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I’m churning right along with the Weight Watchers core program. Another week, another pound down. That brings me to eight pounds lost so far in my quest to knock off 21.
Speaking of Weight Watchers, if you’ve been following the affiliate fatblogging series, I’ve been trying to get into the Weight Watchers affiliate program.
However, the folks at Weight Watchers have explained that they don’t accept affiliates that wish to promote them “in newsgroups, message boards, chatrooms, blogs or similar forums (collectively, “Forums”).”
I tried to make the case that my site, powered by WordPress, is a blog, but that a blog is simply a type of site powered by a content management system (CMS), and it’s quite a different platform from the other types of sites classified as “Forums” by the Weight Watchers affiliate program.
I could write the site in raw HTML if I wanted, and then it wouldn’t be a “blog,” but that approach wouldn’t be as efficient as using WordPress.
But I guess they don’t want this sort of first person narrative, even if it’s all about successfully using their service. Oh well, it’s their decision and I appreciate that they have concerns.
On another note, some affiliates have contacted me to ask about other affiliate programs that are good to promote.
I haven’t done a whole lot in the diet and wellness vertical, but one merchant I like is Vitamin Shoppe, which is good for low carb diet products.
A few years ago, they carried a wide selection of low carb options, but as the Atkins Diet fell out of favor, the product lines of low card items largely disappeared.
These days, they still have a bunch of options of the core Atkins items: Atkins Advantage meal replacement bars and ready to drink shakes.
Vitamin Shoppe typically has good pricing and free shipping offers. Anyhow, Atkins is another diet that can have some nice results. I did it a few years ago and lost around 45 pounds.
However, as I moved away from strictly following the diet, about 30 of the pounds crept back on.
On the other hand, I think I can stick with Weight Watchers for the long term. It’s enjoyable to eat a bunch of real food and not be psychotic about portion size. Rather, I listen to my body with the core program and eat until I’m satisfied.
This past week, I went off for a junky dinner on Saturday, and still had a net loss for the week. I think that’s essential for me to stay with it long term - the ability to fall off the wagon in moderation, so long as I am mostly very focused on the rules.
Starting weight: 216
Current weight: 208
Target weight: 195
8 responses so far ↓
1 Dyan // Dec 12, 2007 at 11:32 am
Hi Shawn,
Once again, inexperienced decision makers are missing out on great advertising.
Being very new to the affiliate marketing world, I am still constantly surprised by people who have no idea what it actually is. The people at Weight Watchers most likely don’t even understand half the terminology you are using, and are just going by a WORD document that lists all the unauthorized sites.
My coworkers don’t even understand what I do all day and we are a multi-million dollar online retailer. The full marketing impact , not to mention the revenue, of our affiliate program is not even part of their thinking. And my associate, who is in charge of paid search marketing, constantly has to explain the results of the reports she generates to the higher ups.
I wanted to thank you as well for the great webinar yesterday. I learned a lot! I had some, let’s say, less than honest affiliates, who had applied for membership using the same site under different names. Since I track results daily, their sales spikes stood out immediately. When I investigated, I found that all the user names were obscure science fiction comic book and movie related character names. It’s probably some 15 year old kid sitting in his basement raking in the dough using black hat techniques and not really caring if he gets cut because he’s making tons of money elsewhere. Gee, at least put our company on your site if you are going to claim we owe you commission!
Thanks Shawn!
Dyan
2 Lisa Riolo // Dec 12, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Hi Shawn,
I know from experience that Weight Watchers International places strict limitations on the interactive team that oversees the affiliate program. My guess is their decision stems from concerns about members getting guidance from an ‘outside’ expert, rather than their trained “Leaders.” I’ve seen them challenge positive testimonials because the language being used is not sufficiently consistent with their brand.
Anyway, good work on the eight pounds! That usually ain’t easy during this time of the year
Lisa
3 Marketing // Feb 26, 2008 at 1:19 am
@Dyan
Me too, I’m also new to this marketing world and from what I’ve read in your comment it seems like you’ve gone far enough in this marketing world to give some advice to people like me. I’m very interested about the “full marketing impact” as what you have said. I hope you can spend time sharing the idea of this.
Btw, good luck to your program Shawn. I watched your video up to last end.
Thanks,
Jan
4 Dyan // Feb 26, 2008 at 9:01 am
Hi Jan!
What would you like to know? I would be glad to share and to help!
Dyan
5 Matt | Internet marketing online affiliate program // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Hey Shawn,
Keep up the work! Managing your weight can be tough but remember it is a lifestyle change! Commit to that change and you will do fine!
6 Marketing // Feb 26, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Hello Dyan!
Thanks for your response. As you can see Dyan I’m also in an online marketing business which requires people to read and subscribe in our site (i hope i’m allowed to say this here). As a newbie to this business I’m not fully armed to compete with others. What I need to know is how to attract subscribers and what should I do to make sure that they will remain as one. I’ve checked your site and I see a tab for “Gift Center” is this one of your tactics, giving away some free gifts?
So, basically Dyan I want to know effective strategies. Strategies that have been proven and tested not just something that you can find it online.
Your answer is so much appreciated.
-Jan
7 Dyan // Feb 27, 2008 at 8:47 am
Hi Jan!
Here is some of the best advice I can give:
Keep reading Shawn’s site.
Buy Shawn’s book and read it cover to cover.
Join the ABW forum and read, read, read.
Post a new thread on the ABW forum with the same questions you’ve posed to me and read the answers carefully. You’ll get great advice from not only affiliate managers, but from affiliates themselves as to what attracts them to certain programs.
Much success to you!
Dyan
8 Marketing // Feb 27, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Good day Dyan!
It’s really encouraging when people like you are willing to help and interact to someone, like me, who really needs an advice.
Thank you so much for the tips you’ve shared. I think I’m already doing the first one, I check Shawn’s site every time and yes there are lots of helpful information I got.
The other two I’ll work on it soon as possible.
I hope I didn’t bother your time that much.
Cheers
-Jan
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