The Dark Side of CPA Marketing

There is a lot of money to be made from CPAthan its competitor and overall you may earn more
Marketing, but there is also a dark side that manypromoting a Survey with a lesser payout as you will
people do not know about or maybe refuse to believe.not be shaved as much.
The problem with the CPA industry is that it can beI have seen virtually identical CPA Offers on different
very unethical. There is no formal governingnetworks perform very differently using the exact
organization to regulate the industry.same Marketing Campaigns which means a blatent
There are essentially three distinct groups that makeshaving of leads.
up the relationship of CPA:An Advertiser can also shave leads by ensuring that a
* AdvertisersCPA Networks Pixel is not triggered at certain times.
* Publishers (Affiliates)A pixel is either JavaScript or an image tag that when
* Cost Per Action Networkstriggered reports back to the Network that a lead has
A CPA Network works as a middleman betweenbeen generated.
advertisers and publishers. The problem starts when"Why wouldn't an Advertiser Shave Leads? It Saves
one of these decides to cheat the others.them Money!"
Let Me Explain:The CPA Industry has already gained the attention of
If you visit some Forums (usually Black Hat related)the FTC and the Attorney Generals of many States.
you will find many Affiliates showing other AffiliatesLook at the whole recent "ringtones" fiasco that had
how to cheat leads out of both the CPA Networkssome CPA Networks paying out as much as $1million
and its Advertisers.to settle lawsuits related to false "free ringtone"
There are many ways to fool or force someone tomarketing.
complete a CPA Offer that is not only dishonest butMost Email Submit Offers put the prospect through
also illegal. Trying to cheat leads from a CPA Networkco-registration hell by sending many spam related
would get you banned or even worse Blacklisted fromEmails trying to get them to pay for something making
the industry.the users email account useless because of all the
The Direct Track Platform allows all of the CPASpam.
Networks using their System to post their BannedHave you ever read the small print on some of these
Members for all to see. So if you get banned from onefree offers that require an email address? They
network which uses this Direct Track Platform, youusually require the participant to fill out three gold
may have difficulty getting signed up to other CPAoffers, two silver offers, two bronze offers and then
Networks because your reputation will be known.refer five family members to do the same before they
The harsh reality is when these Affiliates cheat thecan get the free prize.
CPA Networks this affects other Publishers by a"The Small Print is Small for a reason!"
reduced Payout or a higher scrub level (the process ofAdvertisers can also refuse to pay the CPA
where leads are reversed).Networks for Leads generated which may result in
When you join a CPA Network you are essentiallyyou not getting payed. If you read the "Terms and
putting all your trust into that Network and its trackingConditions" of the majority of Networks, they indicate
system to pay 100% for all the Leads generated.that if they are not payed by the Advertiser then you
Unfortunately this is not always the case...will not be payed.
A lot of CPA Networks will shave off leads to ensureStick to the Bigger Networks as they can afford to
that their Profit Levels are kept to a maximum. Mostpay you out of their own pockets if an Advertiser
Affiliates do not realize that most of the Cost Perrefuses payment.
Action Networks using the Direct Track Platform haveThere are actually CPA Networks who cheat their
a built in feature for shaving leads.Affiliates by setting up Similar Landing Pages to yours
This Feature can be set at what ever level they like.if they are converting. These CPA Networks have
For example, they may set it at 10% for a certaintheir own in-house Search Team so you are basically
CPA Offer meaning the Affiliate will not get credit forshowing them what is working for you so they can
every 10th Lead. This is how some Networks payimplement their own and rip you off.
higher than others because they can afford to byDon't get too close to your Affiliate Manager:
shaving leads.Think about it! If you are making $100,000 a Month on a
This next bit is important:CPA Network and you have shown your Affiliate
In order to ensure you get credit for the Leads youManager your Campaigns then they will be more than
generate by your Offers you must Split Test Differenttempted to steal your ideas and make their own
Networks with similar or identical Offers. If one CPAmoney, after all the CPA Network will not be paying
Network offers a higher payout than the other for athem anywhere near as much as you are earning.
specific Offer it may mean they shave more often