[jakewolf]

There's nothing wrong with getting a referral fee for signing up people. It's when most of your income comes from signing up new people instead of the product you're supposed to be selling that it becomes fishy.

I don't get whitedotbox. Why would someone give up 50% of potential revenue when they can use adsense for search and keep 100% of the payout.

[theblackbox]

"Why would someone give up 50% of potential revenue when they can use adsense for search and keep 100% of the payout."

Is it just some type of "modular business tactic"?

So instead of being an entrepreneur for years and building up links based on hard won personal experience, one would prefer to plug into a ready made solution? Just as one might prefer the ready made whitedotbox affiliate scheme to learning the innards of the adsense system?

I wonder if it is simply profiteering on the lack of skills/knowledge outside of "industry hubs". For instance I am based in an isolated rural community. What business networks exist are difficult to break into and often don't have the vision/drive/momentum that comes as standard for more metro/cosmopolitan communities. (although this seems like a gross over-generalisation, and my networking skills might just be a lot worse than I like to think!)