Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerProp
The negative for me is probably different than for most. I find myself getting worked up more than I should over what other sites do. Personally I find it disturbing sites that SEO "Poker Site XYZ Bonus Code" because I feel these search terms add no value to the poker rooms and are only scalping other affiliates referred players. Oddly enough I don't at all feel the same way about SEOing "Poker Site XYZ Rakeback" as this is an open game the card rooms let us and actually in many cases encourage us to participate in (and for the record, I think its a stupid business model, I wish all rooms would do away with but in the meantime I'm going to keep offering it because its the best deal for the players) - and the players searching for this specifically are only signing up with a rakeback site. I guess the big difference is when players are SEOing to offer something that the player does not need them for (Most the bonuses are the same no matter whose code is used - and the interntion of most SEOing this is to capture players who see that section on the registration form: Honestly who searches for Full Tilt Referral Code, or PokerStars Marketing Code unless they found it on the form - its certainly not a natural thing to search). This is only one small example of the things I get worked up over from time to time (i'm getting better at just accepting them) but as an affiliate that first priority is the players and second is servicing the poker rooms best interest which in exchange I'm rewarded with fair compensation - things that deviated from that and are money first driven irritate me.
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Absolutely true and in fact I would bet a lot of these affiliates are probably taking away players from legitimate affiliates on certain sites where bonus codes override affiliate cookies.
Honestly though I disagree with your thoughts about rakeback. I don't see much of a difference between rakeback type terms and bonus code terms. The players wouldn't even search for rakeback if they didn't already know about the room. Whether they go to one rakeback affiliate or another, there is not much of a difference. Sure you can say some will provide better service, special promotions etc., but if those sites are getting out ranked by other sites, then that isnt going to happen. Most of the time the player has already made their mind up that they want to play on these rooms and could care less who the affiliate is that is offering the rakeback, unless it is someone they have dealt with before.
It would be nice if sites implemented better measures to prevent these kind of things (ie. don't give a player an option to enter a bonus code if they go through one affiliate's link - this should be automatically filled), but I don't expect sites to make any major changes any time soon. For now, I guess the only thing that comes to mind is "if you can't beat em' might as well join them".