Voucher Code Sites!! OMG not to mention WTF!! Sorry Rant Needed!!

[ParisEngLtd]

Have dabbled in affiliate marketing for a number of years but have never really taken any interest in these 'Voucher Code Sites', found myself on one yesturday bored at work and oh my god . . . are these for real . . . there are probably lots of people here who use and like them (the profit over content brigade) so I expect to get slated but feel I need a rant . . .

I have never seen such a blatent collection of low user quality, cookie stuffing, click forcing junk in all my life.

These are supposed to offer users discount codes but (after being forced to click a link to drops a cookie) probably 90% of the links turn out not to have a code at all, just an affiliate link to a website, the majority of these are just standard home page links with no special discounts anyway.

This is blatent click forcing, why are these shylocks aloud to get away with this as it is clearly banned in almost all TOCs?

I could not find a single exception among these sites and the biggest sites seem to be the worst offenders (we all know which I mean) offering non existent 'codes' for virtually every company on the planet that has an affiliate program, but of course no geniune codes for any companies that don't.

OK, rant over, enough to say that I am livid that these people represent this industry (even often on TV in one case) and hope these sites get exposed for what they are soon in the same way as the 'comparison sites' a couple of months ago to force them to clean up thier act.
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The upshot of this is that I am planning to launch a proper user focused discount voucher site as I could not find a single one that wasn't just a very thinley disguised affiliate shopping site.

I wrote the code and built the databases yesturday and it's all working now so any suggestions (from those who aren't going to try to have me executed) for reliable supplies of codes (affiliated or not) would be greatly appreciated.

[UKOffer]

I hear what you're saying but there are some exceptions, i.e. mine, Frostie's , Jason's and Rays. Probably a few more too.

[loquax]

If you look back over a bundle of other threads on voucher codes you'll find there are some affiliates who do operate non-click to reveal voucher sites (myself and befuddle for example), or who only offer click to reveal on valid codes, and/or who have actively debated getting the likes of iframes, 1x1 cookie droppers and other devious tactics removed.

Things are a lot better than they were!

Jason

[voucherz]

I agree with the rant in some respect, and likewise was the reason why I decided to develop a more "real" vouchers site myself - voucherz.co.uk. We only list valid codes sent by the affiliates, we dont list any codes sent to us by site members, and we note in our T&Cs that users can disable cookies if they want to have a "cookie/tracking" free user experience.

Some Suggestions (off the top of my head)->

1. List only valid codes sent from affiliates
2. Have an end date on codes, so they expire and are removed from the site
3. Do not have a "tell a friend" email feature. I hate sites that have these
4. Have some kind of member/email sign up feature. It allows you to mail shot the latest codes, as some codes are only valid for a few days.
5. Offer an easy/quick way for members to disable/terminate their account
6. Spend some time on the design/graphical aspect of the site i.e. make it memorable. There are a zillion voucher codes sites out there, and you need to make it memorable to the user. Maybe have a games section (link baiting)
7. Affiliates are hungry to appear on your homepage, so why not get in contact with a couple of them to set up some competitions. Added reason for users to use/promote the site to friends.

[fizzbird]

Originally Posted by UKOffer I hear what you're saying but there are some exceptions, i.e. mine, Frostie's , Jason's and Rays. Probably a few more too.

There's one there who's as guilty as any of the worst offenders!

[jess1]

ParisEngLtd: Loved your post... just takes one rotten apple to spoil it for the rest eh? Networks are still allowing these affiliates to continue, I understand why I think most of us do but what is the long term plan here for our industry or are we all focused on the here and now? Mixed messages Im getting.

[DannyW]

Ade I've got to agree with what UKOffer and Loquax have said here. I believe the forced click with no code is fastly becoming the minority over the last few months. My site, as another example, has codes completely in the open (maybe I'm missing a trick?).

Saying "I could not find a single exception among these sites" shows that you didn't really look very far past some of the ppc ads. I'm page one for a fair few competitive "voucher industry phrase" and don't use these techniques.

A quick check:

Google- 1st page "discount codes": 5 sites with codes in full view (no click to reveal), 4 sites with click to reveal and 1 site is a forum.

Anyway all the best with your voucher site...

Dan

[geordiboyo]

We are due to launch a Money Off Voucher Code website on Monday and we have integrated a system where as the user will search for retailer, click through to retailer page and then view voucher codes, if there are no voucher codes or discounts then they have the option to leave site without clicking through to retailer hence not dropping a cookie. Even if there is a voucher code they have to click a button to start shopping.

So really it is in our interest to ensure we only provide retailers whom have discounts or vouchers

We also have an automatic start and expiry system so that vouchers or discounts that have expired will be created and deleted from website automatically.

We are looking foraward to launch day

Mark

[getvisible]

Do you know what Ade - I agree with you!

The upshot of this is that I am planning to launch a proper user focused discount voucher site as I could not find a single one that wasn't just a very thinley disguised affiliate shopping site.

I'm all for more content. Ifeel that some of them are working towards offering somethign different, they're just not visible. Whilst some are just keyword stuffing - I've done it myself.

The issue is that many networks see the profits that are being made on cookie cutting, so they suggest to their merchants that they should offer codes. And now there's so many codes being published that code site owners are finding it exceptionally difficult to write unique, usefull content to go with every code on their site.

There's two models, "pile them high and sell them cheap" cookie cutters, and the "useful content is king" sites. My view is that the later has the long term advantage. Whilst there will be the former that will always make serious cash.

[bapages]

Originally Posted by loquax If you look back over a bundle of other threads on voucher codes you'll find there are some affiliates who do operate non-click to reveal voucher sites (myself and befuddle for example), or who only offer click to reveal on valid codes, and/or who have actively debated getting the likes of iframes, 1x1 cookie droppers and other devious tactics removed. Things are a lot better than they were! Jason

Jason,

But theses are just a bad because I know a few people when buying from the internet get to payment page and 'enter voucher', so they search Google for one and just enter it in.