Hmm. New promotion idea. Any takers/naysmiths?

[FreshlySqueezed]

Hey guys.

OK, I just had an idea driving home from work just now.

I call it the Pass The Buck system(tm). :)

Basically, you register an account with a website for free.

This website sells games.

Users can both send email through the site or add a link to their site/blog etc., compelling their friends/readership to play this new game they've enjoyed.

If one of their target friends/readers goes on to register the game, a dollar goes into the referrer's account.

The referrer can then withdraw their cash from the account.

/prepares self for avalanche of "it's been done" or "slight problem with that" replies. :)

I'd spend more time thinking it through but a) I'm too busy and b) it might help someone come up with a better idea.

On the off chance that it's watertight would anyone like to maybe collaborate in making it happen?

[papillon]

you mean, like.... all the affiliate sales programs out there? :)

[FreshlySqueezed]

you mean, like.... all the affiliate sales programs out there? :)
I assumed they were just a few cents here and there, and solely aimed at commercial websites rather than customers actively promoting?

I do hold my hands up and admit I'm a noob when it comes to the indie business side, though, my backgrounds in the commercial games industry. :)

Heh, probably a stupid idea, forget I said anything. :)

[princec]

I don't think that the affiliate sales programmes are quite what FreshlySqueezed is on about. This is more of a sort of viral marketing technique. I quite like the idea of being able to refer a friend and if they buy a game I'd get some money, but the trouble is that paying people money is a lot harder right now than extracting money from them.

Cas :)

[FreshlySqueezed]

I don't think that the affiliate sales programmes are quite what FreshlySqueezed is on about. This is more of a sort of viral marketing technique. I quite like the idea of being able to refer a friend and if they buy a game I'd get some money, but the trouble is that paying people money is a lot harder right now than extracting money from them.

Cas :)
Yes, that was indeed what I was driving at.

Hmm, see what you mean.

[FreshlySqueezed]

Just pay in credit for users to trade in for games... never say "you have say 15$ credit with us" instead say "you have 15 referral points with us" that way people don't ask for money instead of games 8)
Hmm, maybe, but then we couldn't call it Pass The Buck!

/weeps for opportunities lost

[papillon]

A lot of the existing affiliate sales programs are too complex for your average buyer to simply sign up and start referring friends, yes. BigFishGames' gamespace is a start, it certainly makes it easy enough for any player to have a gamespace and potentially refer other people through it. However, at the moment, to refer a particular game takes slightly more work. Not at all difficult for someone trying to make a living out of it, but a little more complicated than a simple 'share this with your friends'.