Comments on: Affiliate Marketing Time For Action

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:14:06 +0000

Do Networks T&C’s and the data protection act allow networks to share affiliates details, in the form of a blacklist as you suggest?

By: John Ayres

John Ayres — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:09:59 +0000

Nice thoughtful post Keith.
In my personal view, a merchant offers a commission to affiliates for incremental sales brought to fruition by the efforts of the affiliate.
When any affiliate by whatever means, engineers the stealing of a merchants existing sales the agreement is at an end and the affiliate should be banned from all programs if they persist in such behaviour.
If affiliate sales are not additional sales, what is the point in paying affiliates? please don’t answer that otherwise they direct your traffic to your competitor, that used to be called a protection racket.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:07:43 +0000

I don’t get the legal comment re: networks kicking affiliates off and needing to be 100% certain of infringement.

Seems rather odd to be able to refuse the original application for no reason at all, but then not being able to remove an affiliate without a long process.

So there’s a strict legal contract somewhere ?
Perhaps someone should change the wording – after all most of us have nothing to fear.

By: Barry

Barry — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:02:51 +0000

I think every town has a pub watch scheme where pubs and businesses choose to distribute the names, pictures and profiles of trouble makers among themselves to protect their worker and customers.

I see no difference in networks sharing the information of people who abuse the system. Plus to protect themselves further surely a disclaimer in the sign-up procedure of a network that states that anybody found breaking the terms and conditions given will have their identities passed to other networks within the scheme for the protection of the industry.

Baz

By: Duncan Popham

Duncan Popham — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:12:51 +0000

Timely post, its been a funny time on the forum lately with accusations from various quarters aimed at other affiliates, network staff and other parties. I think,to be fair that action taken on Voucher Codes was not taken swiftly enough but the action taken has made an impact (and certainly generated debate!) the first major regulatory measure from the IAB AMC will, I am sure lead to further cross network regulations with cross network policing solutions.
I feel that significant industry wide change on rule breaking and non ethical promotion will happen this year as, as Matt rightly points out above the Health of the industry affects us all.

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:19:57 +0000

Very cynical Mary

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:18:14 +0000

Matt thanks for the reply, I’m not suggesting that networks take a gung-ho approach and go about it all guns blazing, I appreciate the need for tact and diplomacy hence my suggestion of a 3 pronged system, the point is some people have been taking a lot of liberties without apparently being taken to task, if my suggestion was implemented they would be given the chance to get their house in order without the need for anything as drastic as a total ban.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:51:36 +0000

Hi Keith,

Whilst I think you are correct that there is an unsavoury element to every market, however making up rules and having everyone follow them will probably never work because rules are meant to be broken. And the UK affiliate marketing is just to vast to try and control also who makes up the rules?

By: Matt Bailey

Matt Bailey — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:50:17 +0000

Great post Keith, and I agree with the sentiment. However, for the networks it’s not as easy as just deciding that something is wrong and kicking people off the network.

From a legal perspective you have to be 100% certain that you are covered when taking any decisions like this or you face the prospect of being sued. Even when you know affiliates are doing something dodgy it is a long process to remove them from the network.

However, as I say, the sentiment behind your post is spot on and hopefully, as part of the IAB’s council, we are working towards safeguarding the future of the industry. I would urge more people to get involved in the council, as the health of affiliate marketing affects all of us.