Old News: Six Apart's affiliate program

[foxfirefey]

We kind of noticed this earlier, but not in any coherent capacity. The affiliates page on LJ was added on 2006-01-13. The main Six Apart affiliate program page lists TypePad, Moveable Type, and LiveJournal. Here's their post introducing it.

If nothing's changed since the last time we checked those links, the affiliate links lead to this start

Comments

[matgb]

Hmm, an affiliate programme does make sense for MT and TP as they're only paid (and they used to be good products). But there's no way I'd even want to persuade people to get a paid account straight off, I'd want them to start Basic and then upgrade if they wanted the features.

I'm guessing that it's a general 6A affiliate programme, and they put LJ in there just because they could, it makes little sense to be promoting it that way. Wait, 6A actions making no sense?

I'd offer to sign up for CJ and see how it all works, but I'd feel dirty...

As far as I know

[foxfirefey]

Actually, I think I have a pretty good idea about how CJ works. For instance, ThinkGeek has a FAQ on it.

Basically, the publisher of the ads is given an "affiliate link". (They're JavaScript nowadays.) When someone clicks on that link, CJ sets a cookie for the click. If, during a specified time period, that person ends up making a purchase through the site, the publisher gets a money kickback.

But there's no way I'd even want to persuade people to get a paid account straight off, I'd want them to start Basic and then upgrade if they wanted the features.

I'm guessing that it's a general 6A affiliate programme, and they put LJ in there just because they could, it makes little sense to be promoting it that way.Haha, but people get to start with Plus now! And the fact they have an affiliate program might make some people feel good! I don't think affiliate programs are really targetted at teenage demographics and all. But I can't imagine it being too horribly successful, given that they don't even list the amount of storage space

Re: As far as I know

[decadence1]

Then again, considering that LJers are so tightly networked with other LJers, often to the exclusion of the greater blogging world [...]

Arguably.

Haha, but people get to start with Plus now! And the fact they have an affiliate program might make some people feel good! I don't think affiliate programs are really targetted at teenage demographics and all. But I can't imagine it being too horribly successful [...]

The LiveJournal.com implementation differs from the regular revenue-sharing format. Affiliate program sign-ups, after redeeming their click-throughs at the aptly titled page (here), receive the benefits in the form of jelly doughnuts. However, the program was never launched.