Ouch to GoClick

I have stated time and time again that it is a good idea to work with larger and more developed technology companies when dealing with pay per click distribution. I have got many emails from people saying the second tier pay per click search engines have given them a raw deal one way or another.

What is the problem with pay per click?

When you go with a smaller network you generally have a lower quality of traffic and slower feedback loops. You will not be sure if the problem is your site or the pay per click network. The wrong pay per click partner can hurt you on both the distribution of ads for your site or on your site. GoClick feedback from an angry former affiliate by the name of Britton Keene:
I signed up with GoClick.com at the beginning of last year. It seemed too
good to be true. One of the highest payout rates in the industry. If it sounds too
good to be true; it usually is. This was no exception. They paid me the first two
months then, when I wasn't logging in to check stats anymore, they dropped my rates down from the $0.02 per search to $0.00 per search and the $2.50 cpm popups down to $0.25 cpm. I noticed this in March of 2003, over 5 months after they reduced my rates. I contacted them and Mr. John Babina, proprietor of GoClick, promptly responded that their terms of service state they can change the rate at any time and for any reason. So, without notice, they did so in August and have been getting free traffic from my network of sites ever since. When I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau against them I received this e-mail from Mr. Babina:

This is official notice that we are hereby terminating our affiliate relationship
with the account holder at this email address. (under our affiliate terms:
"goClick may adjust affiliate parameters and payouts or terminate
an affiliate at any time for any reason. All decisions on content, rates, payment
or termination will be made by goClick and all decisions are final.")

Don't get me wrong, I am all for small business. I just think it may not be in your best interests to look for cheap traffic before you know your conversion system and setup work on larger systems. Even then, smaller pay per click search engines may not be worth the time they take to manage unless you automate much of the process.