What Would Make You Call It A Day?

4 Comments March 4, 2008 / Posted in Affiliate Marketing

In one of the most rapidly back A4U blog posts of all time Frostie’s summary of Next – A Disgrace to the Affiliate Industry makes for essential reading by all involved in the industry. However, there’s one point I’m going to pick up on in his blog and it’s this:

Some people will stoop to any level, given a back-hander or a favour and that leads me to question the future of this industry. Is it one I really want to be part of, yet continue to be disillusioned by?

Ask many of the long term affiliates in the UK industry what they think of AM right now and I bet “disillusioned” crops up a fair few times. Yet, despite this disillusionment, the lost sales, commission changes, 100% cashback pain in the butt, bizarre terms changes, network run-ins, many still soldier on trying to be active in the industry, vocal about issues and continue to be an affiliate.

As an aside, it is often notable that those who offer opinion in public forums are those who have been around for many a year. Is there new blood for the affiliate industry? Why are some affiliates so shy in voicing their views or supporting their fellow affiliates? 40 Backs for Frostie is a brilliant response – but that’s not enough in my opinion for a network or merchant to be overly concerned, or frankly even bothered that those involved in the industry dislike what they see.

So why don’t these issues make an affiliate up sticks and say enough is enough?

Finance is probably the big key for most – for many it’s their livelihood. You could always look to sell up and walkaway though, but for many the desire to earn a good living far outweighs the disillusionment. That, and probably what do to do beyond AM!

And this is perhaps why many will not just walk away – although I’d like to bet there are many planning an escape route!

Affiliate marketing is still a good industry, there are plenty of good apples in the barrel, and there’s still opportunity to earn a good living.

However, it’s important that the bad apples of AM are not allowed to taint or rot the rest. Everyone gets down and disillusioned about their job, but it would be a great shame if poor practice by merchants, networks AND other affiliates resulted in the loss of good affiliates from the industry.

Are you ready to walk away?

Related Posts...
A Tale of Two Calls
Vodafone Affiliates Earn With Call Back Tracking
Phone Conversation Of The Day
Dodgy Phone Calls
Entertaining Emails
submit to affiliates4u
4 Comments... What do you think? Subscribe via RSS
  1. Jules said on March 4th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    I’m not ready to walk away just yet. To be honest I think I’m still here as I think collectively WE can make a difference, one voice on it’s own may not be heard but boy, when we get together you can’t ignore us. You know that Jase, thats why you’re still here too!

  2. bob said on March 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Firstly , congrats on your blog , it is one of the few original blogs that I do read. anyway what would make me call it a day? simple all the moaning , people moan about 100% cashback or a particular merchant as in Next ,but if I had the resource to setup a 100% cashback site then I might (do u really think they are 100% cashback? thats another story) , if you dont agree with what Next do then its simple dont promote or use them , they will soon get the message. This is a business and I think there is too much moaning and not enough time spent concentrating on your own business , come on look at all the boring un -original blogs that clutter the affiliate web , this game is all about suppling a service and making money along the way and think people should wake up.

  3. Keith said on March 4th, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    Yes business is business but equally business should not be all about rolling over to have your tummy tickled, closing your eyes and while your eyes are closed finding that the person doing the tickling has stolen all your toys.

    There are very few affiliates prepared to speak out, largely I think because they don’t think of it as BUSINESS. They live in the misconception that they had better not speak out against network x or network y because then network x and network y will not want to deal with them. Believe me, make enough noise and network x and network y wont dare to not work with you….

    I’ve never held back from saying what I feel, either in public forums, in my blog or at meetings either privately with networks or at public meetings like the IAB Affiliate Council or the e-Consultancy round tables.

    If you have the courage in your convictions then stand up and be counted – ultimately, as long as you do it politely and without resort to personal insults or childish behaviour (which to my mind serve only to weaken affiliates in the eyes of merchants) then you will gain the respect of the networks, merchants and agencies – but if you are going to give criticism, make sure it is constructive criticism – destructive criticism helps no one.

  4. Are Affiliates a Bunch of Victor Meldrews? | One Little Duck - Affiliate Blog said on March 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am

    [...] mystery ‘Bob’ commented on What Would Make You Call It a Day? with the answer “simple all the moaning, people moan about 100% cashback or a particular [...]