You raise a good point about the forced clicks issue.

We’re actually looking into making our T&Cs a lot more explicit on the issue – we’ll be sure to keep everyone posted.

We were instrumental in getting certain affiliate sites changed and perhaps we need to flag this up a little more publicly.

There is a lot of politics around the voucher coding sites at the moment and I know we’re loathe to get drawn in while the issues are outstanding.

I think the risk for networks is to triumph something only to find a new affiliate pops up doing exactly what you say your network doesn’t do…after all networks inevitably have to play catch up and react to the ever changing goal posts.

Kevin you’re more than welcome to make a grumpy post here!

I fully appreciate networks are busy – probably overwelmed at times – but if I’m perpetuating myths then perhaps it’s time that the networks were more vocal in helping dispel them?

E.g. Take the iframe/voucher code issue with a certain voucher code site.

As an affiliate who raised this I’d have liked to have seen – no actually I expected to see – all networks make some effort in making it clear that using iframes to drop cookies (especially 1×1 iframes) was not acceptable. As far as I know not one has done anything via their newsletter or on the management system. And for an “old timer” I was pretty disappointed considering the seriousness of the issue.

Ok things were tidied up in house and between network and affiliate – but that was an opportunity for networks to clarify their stance.

When nothing seems to be said – it does (imo) add validity to the myths!

You’re obviously are passionate about AM Kevin – and vocal, which is great – but we need more people like you to speak out and give the network perspective to help educate affiliates. I think sometimes there’s an assumption that affiliates know what’s going on behind those closed doors.

Why not put something on Awin’s blog about what you have to do as a network to monitor rogue affiliates? Help us understand what you’re doing and the problems you face?

Jason

You raise some interesting points but your post perpetuates two ongoing myths that networks have to address with merchants and agencies daily.

Firstly that networks don’t monitor activity. Having worked for two networks, staff spend far, far too long trying to weed out the rogue affiliates. It;s no wonder campaign T&Cs may not be up to date – there are only so many hours in the day. I’ve probably dealt with dozens of rogue affiliates or affiliates breaking the rules in my 15 months at Affiliate Window – and that’s one employee at one network.

I also find it slightly strange logic that affiliates somehow absolve themselves of blame – do something wrong, it’s the network’s fault. Of course there is a responsibility by both network and merchant to ensure T&Cs are up to date, but there are thousand of affiliate programmes in the UK – it’s inevitable there will be the occasional issue.

The other myth is that networks do nothing or don’t care when affiliates break rules because they have a vested interest. We look constantly to innovate in this area so we can prove to our merchants (and affiliates) the incremental value that affiliate marketing is supposed to bring. We’re regularly suspending commissions and affiliates because of flagrant rule breaking by both unknown and familiar affiliates. Remember, there is only a finite amount of commission for an affiliate programme. If one affiliate is forcing clicks then this may be stealing the sale from another affiliate; we’re not going to lose the sale by making sure it’s properly apportioned.

And on this point, I’ve seen well known affiliates, vocal on the A4U Forum and blogs, break rules and bend T&Cs. It only surprises me this hasn’t been more of an issue.

Final point, I received the A4U newsletter today – there are four affiliate blogs referenced as being the ‘pick’ of the blogs. Three are slating merchants or programmes. This hardly sends a professional message to the industry, something most network staff are trying to do on a daily basis.

Bit of a grumpy post I admit but I’ve recently felt that there are a number of people (not you Jason!) who are actually undermining the whole industry, overwhelming it with negativity – and to be frank that depresses me.

Jason