Would You Become a Revolution Affiliate?
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have been asked this question. And to be honest, I’ve danced around this a bit because of the amount of paperwork that a real affiliate program requires.
Now that I have officially relaunched my Revolution theme site (which now includes all of the themes and information), I am ready to start the ball rolling on creating an extremely profound affiliate program with my Revolution themes.
What does this mean? It means that I am planning on investing heavily into developing a true affiliate program, with a variety of ad banner sizes (to include 125×125, 468×60, 300×250) and the ability for each affiliate to have access to statistics on things such as impressions, click-thrus and daily sales.
I have decided to pursue this affiliate project in conjunction with Linkshare, which is probably the #1 leading affiliate marketing company in the world. Some of their clients include Target, Walmart, ESPN, American Express, so you know that this is a very reputable company. Here’s a little about why I chose them, taken from their website:
Affiliates and merchants choose LinkShare because of our reliable and accurate tracking technology. Our patented tracking technology is not cookie-based and therefore, does not fall prey to the tracking discrepancies that often result from cookies. LinkShare’s robust technology ensures that tracking is accurate and complete. Because our technology is web-based, it is easy for affiliates to manage their programs and merchant relationships.
I am looking to see how much interest there would be in me setting up an affiliate program - with Revolution, I always wanted to take WordPress to a higher level. Offering an affiliate program with the best company is only a continuation of that dream. Please give me your feedback on whether or not you’d be up for joining - the cost of this is pretty high on my end, and that is why I am asking. But if it means providing you the best program and easiest for you to track in terms of sales and stats, I’m willing to do it!
For those of you who are getting ready to ask the question I anticipate from most of you, the answer is that I am paying out 25% for each sale. Which means that you would earn this:
- 25% of a Single Use package - $79.95 = $20.00 to you
- 25% of a Multiple Use package - $199.95 = $50.00 to you
- 25% of a Developer package - $399.95 = $100.00 to you
I’m all ears, please tell me what you think!
Comments
80 Responses to “Would You Become a Revolution Affiliate?”
Great work Brian! All I can say is I can’t wait to be a part of this. These themes are incredible and I can’t wait to sign up.
The buzz around the WordPress community about your themes is already at an all-time high and I’m sure adding a great affiliate program through a company like linkshare which is one of the two biggest will surely make it jump even higher.
Linkshare is great too cause they give real-time reporting of all stats etc…
Can’t wait to start!
Bryan
Hey Bryan, thanks for the feedback - I figured that you’d be up for joining, and appreciate the input you’ve given me so far about this!
Brian,
It’s unclear in the article why you aren’t just going through e-junkie for affiliate sales. What data needs to be tracked that a person with a google analytics account and an affiliate account at e-junkie can’t already do?
It seems like it would be cheaper and just as effective if you did it that way.
Brian, my clients have loved your templates, and I’d jump at the opportunity to recommend your themes to my clients as an affiliate. Your themes go far beyond the standard fare out there, especially for corporate deployments. Look forward to hearing more details as you pursue this!
Nathan - we are required by the federal government to issue W2’s to those who participate in the affiliate program. For those who use e-junkie, my guess is that they aren’t planning on doing that, which is against the law and could get them in big trouble if they are audited.
Because I didn’t want to have to deal with collecting everyone’s social security #’s and sending out hundreds of W2’s at the end of the year, I decided it would be worth it to use Linkshare, because they handle all of that.
I realize that there are a lot of shortcuts taken by people on the internet, and I am not willing to take the chance of being caught doing something that is unethical.
@Nathan - Also by going with a company like Linkshare, Brian’s putting himself in front of thousands and thousands of potential affiliates outside of his readers here.
Linkshare which I’ve used for years with companies like Target and in the past Best Buy have real time reporting, the ability to set up sub-affiliates and the fact that they take care of all the back-end stuff makes it a no brainer for me.
I will say that e-junkie is easy to use, but only provided limited data. I need to know my stats and e-junkie just doesn’t provide them. I’m also saying this when I’m the one who got Brian to use e-junkie in the first place.
As for Brian growing his brand I’d say a company like Linkshare or CJ for that matter is a great choice and will easily help him make the next big jump in his design and business career.
Looking forward to it.
Bryan
I know I’m a newbie here, but for what it’s worth, I do prefer CJ to Linkshare. Either way, happy to promote your themes, Brian.
Shawn - wow, thanks for the feedback. I used CJ for a number of website that I have run, but always preferred the interaction that Linkshare provided.
Hey Brian,
I thought you would never ask. Awesome! I can’t wait to get started.
Brian,
This is a no-brainer.
Your themes are terrific…..just say when. Would love to have a product of this calibre to offer from all my sites.
Brian,
This is great news! You create some top-notch WordPress themes, so look forward to being able to further promote your work through an affiliate program.
Looks like the person above me has the same name..
Count me in Brian… I can’t wait!
Considering how great we think your themes are and how happy we are with our new site launching soon (thanks to you), we’re all for this.
Yes, i would happily become a affiliate. Ive just bought the developer package and would be happy to spread the word whilst making a bit on the side.
You know my answer!
Okay, well geez everybody, I guess that you are twisting my arm into this and I will get it going! In fact I have a phone call with Linkshare scheduled for Monday afternoon, and will be working with them on getting this started. Thanks for all of the feedback so far, and I look forward to this step in the road!
I’m not too happy about the affiliate program idea since I recently purchased one of your Revolution themes. This will just encourage more people to use the same design and make my site look less unique.
That being said I don’t think Linkshare is a good fit for Wordpress themes. They’re a very retail-centric network and don’t focus on themes and services for online professionals. I recommend ShareASale as they’ve got a much better mix of retail and non-retail programs. Their reputation is impeccable and they have real time reporting, unlike Linkshare. Not to mention they’re substantially cheaper to get started with. Linkshare is getting outdated and they really need to update their software. They’ve been losing a lot of major clients lately, including Target, Dell and Apple, so there is certainly an exodus from Linkshare to more flexible networks like CJ, Performics and ShareASale.
If this does happen I hope the themes change frequently so the internet is not inundated with the same designs. I’ll be very disappointed if I start seeing my design pop up all over the place.
Scott - thanks for your feedback, I appreciate that. If it makes you feel better, I plan on releasing more Revolution themes, which will hopefully mean that your design doesn’t pop up all over the place. I will check out CJ and a few others before I make a final decision.
Good Luck Brian!
Count me in… Sounds Like A great idea!
Thanks Carol, appreciate it!
Definitely! I wanted to be an affiliate from day 1.
Sign me up!
Definitely count me in! I love the product and have already got several people thinking about it.
Hey Barry, so I had you from hello? (sorry, I’m a Jerry Maguire fan!)
Ed - sounds good! And I love the gray logo image you have on your homepage! Very nice way to use that space.
Brian - count me in as an affiliate; Revolution will likely be one of my first promos at my freelance journalism site that goes public Feb. 1.
You did have me at hello.
As a matter of fact, I’ve already sent about 100 people over to iThemes. I signed up for that affiliate program as soon as it came out two days ago. When I got Corey’s early notification and I saw your name on it I knew it was going to be good.
As for Scott’s fear about everyone using his theme I don’t think he has to worry about that too much. There are way too many WordPress sites popping up every day for that to become an issue.
If it does you’ll be one rich guy.
Hi Brian.
Thank you for the opportunity
I’m in.
-Scott
In a heart beat!
Yeppa.. count me in as well. I do think that it would be nice if you made it possible to add room for those 125×125’s to your themes since most of us here are either already using one of your themes or seriously consider doing so.
Would be great match if you ask me..
More support, thanks so much. Guess I’ll have to get this thing going - thanks for the feedback!
DeFries, thanks - I know that the 125×125 deal is now the “in” thing for bloggers… and when I come out with my upcoming Revolution theme I will make sure that is incorporated into it!
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I would sign up immediately. I’m an avid Linkshare user across numerous domains. My only complaint is that their payout process is a little confusing and slow.
I would begin promoting your professional, high-quality, easy-to-use templates on all of my web design related domains.
Great!. and maybe a tutorial on how to add the code to do that to other themes?
We hope to have our new site up, utilizing the Sports theme in about a week. We are Linkshare clients and would certainly participate in your affiliate program.
Well it seems that a lot of people already are using Linkshare for their affiliate marketing, which is a good thing - makes it easier for them to sign up. I’ll post updates after my call on Monday with them, to keep you all in the loop.
Brian,
I would definitely be interested in this, though I am a big fan of e-junkie.com for this stuff (most of my other affiliates are with them already).
Either way, I’m interested!
I would gladly join your affiliate program. Your themes are some of a very small handful of excellent, well-supported themes that i would recommend to my clients and friends who are serious about providing a solid blog presence!
Count the Hosanna blog and The Paul Potts Story blog in, Brian. We are behind you and your work all the way.
You might consider google and cj.com in addition to linkshare. As a publisher I have not liked the offerings of linkshare nearly as much as cj.
Yes, I’d participate.
Your templates are wonderful. I’d definitely feel comfortable recommending them to others.
I’m one of the many who asked — and I’m one of the many who are pleased. Thanks or letting us know this is in the works!
CJ
Of course, you don’t have that many templates and if they start appearing left and right I’ll be dropping them for my sites.
Was about to buy Revolution, this makes me reconsider.
That and the fact you don’t respond to reasonable email seeking help.
Not to be raining on your action here — your designs are among the best I’ve seen — but that is how I see it.
Thanks Brian. This will be great for us all. Good luck. I also appreciated the tip about e-junkie. i was considering using it myself.
Take care,
monica
Glenn - please tell me when you sent an email that I didn’t respond to? I try to respond to every one, even if it means I say I can’t take on the work.
Would I?
See this post.
nuff said
Andy - funny you place that link (thanks by the way…) because I saw that post just the other day!
Brian,
I’m not sure if you realize just how expensive Linkshare is. My guess is you’ll have to pay at least $5,000 just to get started. And for those who are suggesting running a program elsewhere Linkshare requires exclusivity, so running a program at CJ as well just won’t fly. Also consider that CJ is just as expensive as Linkshare. As for ShareASale you’ll only be out a few hundred and be ready to go immediately.
Scott, yes I do know how much it costs, as I’ve already crossed that bridge with them. More than anything, it’s the amount of people that would sign up, and whether or not I want to deal with the administrative side of collecting everyone’s social security numbers and taking care of the payments. I might decide to do it on my own when push comes to shove, for some reason my call with Linkshare doesn’t pan out. But I want this to be the best possible situation for both sides - you guys and me.
Brian,
I’m in on the affiliate program. Keep us updated.
Bobby - thanks, and no sweat. Trust me, if this goes through, I will be making posts on this site, the Revolution site as well as the support forums!
Brian - I commend you for continuing to consider new ideas and taking WordPress to a level never before seen.
That being said, I think it is important to remember something Brian said earlier this year in “My Best 22 Blog Tips Ever - Part One” . . .
5. Don’t copy the look of another blog in your niche.
Three months ago we were the first to see the Revolution Themes. We were the first to modify them. We were the first to use them for our blogs. We were the influencers.
My concern with the Revolution Themes over time (and in a very short period of them) is that they will become over exposed. No longer will I (you) be the only person in my niche using this theme. When that happens the themes no longer have the value they once had.
Would you spend $100 for a theme if 3-4 other people in your niche were using it?
There are many good available Wordpres themes for free.
If I am going to pay $100 for a WordPress theme then I must feel there is some unique but it. The uniqueness of the Revolution Themese will disappear if too many people use them.
While I think an affiliate proram would be a great idea for Brian, in my opinion, the more people that use these themes the less value they have. The best solution to this problem will be if Brian continues to turn-out new themes.
Hi Brian,
That’s just a great idea! I’m all in
David - thanks so much for the feedback. To be honest, the best way I know how to address the concerns you have is simply what you stated in your last sentence. And this is something that is already in the works. I am in the process of developing a new Revolution theme, and in 2008 plan on releasing many themes to address those concerns. Hope that works for you!
I think the argument that more people using the Revolution theme dilutes the value of it is pretty silly. It may be true to a degree but, it’s silly.
First of all it’s a $100 theme that blows away any free theme I’ve ever seen.
Second, if you want a completely exclusive theme then hire Brian to design one for you.
Third, this is how Brian makes his living and it’s his design. If he wants to try and sell a million copies then I say more power to him.
And, I’ll help.
Blogs have been too ugly for too long! It’s time we all take a stand for better looking blogs everywhere!
LOL
Two things I want to point out - the theme is $80, not $100.
Second, and more importantly, if you take a look at the showcase on the Revolution site, you will see examples of sites using the themes that look NOTHING like each other.
Take for instance this site and this site.
Two totally different designs. based off the original theme. My advice is to spend time to customize the theme, the layout, the css and then you won’t have sites looking like one another.
We bought the theme for the features it offered and the clean coding. We customized the banner of our new site we’re launching and whatnot to make it distinct. Doesn’t look like Brian’s theme anymore, except for layout and functionality.
Brian, Good points.
I did not pay $100 for mine but, when Scott said $100 I thought maybe you raised the price and I didn’t want to let the cat , meow…, out of the bag if you had.
Even if it was $100 it would still be worth it.
Thanks Barry - no, the prices for all of the current Revolution themes are lower than they used to be. Currently they are all $79.95 - no plan ever to increase the price to the existing themes.
Brian is mining a wholly new market: affordable, professionally-designed WordPress themes that are both supported and offer a solid frame to create your distinct online home.
Now, if I were pay $5K for a one-off design, I wouldn’t much like it if a bazillion other people had the same unique design. But at $80 plus some sweat equity, 1,000 Revolutions, while all sharing the same core, can appear completely different.
Brian,
I purchased your themes because I think you have the best looking themes that anyone could offer. I had a hard time choosing so I purchased your Developer Pkg, that solved my problem in choosing. I would love to become an affiliate for your Revolution Themes.
Ed - I totally agree with your second paragraph!
Fred - now that is a great site of yours that really shows how much you can put onto a homepage using WordPress. Great job on your site, you should be very proud!
Generous of you to enable us to earn an income on the many “word of mouth” testimonials passed on to our customers looking for an exciting home page design for their new WP blogs. More so after “Problogger’s” Darren Rowse had that excellent redesign commissioned for his Problogger home page.
Interesting that you chose a 25% payout figure, when the norm is around 40 - 50%!
Surely blog owners will take the time to add their individual touch via colour and design to any WP theme they choose… so it should not be a concern that the Revolution theme will lose its appeal by being “all over the internet”.
Sounds like a great idea.
This is easy money, as your themes literally sell themselves!
I would love to sign up. I was actually looking for one, before I bought one of your themes.
I agree with James and ofcourse with Brian. If you want to, you can really just use the basics of the Revolution Theme(s) and alter the design to whichever way you desire. This was my desire: http://www.balancedmind.nl and as you can see it looks almost nothing like the original.
That’s what the true power of the Revolution Theme is about …
I like the idea of an affiliate program, and-but….
Will the average buyer be satisfied at the end of the day? I’m not sure. Not only do they have to know wordPress but some css and html. I would feel good selling to another designer.
I like the idea of setting up a buying program for web designers to offer to their customers.
I guess my main concern is there are so many templates out there that are spouting put a web site up in minutes. yada yada haha. Even my company has bought into a simple program for none designers anyone can use and so far there are they are racking up on the training.
There is a company that sells a template (CommonSpot) and I think they ask a pretty good amount, but as far as I can see they have several high end training classes. You may not be interested in training, but maybe supporting others selling Revolution.
Best of luck with it, Brian. I’m sure it’ll be a success for you, depsite the effort.
Hi Brian,
are you planning on releasing the theme you were using before this one anytime soon? It was the dark blue one and I remember you saying you were going to release it as a free theme.
I bet this really takes off for you Brian. I would be very interested indeed!! Good luck!
Sign me up!
David - thanks, I appreciate that!
Sara - at some point, yes I plan to release it - once I get this Revolution stuff done, I’ll try to work on it!
Susan - thanks. Stay tuned to my eNews, as that will announce when the affiliate program is ready.
Jacqueline - I’ll let you do the honors once the program is ready!
I think you definitely need to have an affiliate program, however your pricing structure is not optimal. I would consider a sliding scale along the following lines.
* 15% of a Single Use package
* 25% of a Multiple Use package
* 35% of a Developer package
If you care to hear the logic behind this, feel free to email me and I’ll explain.
You know where I stand, right?
Anyways, 25% for each package sale is good enough.
Brian,
Is the merchant account set with LinkShare yet? I could not any merchant under your name. I know you’ll be doing well in this project. I am one of those people who were waiting to promote this as an affiliate. 25% is a good start. Any chance an affiliate could get a discount for themselves?
Count me in Brian. It would be nice to have a reputable template source that would be available for affiliate income. I agree with others that incorporating the 125×125 ad sizes in upcoming templates would be great.
Here’s to the Revolution!
Cheers,
John
Hi Brian! I’d be glad to help you promote this through WBO. Just let me know when you start.
- CC
Brian;
You do awesome work and I would be proud to have your themes as part of my affiliate relationships and proud as well to recommend them to clients. Fire it up!
Best
Eric
[…] of deciding which route is the best way to go, and I want to thank all of you who express your comments and concerns regarding the […]
You can count me in. I think it’s a great idea.
Sign me up as well. Can’t wait.
R.
This is great news. I’d love to sell your themes to my visitors!