Apparently, if you want to have links to credit card providers, you have to be a big producer. A couple weeks ago, Amex shut off my links because I didn’t push enough volume. Yesterday, I got the word that Chase is doing the same. And since I have no interest in pushing credit card deals on a regular basis on the site (there are plenty of others who fill that void), it looks like my short venture into the credit card game is over. With so few options remaining, I’m just shutting it down.
But I still have today. If you’d like to sign up for a credit card, I still can benefit until the day is done. I compiled a bunch of links to the cards that might be of interest. Scroll through and if you need a card, I’d certainly appreciate you going through these links today.
[Update: It looks like my time is up. Apparently credit card issuers don’t like this kind of promotion so I’m pulling the links down throughout the site. Thanks to everyone who used the links over the last couple of months.]
25 comments on “Your Last Day to Support Cranky By Signing Up for a Credit Card”
Wow that is sad to hear. what kind of volume do these guys need to be considered good enough? I have a friend who needs to load up on United points quickly I will forward him your Chase UR links. Unfortunately I just did my own app-o-rama a couple of weeks back
Phil – Chase didn’t say how much I needed to produce, but they just decided to cut me off after what I later found out was a 60 day trial. Nobody told me that this was a trial in advance, and nor was I told that I had to produce a certain amount. Amex did have some number but I’m guessing that I’m not allow to share it. I was nowhere close.
Ugh, sorry that didn’t work out, talk about something being more trouble than it’s worth! At least this experience should make a good “whoops” type article for your Intuit small biz blog.
Bill from DC – You’re right, it probably would be a good article for Intuit. I’m setting up a draft post so I don’t forget.
It wasn’t really a failure. I made a little money out of this, probably more than enough to justify the time I put into it. But it’s still pretty annoying. These credit card companies want you to aggressively promote their cards and I just won’t do it.
Hey, I never said “failure,” you did! ;-)
I think the real problem was that none of these were Flaming Red Cranky Jackass cards.
Good point, Jeff. I need a Jackass card that allows you to transfer points at a 1:10 rate into every frequent flier program on earth!
Sorry the credit card thing didn’t work out…but I do appreciate your blog the way it is. It’s nice to have very high quality, thoughtful content, without credit cards being pushed once a week. While I don’t mind the credit card posts that much, it’s still nice to have a place mostly free of them.
Wish I could help, but I don’t believe in having credit.
And that’s a wrap. I got a call and apparently they don’t like this kind of promotion. So all my links are now down.
I don’t understand. First of all, why would they object to you promoting all of these cards in a post like this? Isn’t that exactly what they want?
And second, why do they care if you aren’t aggressively promoting these cards? I can’t imagine there’s a cost to them for you to have links up on your website, so isn’t some action for them better than you having nothing up at all?
All very good questions, Andrew. I wish I could tell you the answers, but I don’t know. Maybe they’re trying to cut down on people who just sign up as an affiliate so they can get cards for themselves and their family and get paid on it. But I have no clue.
I’m also not sure what was wrong with today’s post. I wasn’t angry or bad-mouthing them. It was just a factual post where I tried to get some benefit before the benefit was gone.
I think your readers are perhaps a little too highbrow to click on a link for a credit card offer. We’re web savvy and know better than to click anything online and start providing all of our personal information. I know those offers were legit, but many “click-here” promos aren’t and readers of this blog simply know better. Let ’em post their interest-inflated card offers on a Hollywood gossip blog. They’ll get plenty of traffic that won’t pay the bill off every month…and ultimately that is what they are really looking for. Good riddance!
Well real web savvy folks look at what site is hosting the link, and what page its on. If its a link in the comments I’m not clicking on it and giving it my info. But if its something that only cranky can edit, of course.
There also is that whole thing, before I start giving a company my info I make sure the domain that my info is going to actually is owned by that company..
Darn, you were here and gone during one churn interval. Sorry.
At least that explains why the miles and points bloggers are so pushy.
Were you working directly with the CC companies or through one of the affiliate companies like FlexOffers? Don’t get me wrong – I think skipping the CC affiliate game is the smart move despite the cash involved – but I’m curious if you got in with the wrong set of affiliates to begin with and if that skewed your success.
I was with FlexOffers and that didn’t seem to be the problem. My direct contact was actually very responsive and helpful.
I used your link to get the Chase Sapphire Card – which I would not have known about otherwise – so thank you!
I absolutely agree CF! Last week I randomly got targeted by Chase for not pushing out enough volume of their credit cards. I had no idea there was a quota to meet, nor would I have thrown it in our readers faces in every post to meet their quota.
What really bothers us too is that we actively had people signing up for their cards month in and month out, and not just one or two. It is ridiculous they would want to turn down free promotion of their product, especially when we were making them new customers.
I’ve been sitting on this same type of post for our site and have debated about publishing it or not. I’m glad to see others discomfort with their sick marketing ethics.
Now that you took down the links can you disclose what the referral commissions are for some of the cards? I’d be interested to see if some of the cards that 95% of the other bloggers rave about happen to pay them the most.
Joe – I’m afraid I don’t really feel comfortable doing that. I can tell you that some cards are double digits while others are triple digits but that’s about all I’m comfortable saying.
Hello, I found your blog when I Googled “Chase credit card referral blogger”. I became aware of InACents on FlyerTalk a little while ago and wanted to know what the quotas are. I am just a brand new blogger and my niche is birding and ecotourism with miles. I’m still trying to find affiliate programs that are a good match as I don’t think I will ever be big enough to support a “quota” if you guys who have been around a while can’t do it. Like you two, I am not going to push my readers. One post if there is a special sale and Widgets in the sidebar is enough!
Tara – I have no idea what the quotes are. They never said. They just said I didn’t do enough.
Bummer! That sounds so unfair. How would they even expect you to reach a target if you don’t know what it is? I’ve decided to pursue other affiliates for now.