Since Jason “converted” to affiliate marketing, I have grown to respect and even admire the man. I think just the simple fact of him trying out CJ and maybe other affiliate networks in many ways makes him one of us affiliates.

Before I can commit to a complete adoration of his incredible talent, wisdom and wit I still have one question to ask him. Yeah, right! Like he is ever going to read this. But let my fancy run wild for a moment…..

photo credit: ricardo.martinsJason, you mentioned that pay per post bloggers are pissing in the well. I understand your view. Following same logic, there are number of companies abusing their way through so called paid reviews. I personally have come across a few of such companies. With Valleywag venture capitalists behind them. Buying reviews from single moms and struggling students. One particular company that I have in mind have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars buying reviews from bloggers who neither were familiar with the product nor the industry, while at the same time avoiding to be reviewed on the websites related to the company’s industry.

Now my question is this. Is your piss more pure if you are Valleywag venture capitalist?

In my opinion no matter how do you call people who are trying to find their way of making money on the internet, the responsibility of keeping the water in the well pure lies as much with Valleywag entrepreneurs if not more.

Some bloggers are reporting that Jason Calacanis had joined Commission Junction. It will be interesting indeed to see if and how Jason will adjust his stand on link disclosures.

But no matter what, I think Affiliate Marketing industry just got itself another super affiliate. The question is will we ever see that first pathetic fat check on Jason’s blog?

photo credit: dsearlsSince I was one of the first to criticize Affiliate Summit for inviting Jason to deliver the keynote address in at ASW08 in Las Vegas, I think I have to write something on the subject. Not being able to attend the Summit this time around I could not wait for the blogs to buzz about the keynote adress. Sam Harrelson did and outstanding job blogging live from the the floor. However listening to the podcast featuring Jason’s keynote, I realize that I may have overreacted on several occasions while commenting on the subject.

Did Jason brought valid points? Probably. However I can’t take his observation seriously as long as he continues to be hypocritical about his “search engine”.

My grief with Jason has a lot to do with paid reviews. My experience with the paid reviews ended in disappointment and conclusion that it is not the business model I would like to pursue. While testing that model I have burned myself badly. Not only my reputation was put on the line, I was faced with a possible law suit over a stupid review I wrote. Apparently after writing the review I also managed to write 160+ negative comments… as if I had nothing else to do with my time. Now to make the story short, the company in question abused their way buying reviews from bloggers whose blogs where not even near to being related to company’s industry. Google was fulled for a short time and company enjoyed great ranking and traffic. But things did not last that long. The company got spanked by Google and according to Alexa, the traffic declined after spanking as well.

photo credit: scottobearNot to my surprise, the website of the above mentioned company is “recommended” to Mahalo. I believe it is not the question if that page will be ever approved by one of the Mahalo “Guides”, it’s the question when. As long as that submission is there, even tough with nofollowed link, Mahalo will continue to remind me of a bad behaved and spiteful monkey. Bad monkeys get no banana.

I am planing to go to Boston, because I would like to learn more about my industry. But from what I hear that learning process is more fruitful when you talk to affiliates themselves. I do not mind to be challenged either. But I would rather listen to some one who knows a thing or two about affiliate marketing.