Mistakes in this vertical cost money quickly. The good news is that they are the same ones for everybody.
1. Choosing on the rate
The rate is the last thing experienced affiliates look at. The first are minimum deposit, hold and geo — see choosing an offer.
2. Running traffic with no tags
Traffic flows, money trickles in, and its origin is unknown. Nothing to scale: you do not know what worked. Tags go on before the first click — how.
3. Two geos at once
Results mix and cannot be separated. One geo, then the next — why.
4. A link in the first message
The fastest way to collect a report instead of a deposit. Conversation first, link later — source breakdown.
5. No capital for the hold
Money runs out exactly when the campaign starts working. Count it in advance — method.
6. Cutting corners on accounts
Cheap accounts drop out in batches and acquisition cost triples. Arithmetic in why cheap costs more.
7. Promising a win
Against the rules, grounds for withholding payment, and off-putting to the few who might have stayed. 18+ and an honest statement of risk are not a formality — see withheld payouts.
What to do instead
Small volume, one geo, tags from day one, your own numbers. Boring, and it works — unlike the fast methods, which work for whoever is selling them.