What is Disqualified Passthrough?

The term "Disqualified Passthrough" is crucial in the marketing world.

It refers to the tactic of referring individuals or customers who don't meet your product's specific qualifications to an associate or an affiliate firm. Coming about as businesses looked for the silver lining for missed potential customers or leads, this strategy paves the way for profitable use of such "losses" in a creative and beneficial manner. By passing them to affiliates with more suitable products or services, businesses can monetize these disqualified leads while building a network of useful relationships.

The angle of Conversion related to Disqualified Passthrough lies in the unique route it takes. While most conversion tactics focus on transforming potential customers into actual ones for your own business, this particular method sees value even in the disqualified leads. Transforming these apparent failures into a new source of income, it achieves conversion by benefiting from affiliate relations, instead of direct selling.

Examples of Disqualified Passthrough

  1. A bank might find that a loan applicant fails to meet its stringent credit score requirements. The bank can then refer this individual to a credit repair agency it partners with, earning a referral fee and helping the potential client in the process.

  2. A high-end fashion top brand may get inquiries from customers who can't afford their products. Instead of losing these potential customers, the brand could refer them to a more affordable partner brand, ensuring the smaller brand gets more patrons and the high-end brand earns referral fee.

  3. A software firm specialising in mid-to-large enterprise solutions may receive inquiries from small start-ups. These start-ups may not meet the firm's minimum requirements, but they can definitely be directed to an affiliated firm having software solutions specifically for start-ups.

  4. A gym might receive membership inquiries from individuals who are located too far to reasonably travel. Such disqualified leads can be referred to associated fitness centers closer to their location, resulting in a referral fee for the gym.

  5. A student looking for advanced-level courses in an e-learning platform may be denied due to lack of prerequisite courses. The platform can direct this student to another platform that offers beginner-level courses to meet the prerequisites, gaining commission through this affiliation.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Disqualified Passthrough

  1. Affiliate Marketing: A marketing tactic where businesses earn commissions by promoting other company's products.

  2. Lead Generation: Efforts targeted at attracting and converting potential customers into leads.

  3. Referral Marketing: A strategy where businesses use referrals to grow by leveraging loyal customers' networks.

  4. Network Marketing: A model where direct sellers are remunerated not only for the sales they generate, but also for introducing new salespeople into the system.

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