Downloader: Ask DLS: Is affiliate marketing via Google AdWords a scam?

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Ask DLS: Is affiliate marketing via Google AdWords a scam?

I had gotten some very well-informed and interesting replies when I asked you guys about the stock market, so I figured I would try my luck again with something at least as shady, scammy and rife with get-rich-quick artists: Google AdWords affiliate marketing.

The basic idea, to those of you unfamiliar with the concept: Company A offers its product for sale (say, an anti-virus). If I get them a paying customer, they give me a cut of the deal (percent or a set cash amount). In this setup, I'm called an affiliate, and It's up to me to drive them traffic. One of the most common ways for an affiliate to get traffic is by using AdWords: I pay Google, and if enough people buy the product, company A pays me back and I cash in. This is in theory.

In looking into the subject recently, I was unsurprised to find that it is full of some of the most shoddy and untrustworthy materials. In fact, it is so full of crap, I had a hard time finding anything valuable. So I ask you: are there any valuable resources here? Or is it totally "trial and error"? Do you know anyone who actually made money with this, or is it mainly a losing proposition?

NOTE: Needless to say, any affiliate links in the comments (even valuable comments) will get the comments deleted, and if severe, may get you banned. This is a strictly non-commercial avenue. If you reply, reply because you want to help the other readers, not because you're trying to market something. I will be checking every link.