Who's in the "direct sales" rakeback market?

[Mr-AJ]

A good friend of mine makes XX,XXX Dollars as an Affiliate and doesn't even own one single site. He only offers a very nice rakeback deal to players he's in touch with.
This seems pretty easy but I don't know that many affiliates who follow this strategy. Maybe here are more on this board.
I'm considering giving it a shot but it never hurts to hear other experiences besides my friend.

[Unknown Webmaster]

Raises hand.

I'm in the x.xxx$ doing this and are moving to building websites. Unless you already have a big network of players, or a way of accessing somebody elses, I don't think this is "an easy way to make money".

I offer coaching focused on some topics that are highly relevant to very serious players, and have been an active member of several poker forums - both of which gives me an easy way of getting in touch with players and building trust.

[MJ]

Unless you already have a big network of players, or a way of accessing somebody elses, I don't think this is "an easy way to make money".

People that have to steal other peoples players are lower than low.

[Ridge]

People that have to steal other peoples players are lower than low.

Seriously MJ, quit holding back and tell us how you really feel.

I do agree though, I have actually had to ban some newer PAL members from my forum for spamming and PM'ng on my poker forums. Pretty sad and you would think people have better ways to spend their time

[pomp]

People that have to steal other peoples players are lower than low.

Nobody said anything about stealing other peoples players did they?

[leporello]

Used to be in that side of the business, but based on demand and business sustainability I decided to move into more traditional means. Direct sales is just not feasible long term and it's no way near as lucrative as running your own site(s).

[MJ]

Maybe I misread the quote, but I took it as referring to the practices of people who run around on forums, even other rakeback sites support forums, and pm backdoor deals that are breaking % caps.

It's why I lean towards wanting all rooms to handle rakeback in house and compete on their own rooms service, instead of which affiliate offers the best service.

Wasn't referring you personally Unknown obv.

[Unknown Webmaster]

Just for the record, I have never approached a player through PM or otherwise solicited people to sign up on other peoples forums or websites.

I have had a lot of people PM me about or free help with some problem they have, simply because I play a lot of poker and don't mind helping new players get started.

If I spend 15 minutes helping somebody on Skype I don't think there are anything wrong with asking if they would be interested in talking about rakeback and which sites are good to play at.

I wholeheartedly agree that the people who send unsolicited PMs on forums to recruit players are pretty low and they should just be banned on sight.

[Mr-AJ]

To make it clear: I wasn't referring to forum and PM spammers that offer higher % than larger rakeback sites.
I think there's nothing wrong to have a couple of poker playing friends, working on your network and offering them a nice rakeback deal they don't find anywhere else.

If you want to criticize such a "offering a higher rakeback deal" you have to criticize the whole rakeback industry. Especially big rakeback sites that can afford to give away a higher percentage than novice affiliates.

I guess you have to clarify what to understand under such direct sales rakeback. If you're working against network rules it's not a long term thing and I wouldn't do it.
But what about nice rakeback deals that are also offered elsewhere online? What's wrong with selling those offers to poker players you know (without stealing players of spamming forums)?

[MJ]

Nothing, referring players to good deals that make you a profit is a win/win.