see why I am upset.

AEBN-3286

Other members of the webmaster discussion board Gay Demon have also expressed dismay at not only the changes, but the utter lack of response from any AEBN reps.

http://www.gaydemon.biz/forum/showthread.php?31721-AEBN-Affiliates-What-Do-You-Think-of-the-Changes-to-the-Affiliate-Program

Clearly these changes are purely for greed, so have the guts to admit it so we can remove our links and movies and move on to more responsive affiliate programs.

Mark Kliem
415-978-9986

#67

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

I’m not as active as a use to be in this business but I still run a few sites and at one time had very good success with AEBN. For years they have been paying me a decent commission on the refusals I sent. Now this month after over 15 years my sales didn’t even reach the minim payout level, having been cut over three fourths of what they were all the months before. I signed up under their commission terms 15 years ago and now they change them so they not longer have to pay me. This is theft plain and simple.

#68

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

[QUOTE=rawTOP;156561]I doubt I have enough data to really be statistically significant since AEBN has never generated all that much money for me, but…

[/QUOTE]

I wound up being up a little last month. I made $101.14 on 12 sales. $$/click sucked though.

Previously in this thread it was suggested that people with white label theaters on a custom hostname (e.g. rawtop.xxx in my case) were not negatively affected by the change. Now that the month is over, does that continue to seem to be the case?

#69

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

First Video Secrets now them. Pathetic thieves.

#70

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Question to AEBN reps:
Do you recommend affiliates promote watching AEBN on the Roku at all?

I did this last year and my statistics showed that I had signups under “roku.aebn.net” – but under the new commission structure, I do not see any reason for us to market this and get paid - especially since any customer I refer would proceed to just make their purchases over their Roku’s from then on.

What would you do if you were in my exact same position?
Sincerely.

Steve

#71

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

[QUOTE=desslock;157103]Question to AEBN reps:
Do you recommend affiliates promote watching AEBN on the Roku at all?

I did this last year and my statistics showed that I had signups under “roku.aebn.net” – but under the new commission structure, I do not see any reason for us to market this and get paid - especially since any customer I refer would proceed to just make their purchases over their Roku’s from then on.

What would you do if you were in my exact same position?
Sincerely.

Steve[/QUOTE]

Is there a way to not have the Roku link/graphic on your theater? I don’t see a way to remove it…

Kevin.

#72

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Steve, i don’t think you’re going to get a reply. i emailed AEBN about this thread a a week or so ago. this is the response i got "If people have concerns they want addressed they should contact their affiliate rep and discuss it with them. "

#73

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

I asked my rep a question about tools, he no longer works for the company and referred me to another guy, who hasn’t bothered replying and it’s been over a week.

#74

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Video Secrets, AEBN don’t even answer their phones or return calls anymore.

#75

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Well, as I’ve opined on here earlier. My theory is that the reason for the change of the commission structure stems from the company not making as much money as earlier. Before 2011, I consistently earned over a thousand a month in commission from AEBN. Since 2011, I’ve helplessly watched my commissions fall. For a long time, I thought that as long as I sent new signups they would change back to a favorable direction. And what happened to my thousands of referred customers?

Since 2011 I’ve still sent one to two dozen new signups every month. All I can conclude is that AEBN’s customers don’t ever return. (Which is why I liked the AEBN on the Roku product, by the way.)

I’d be interested in hearing others’ experiences - but all that I can conclude is that AEBN itself is unable to convince customers to spend as much money as they had before 2011. I’m not a studio, nor a mega blog like “WayBig” … but I have a library of movie reviews that link directly to AEBN. And only until they changed this commission structure, and I was able to do an A/B comparison of sales, have I been able to surmise this.

Of course this is all conjecture. And I invite an AEBN rep to at least talk about what’s going on. I’m actually making only just a little less under the new commission plan versus the classic plan. I’m not “angry hornet” mad. I’d just appreciate some communication.

(And yes this absolutely all goes back to piracy. Before 2011, if someone wanted to watch a video that was a couple of years old, they’d have to pay for it. In countless cases, older movies are playing all over the usual suspect of pirate tubes. All piracy does is make us all poorer.)

Steve

#76

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Some news we can use…

We have experienced a critical database hardware issue that started around 10:30 PM EST on Monday night. This effectively took down our sites from 10:30 PM through 2:30 AM on Monday. There are lingering database issues and as a result we have temporarily halted the scripts that calculate payouts. All necessary data is still available and we will bring payouts up to date as soon as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Thank you for your patience as we work to bring everything back to an optimal state.

The AEBN Tech Team

Oh OK.

Now I’m feeling way way better about their new payout system.

Seriously, though, I think they just decided to stop giving us credit for returning customers. And this decision is made to look even worse on our end because their new way of tracking sales doesn’t actually work.

#77

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

Exactly. Needs a class action suit.

#78

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

I got a reply from AEBN - “… blah, blah, …new tools coming but not yet, … blah, blah … we do what we want…”

Subject RE: New commission structure SUCKS!
From Zachary J. ArnoldAdd contact
To [email protected] contact
Date Mon 10:17

Mark,
Mandy asked me to reach out to you about your concerns about the changes to the affiliate program, After nearly sixteen years, we launched a much needed re-boot of our affiliate program beginning February 1, 2015. Continuing our uniquely competitive history, the program changed affiliate payouts so a greater percentage of sales will be given to the last affiliate sending the sale and not the first.

The most active affiliates in our program will be highly rewarded with payouts from 30 to 50% based on sales volume. Now, new affiliates will be given the same opportunity as established affiliates to receive credit for a sale. The originating webmaster is still paid for purchases by members they generated no matter where the purchase is made, but at a 3% level.

We’re also happy to offer a new white label version of our mobile targeted theater. It’s a new and relevant environment built with your logos and colors designed to help increase conversions of phone and tablet users.

No changing affiliate links or revenue codes will be necessary as those will all still work. We are placing more emphasis on branded white label theaters and it is strongly recommended affiliates take full advantage of them. The sales volume and retention on branded theaters is greater than generic non-branded theaters. The more sales a theater generates, the greater percentage of the sale the affiliate keeps.

The adult internet industry has changed significantly over the years and this program change is good for active affiliates and studios. We invite you to check out our new website. While current sales tools won’t change, new and improved sales tools are on the way. We are very excited about 2015 and will continue to develop our program to improve your results.

We will be happy to discuss account details and answer any questions. We are looking forward to working with you in the new year.

Thanks,
Zack

Zack A.
[email protected]
ICQ: 302628606
Sales Executive

#79

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

[QUOTE=LavenderLounge;157201]The originating webmaster is still paid for purchases by members they generated no matter where the purchase is made, but at a 3% level.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t see one 3% commission paid to me last month? Everything is 30%. Does anyone else?

I remember when they first switched I saw a couple and asked what they were for and then they disappeared and never came back.

So if I’m not getting any 3% commissions then that means non of my previous customers shopped at any other AEBN theater during the month of February… If that’s the case then I’m completely confused as to how my commission has been cut by about 60% compared to other months… Traffic I’m sending is the same… Non of my old customers are shopping anyplace else… Sooo, where’s the money?

#80

Re: AEBN Affiliates - What Do You Think of the Changes to the Affiliate Program?

It’s there. You were seeing those things on the individual transactions page, but for some inexplicable reason they removed those. If someone from AEBN could be bothered to read our discussion, I’d offer constructive feedback and ask that these return to the reports because I find information about the products my referrals are buying to be useful information.

Look on the “Payout By Month” report.

My customer origination for February was $43.26.

Steve