Seems to me this thread got a little off track... the initial request was for feedback on how to attract more affiliates, and the post went on to say only a handful of affiliates were sending traffic (typical). So, in other words, sales aren't what they should be, and this is a concern. What can be done to make it better?

I've never run a sponsor program. My collective 9-years and 6-years full-time have been devoted solely to affiliate marketing. Unlike a sponsor program where sales are being fed to me by affiliates, I've only got myself and what I can do on my own to keep the wolves away. This is an incredibly harder job now than it was when I started. And, if I was starting today with the same skills, knowledge and capital that I started with way back when, I know I wouldn't make it.

I spent some this week checking to see if my link exchanges were being honored. I discovered that something like 35% of the sites I had links with were gone. Now, I don't recall ever seeing any info that hints as to how many people get into this business every day, week or month. But, I don't see how anyone new can come along these days and make meaningful money, unless they have deep pockets to support their development and growth. It's not a business for the little guy anymore... or one that can be started and run on a shoestring. And, I think this fact is catching up with the industry.

So, I doubt that you're alone in your concerns... in fact, far from it. There's far too much competition on a playing field where we've cultivated a mindset that decent porn, in almost unlimited quantities, can be had for free. There's just no compelling reason for anyone to buy what we're all trying to sell. And, I think affiliate marketers because of their solo act in the business are the first to feel this, and are the first casualties of the bad business model we all share.