I can’t really answer the questions about networks leaving campaigns as suspended as I’m no longer network side. I agree that this is not ideal and maybe something that should be raised with each individual network.

With regards to Ts and Cs changing, whilst I agree with your sentiment it is often quite difficult to implement. With thousands of affiliates on a campaign, asking each of them for their approval about Ts and Cs changing would be unfeasible. The way I would see it, if an affiliate receives notification of changes and no longer wishes to work with a merchant because of this, then they can remove their links. The network and/or agency involved would hopefully have discussed the changes with the merchant to ensure that affiliate drop out would not be too great.

Essentially, for the affiliate it is a case of whether they are prepared to work with a merchant or not, on the merchants terms. If the merchant is foolish enough to dictate terms which means that quality affiliates are not prepared to work with them anymore, then more fool them. For affiliates, there is usually an alternative.

Matt

So why are the T&C’s of an affiliate program (the contract) often changed without an affiliate having the option to agree / disagree or approve / disapprove. It seems changes are imposed / made without giving affiliates the option. Any change, how small or big, is in effect a new revised contract. Without the affiliate being permitted to approve / disapprove the changes, this in effect nullifies any new changes to the contract or any power those new amendments can enforce.

And how frequently do we see unsincere hollow standardised emais from some networks using old chesnut statements like “sorry for the inconvenience”, “circumstances beyond our control”, “we regret to inform you”. I am not convinced that even to this day, networks are doing enough to reclaim pending commissions or remnuerations for lost tracking etc. Some networks seem to have suspended programs in a perpetual suspended state, so an affiliate is left in limbo land as to whether to program will revive or not.

Paul

I guess the modern affiliate should be looking at having a centralised link system that contains the redirect meta data required to support campaigns. So your content just has a generic link with a GUID that your system then passes through to a current link. You can have a nice back end to the CMS that switches whole campaigns on or off, date ranges, alternative redirects should you wish to pause a campaign, instant reinstating if the suspension ends. Make as much use of automated feeds as possible. A nice back end tool to map products to content. Or automate with SSIS and some fuzzy look ups. Id love to have a go with that – unlikely on my personal projects

Im sure it’s gotta be possible to swap campaigns in and out with little fuss on a modern dynamic data driven site. Those that can get such systems running will be able to pick and chose campaigns based on profit, a nice competitive edge perhaps?

Agree, although unless you’re working directly then the contract that you have is with the network. Therefore you are potentially jeapordising your entire relationship with the network on the back of one campaign. Granted it is up to you whether the relationship with the network is worth more than one campaign but that’s an individual call. The merchant agreement is with the network and if that is breached then it’s up to the network to instigate any follow up they so choose.

Looking at it the other way, if the Ts and Cs of a campaign form a contract between the affiliate and the program, then any affiliate activity that goes against the Ts and Cs is also a breach of contract. If there are PPC or copy restrictions in the Ts and Cs and an affiliate breaks them, however unwittingly, then that too is breach of contract and could result in an affiliate being sued??

I think a modicum of common sense has to be applied here. Agreed it is annoying when a campaign closes, but having worked network side for 2 years, I know that it is the last thing that a network wants and all routes will be exhausted before a merchant is allowed to terminate.

Thanks,

Matt

T&C’s for affiliates is a contract between the affiliate and the program. Changing T&C’s is essentially a breach of contract .

From now on thats the way I will always view the situation.

Termination of a programme without due notice can also be looked at in the same way.