It was more than five years ago that I started working for http://www.refer-it.com/, the first affiliate program directory. Back then, it was considered the key place to go in search of affiliate programs to join.
I had high hopes for the directory, and it was becoming a monster resource for a while. But as the folks behind it left for other opportunities, it sort of became a derelict property.
Oh, it’s still there, and people are still using it, but it isn’t being run the way it used to. It’s not really being run much at all.
Affiliates have noticed this and over time, affiliates found other resources to shop for affiliate programs. According to responses from affiliates for the AffStat 2004 Report, affiliates are finding out about affiliate programs largely by the affiliate manager being active on message boards, the affiliate manager emailing, calling, or direct mailing them, or via Google.
They are still using affiliate directories, but in lesser numbers. I aim to change that with AffiliateTip.com.
This new breed will be proactively managed, and as Refer-it used to do, AffiliateTip.com will discriminate and only list programs of a certain caliber. After all, it’s a resource for affiliates, and they don’t want to have to navigate through a bunch of garbage.
One key element with AffiliateTip.com is that affiliate managers have to include their direct email address in their listing, so affiliates can reach out and ask questions. If that’s a problem for an affiliate manager, there is a simple solution – they won’t be in the directory.
One of my intentions is to feature programs that are actively managed by affiliate managers that actually want to hear from affiliates. Deadbeats need not apply.