Clickbank University
Instead of offering a course for affiliates for free like other affiliate programs, they are going to charge $77 a month for it. Despite the fact I make money through Clickbank, this doesn’t mean I kiss their ass.
If you log in to your account, the banner is right there. I am not saying that it is not a great way for Clickbank to make money. I am not saying it is within their rights. I am just saying that it is to their benefit to train affiliates and charging for it when everyone else in the free world gives away information for free is a little bit greedy. The site is licensed by Clickbank and not part of it, but a link from inside your account, that’s a little bit much.
So you can sign up for Clickbank U or hang out here and see if I can pull this thing together. And that is not an affiliate link. Of course not. Why would you want to let affiliates in on the action? Because they would have to share the loot. That’s why.
Hi,
I saw your post on ClickBank University and felt the need to respond.
ClickBank University is a joint venture between my company, Walker Rhodes LLC, and ClickBank.
The whole story of how we ended up working together is pretty well covered in the sales letter I wrote, but suffice to say, they got a ton of feedback from the ClickBank Advisory Board that they needed to offer this kind of service at almost the same time that I was in discussions with one of their executives on providing exactly that kind of service to ClickBank affiliates and publishers.
We talked about the whole option of offering it as an affiliate product, but for the time being, they’ve determined that this is a service that ClickBank provides its members, not a product on the ClickBank Marketplace.
As I’ve gotten feedback about this issue however, I’ve passed it along to them, including a link to your post.
One thing I’ve learned from working closely with them over the past 8 months: they listen.
Doesn’t mean they’re going to change the policy now or even in the future, but they really, passionately care about what their members want.
ClickBank University goes above and beyond anything out there, and we’ve got 6 months worth of video training lined up for all the new members that are signing on.
It’s not just a simple eBook or some random web pages.
It’s a pretty ambitious venture, and they have been very exacting in what they want for their affiliates and publishers.
You’ll see more, too.
In any case, please know that we hear you and discuss what you have to say.
I’ve posted my email address and real phone number (not an answering machine) on every page in the site, including the sales letter, and already, I’ve been in contact with many of our new members.
Thanks again for your commentary.
Best of success,
Andy Bourland
President
ClickBank University
Thank you for the reply. I do believe a course is worth paying for if it has valuable content and that people must get paid for their work. I didn’t mean to imply that the course wasn’t worth the price. I know it can be made back in a day after experience.
I do see a need for such a course. It may prevent some truly crappy books on marketing from getting sold, but in that I see a backlash from some current vendors coming. Worse than my little tirade. It will be interesting. And for the most part I am on your side. This will clean up the Marketplace.
But it does seem to be a closed loop with no affiliate program from a company that has affiliate programs. That is what I meant to say.
Thanks for getting back to me on this…
Just as ClickBank doesn’t offer affiliate commissions on the ad space they sell on the various pages on their web site, they don’t offer a commission on one of the other services they offer: ClickBank University.
Already, some perceive that ClickBank is competing against them by offering this service. I think one of the concerns they have is that if they offer killer commissions on this, they’ll put some really good people — people who have been good and loyal to them — out of business. They don’t want that.
So their motives are good. They want what is best for all parties involved.
Things could change. You never know. But that’s where it stands.
I really like your site. I’ve been here many times before.
I truly appreciate your responsiveness.
Thanks,
Andy Bourland
President
ClickBank University
That really clears up a lot of things and I see your point. Who knows. I may sign up for a look see. Right now its not whether its worth but whether I have any time to add another thing to my list. But if I can free up some time, I’ll check it out. I need work in all the areas you seem to currently cover: videos and autoresponders. I can use any way to multiply my efforts right now. I would give anything for a 25 hour day.
And if I do that, I ‘ll give it a review here. But for now this site, my blog, and my job take up most of my time.
We designed it so it only takes up about an hour a week. We want you focusing on implementation and working on your business. Not hanging around the CBU site all day…
Best of success,
Andy
I am VERY new to Clickbank and was intrigued, naturally, by the Clickbank U, but am, of course, doing some web research on it first. That’s what brought me here. I’m quite anxious to hear more about it after you have given it a go. In the meantime, I’m going to have a look around at your other blogs. You have many subjects I am currently interested in. =)
It will be a few months before I give Clickbank U a go. Right now I have too many projects going to give it the focus it needs.
But when I do, I’m sure it will be worth it. $70 a month is actually a drop in the bucket compared to what you can make with Clickbank.
I’m sure CBU offers a lot of value but for what…4 weeks…I think its waay overpriced.