Do Affiliate Buttons Work?

[Nebulous]

Have any of you actually tracked affiliate button links and tested whether or not they are effective at attracting new members?

Does affiliation work in general on forums?

 

[Deleted member 49125]

My forum has an Affiliate Table. I was gung ho at the beginning because it seemed to be quite popular with other Proboards members. However, after 2 years, I haven't effectively attracted new members. I don't add in Affiliates anymore.
Similarly, I don't scan Affiliates on other forums either.
I'm curious if others have had better success.

 

[zappaDPJ]

In my limited experience you need to be very proactive to get that kind of benefit from affiliate links. Buying the product and putting up a review would probably convert to traffic.

 

[Nomad]

Affiliate links work for forums only when the person who brings members is rewarded in some way. These days people do not bother about bringing members unless they receive some sort of incentives.

 

[Page]

I have one Affiliate advert that I added years ago, From Overclockers and I have made nothing from it since then. I mean even if a get impression it's not enough to even with clicks. Then again they are asking to allot. But I keep it since I can't be bothered to look at an option to replace it without messing up my widget box

 

[Shortie_]

If there is some kind of incentive for an affiliate button say for your users clicking on it and going to the site of the affiliate button then I feel they will work. If you do not have some kind of incentive for your members most of them will not bother with the affiliate buttons and most of the time they are just there and get seen but do not get any interaction.