Robert,
This is an excellent tip on a subject that isn’t often addressed. When getting started as an affiliate, it is very important to build good relations. By purchasing a copy of the product we show that we are professionals and are willing to commit to the product.

Thanks for the info and a big thanks to Michel for publishing it.

Hi Robert

What a different way of looking at things. I always hear about marketers being sent a review copy of a product and it’s helpful to do that if you want to get your product in front of a “guru” in the hope they might promote it but actually asking for products didn’t even occur to me!

I don’t think I would mind if a well known marketer like yourself or Michel Fortin emailed me and asked me for a review copy of my product though

For me it would depend on who is doing the asking!

thanks for the great article
Diane

P.S. Still turning articles into videos!!!

Great insights, Robert — thanks.… I’m finally getting started with affiliate marketing for my trading sites, and your series has provided a lot of useful insights. Good ideas re buying vs asking for review copies for affiliates, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks again for sharing your insights, they make a lot of sense.

–k

Many new hopefuls join affiliate product promotions to try and make a few sales to get started.“Then they will buy” some other products or maybe ones they are promoting.Investing in a product to start with to invest in their own future should be the way to go , but they have heard of or experienced debt for products that didn’t give them the “secret entrance” to the affiliate marketing world.

Believe me if someone gave me my dream car I would cherish and enjoy it more than buying it myself.

{ Hit the wrong button and posted unfinished. }
Instead,they flounder and download tons of free information and never fully read nor study it.Worst of all they don’t take suggested actions.
One step at a time allows a toddler to walk before he can learn to run with the big boys.

Hmm, interesting post.

I’ve heard the phrase “if you can’t your friends/​family to buy your product, why would anyone else?” and that seems to fit here as well. I do feel, however, that the correct way to get “affiliate review copies” is to NOT ask for them! If the product originator wants to give review copies of their work, they probably will–it’s your job as an affiliate (and your right) to make it known that you want one, but not to be pushy.

A simple, “hey, I’d be interested in reviewing your product if you’d like a testimonial,” will show a benefit to both parties.

Well, call me cheap then. I can understand buying when somebody has a reputation already and it is clear that their product will provide value. But I am not going to go around spending money on every product just to see if its worth promoting or not.

Samples or free demos are part of every business I have worked in offline. You can’t ask a distributor to buy your product first if he wants to sell it. Why is internet marketing different?

Sure, there are people who make a habit of seeking freebies and then not producing much in return, but you can quickly figure out who those people are. But I don’t think that’s what you are talking about here.

Yeah I often find it useful to risk large sums of money, because it produces an almost frantic drive to make whatever a success, to recoup the money.

Do you treasure gifts others give you? Robert Plank says you aren’t going to enjoy a car given to you in the same way you would one that was paid for by you. We were given two cars, purchased new and used cars and have been grateful to God no matter how it arrived.

Do you treasure gifts others give you? Robert Plank says you aren’t going to enjoy a car given to you in the same way you would one that was paid for by you. We were given two cars, purchased new and used cars and have been grateful to God no matter how it arrived.