My Recent Web 2.0 Revelation

by Mike Haydon on 4 March 2009

A few weeks ago, I came across a promotion for a product that I was interested in (in the interest of full disclosure, it was Howie Schwartz’s Black Hat is Back 2). After reviewing the offer & price, I decided to buy the program. In the current recession, things are a bit tight (plus I just put my entire personal savings towards sending my parents overseas for their 50th birthdays, but that’s another story :smile: ) so I had to “get the program for free”.

twitter My Recent Web 2.0 RevelationThe program had an affiliate program with 60% commission. Given I wanted to get it, I figured some of my friends would be interested in it, so I posted a short message to both Twitter and Facebook just before going to bed saying I was checking it out and was probably going to get it. Imagine my surprise the next morning when two of my friends bought the program, giving me a commission enough to get it for myself! Yeah, what do you think the first thing I did that morning was :smile:

For a long time I struggled with the concept of “making money off my friends”, so whenever I would review something I thought worthwhile, I’d make sure not to put any affiliate links in there. Then something John Reese said (in an email – sorry, no link) hit home with me. He had been in the same situation as me and someone said to him that there were two reasons he should include his affiliate link: 1) If it’s going to help people and people are going to buy it anyway, there’s nothing wrong with him getting a portion of the cost (it’s not like the price changes either way) and 2) it’s a great way for someone to say “thank you” for pointing out a valuable resource.

Now, don’t expect to see lots of “offers” from me – most of the resources I come across are, to be perfectly honest, rubbish.

Till next time.

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