Sell An Affiliate Program Instead Of Advertising

He leaned back in his chair and put his arms around the back of his head. Classic body language demonstrating his comfort in his own environment, and something bordering on contempt for me.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It wasn't going well.

I had been in his office for half an hour pitching a €30 a month advertising slot on a website for his service. Everything he did and said suggested I was failing dismally.

In exasperation, I tried "What would convince you to try us, to see if we can deliver for you?"

"Bookings." He replied. "Get me bookings and I'll pay you, I've heard it all before about web advertising, clicks and traffic and I've never seen bookings from it."

So I changed my pitch and suggested my DIY affiliate scheme to him.

That was several months ago. Since then, we've delivered between €900 and €2000 worth of bookings to him, every month!

He's happy, he's very happy.

So am I - we sometimes earn ten times what we would have with an advert.

And here's the biggest difference of all. He sees me as a business partner, rather than a cost for his business. I don't have to chase Carmen in accounts to get paid - I get a call to say the payment has been transferred.

And he leans forward when I talk.