Blogosis

In a totally uncalled for move Google and Yahoo’s affiliate programs have changed. And it isn’t looking good.

Let us start off with Google Adsense. For those using it in North America, Latin America and Japan, the pricing system on referrals is being completely rewritten. In the old system, if your referral made 10 dollars, so did you. You would get $250 for referring someone who made $100 (in 180 days), and if you refer 25 people who made $100 within 180 days you would get a bonus payment of a cool $2000. Say good bye to the old..

Now it’s if your referral makes $100 dollars (and only if they make that much in 180 days) you make $100 dollars. So you are losing people who only made 4 dollars, 50 dollars, or 99.99 dollars in 180 days. The fact that less than 80% of all adsense users ever make $100 hurts anyone relying on referrals to this program. Basically, they can expect to see a major amount of income completely wiped out.

Wanna know who really got it though? Google screwed everyone outside of North America, Latin America, and Japan. You are done with the referral program. Chinese, British, Indian, German, Australians… Kiss your Google Adsense referral program goodbye with a nice bitchslap across your face, and your wallet.

How did Yahoo decide to slap its affiliates? I got an email in the morning. It has some changes and they are taking out their business and custom mailbox campaigns. Here is what the email had to say:

“Yahoo! is working on improving their Small Business products for 2008 and would like to place emphasis on the most valuable products to users such as Web Hosting and Merchant Solutions.

Immediate Actions for Yahoo! Custom and Business Mailboxes:

• As of January 15, 2008 Yahoo! Custom and Business Mailboxes will be removed from the Yahoo! Program terms
• Remove all links and shut down any Custom and Business Mailbox campaigns by January 15, 2008
• All commission earned up to January 15, 2008 for Custom and Business Mailboxes will be paid out to you as scheduled
• As of January 15, 2008 you will not be paid for any subsequent commission on the Custom and Business Mailbox actions”

I wasn’t using this program so I can’t speak for those who were. I’m sure there were some making some kind of stable cash flow from this. This is gone. In order to balance out all this crap, Yahoo has done some good things for its affiliates. Those using the Yahoo! Hot Job campaigns will see changes in the payment system:

New Yahoo! HotJob’s Commission Rate

• We will no longer be paying a commission on a HotJob Resume
• $0.50 per Application (We have implemented new Application Tracking, so you will receive commission on all applications both ON and OFF of the HotJob’s Site)
• 20% on Employer Job Listings…

Beginning January 15, 2008, you will receive commission on all HotJob’s applications therefore driving 3-4x (on average) the amount of applications you were in the past without even taking into account the seasonal increase. We anticipate that the net impact of the new application tracking will be positive for most of our affiliate partners.

So those using the HotJobs campaign may be in for a bit more income. Also, Yahoo has released a new affiliate program involving its ever present Yahoo toolbar. Get someone to download it and you make a buck. Not to bad considering its simplicity. However, considering how many people already have it installed on their computers is an issue. I’m sure most reading any blog would already have Yahoo or some other search bar. I don’t see this program as one many people will make money on.

So, this means less money from your make money online scheme for anyone using or planning to use these programs. I find it absolutely ridiculous that those outside of certain countries are being exclusively withheld from participating. I am in Thailand, but if I didn’t have an American home, I would have been owned by a major “Rick James” slap to the face, instead I’d say it’s more like my sister. Trust me, she can hit hard.

For more info on the whole Adsense BS check out this article on Shoemoney.

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