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This post is brought to you by The Leadnomics Partner Network—industry leaders in affiliate marketing and firm believers in never assuming the killer is dead.

 Fans of horror movies have learned to expect a few things: Your boyfriend should never check out where that weird sound is coming from, your kid’s creepy imaginary friend should not be taken lightly, and if your house is potentially haunted, you should probably get rid of that mirrored medicine cabinet.

These horror film tropes are as familiar to us as sticky movie theater floors, but horror characters seem to fall for them over and over again. The good news is, if we ever find ourselves in a zombie, psycho-killer, or possession situation, we’ll know what to do. And better yet, affiliate marketers can learn a thing or two from horror victims’ mistakes.

1. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Sure every other buyer passed it up, and the price is alarmingly low, but that gorgeous Victorian with the creaky staircase just has to be yours. Afterall, what could be wrong with it besides a few rusty pipes? As characters in films like The Amityville Horror have found out, a lot. In horror movies, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Affiliate marketers should follow the same adage. It’s great when a seemingly perfect offer presents itself, but you should almost always be skeptical. Mastering affiliate marketing takes time and effort. If it was as easy as flipping on a switch and making money, everyone would do it. It’s safe to assume that the $20 zip submit you were just pitched will scrub you down to one conversion a day for the foreseeable future. Don’t be fooled.

2. Don’t ignore the signs.

The fluorescent lights are flickering, that hitchhiker’s backpack is oddly chainsaw-shaped, and wait, did you just see someone run by in a hockey mask? In horror movies, strange things start to happen, but the characters ignore the signs until it’s too late. Case in point: The Shining—sometimes it’s better to check out early.

In affiliate marketing it pays to be vigilant, especially when starting a new campaign. Make sure tracking is working properly starting with the first pixel placed. Follow through to make sure conversion rates make sense based on what you know about the campaign and what your account rep has told you. Lastly, if something doesn’t feel right, talk to your rep ASAP. Better safe than sorry.

3. Be open with information.

That accidental little murder you tried to cover up last year? It wasn’t as covert as you thought. As characters in movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer learn, it’s always better to tell the truth. When you put all your cards on the table, you’re much less likely to get stalked by a psycho in a rain jacket … or, you know, whatever.

Speaking of openness, affiliate marketers should listen to what the numbers are saying. Every time you run an offer you should have a goal in mind based on your knowledge and expectations. Collect data, optimize on real statistics, and don’t rush into killing a deal if it doesn’t work the the first time you test it. On the other hand, don’t hesitate to drop an offer immediately if it’s not even close.

4. Stay with a group.

It happens in too many movies to name—as soon as things start to hit the fan, someone suggests the group splits up to cover more ground. And sure enough they do, or at least parts of them do …. One-by-one the killer always picks off a splintered group, usually leaving one lonely survivor and a cliff-hanger suggesting the ending wasn’t quite so final.

Affiliate marketers have a lot to gain from working with other experienced marketers. Being part of a great network, like the Leadnomics Partner Network, opens you up to more offers, more support, and ultimately, more revenue. It (literally) pays to stick together and have someone watching your back. Join the Leadnomics Partner Network today and never sleep with the lights on again.