It’s taken almost a week to get over the affiliate event in Plymouth, brilliantly organised and executed by Existem Affiliate Management. The Quality Inn might look like a concrete carbuncle, but it has brilliant views of the bay and was the perfect setting for the event. Myself and Jude headed down the night before for the fireworks with what seemed like most of Plymouth. Big thanks to Bruce, Hannah and Mark for the drinks and looking after us!

On the Thursday we became tourists and went to the National Martime Aquarium, a place full of noisy kids, wonderful fish, and people who didn’t understand the concept of “when taking photos turn your flash off”. Afterward we got stuffed with sausage from Captain Jaspers and then Devon ice cream from one shop and then more ice cream from a van five minutes later.

The networking event was more of a catch-up with old friends event… despite having seen most a few weeks earlier in Bristol. In terms of business one network representative did say he wasn’t sure about working with us because I write this blog. Still not sure whether that was tongue in cheek or not, but if anyone thinks OLD’s content is that controversial or contentious… you really do need to get out more!

Unless of course you feature in the main event of this blog post – and then you’ll probably never talk to me again!

This is what happens when you give affiliate industry people alcohol, a dance floor, a dodgy DJ and Bon Jovi!

Apologies in advance to anyone featuring in the above. There is some dodgy filming as the cameraman staggered around a little bit, plus there’s bright flashing lights just in case you’re effected by those. The good news is there’s plenty more in the archives if required.

If you want to dance off with other affiliate people next year then make sure August 20th 2010 is clear in your diary.. in all seriousness, it was a great couple of days down by the sea with a great bunch of people. You’d be mad not to go next year!

One thing I’ve forgotten to do regularly is check why some commissions get cancelled. In general I’ve just assumed that there’s probably a fair explanation as to why something has been turned down plus I’m also a tad too busy to go and do a detailed check (or playing just one last game of Bejeweled on Facebook). However, after checking a report on Affiliate Future last week OLD’s top tip of the week is…

Make Sure You Check Your Commissions Cancellations!

The reason behind this is quite simple (1) you may well find that a merchant is cancelling your commission without a valid reason and (2) you may come across some explanations like this one…

Not an authorised affiliate – please unsubscribe

Now at some point we were an authorised affiliate as we were able to pick up links for this Holiday Merchant. As far as we’re aware no one has bothered to indicate at any time that we’re not authorised plus as the links still work you’d kind of assume all is fine and dandy with the merchant.

Perhaps communication has failed somewhere along the line but we’ve asked for an explanation regarding the cancellation.

If there’s not been a notice of removal of links from the merchant then the commission should really stand. If we’ve been removed from the program at some point and missed a notification then you’d think links would be shut off so we’re not wasting our time.

Either way it just shows you need to be checking all reports and keeping an eye on what’s happening with your commissions.

The one plus point is that AF do allow their merchants to explain, albeit glibly, why a commission has been declined. A quick look round other networks and I can’t see anything that offers a reason for rejection in the reporting from any other network apart from Paid on Results.

Most certainly I think that merchant explanations is something more networks need to implement so as to increase transparency regarding commission cancellations.

How many times have you had a merchant who for a while was good, but perhaps not so now, on your site and you’ve thought “well, I’ll leave them there for a bit longer, perhaps it’ll pick back up”, even though you should listen to your head and work with other merchants instead? We’ve done that far too many times and whilst occasionally commissions or relationships have improved, in general the initial gut instinct of abandon ship is usually right.

This week, William Hill finally moved their affiliate program from Netrefer, a simple and easy to use CMS, to Affiliates United, quite possibly the slowest and worst system I’ve encountered in over 10 years in affiliate marketing. In short it’s awful and I just don’t understand the thinking behind using this set up. Anyway, as all the old links now won’t track it means picking up new ones and changing them over to the new ones… oh joy!

Poor CMS + Extra Work = Not a Happy Affiliate!

Which got me thinking!

Why switch links to a network with whom I’m not 100% happy with when I can promote merchants, like Paddy Power, Blue Square or Skybet who I like working with and seem to understand affiliates and want to have a good working relationship with them?

So that’s the answer – work with merchants which aren’t a problem! There’s a temptation to muddle on with Affiliates United and William Hill, but my instinct is that it’s just not going to work out well. So the big affiliate tip of the day is don’t be afraid to walk away from a merchant – sometimes you just have to do it!

Of course there’s a downside and that’s in the form of potentially losing lifetime revshare issues and old links.

The revshare issue is a concern – will old players still be tracked properly? You’d hope so, but here’s an interesting point. AU casino links go to William Hill Casino Club where players are told that their William Hill accounts don’t work on this casino and that they must register a new account.

That to me sounds like any casino players previously sent to WH on the old system now can’t be tracked for revshare as they’re essentially entering a new casino? Maybe that’s not the case, but it doesn’t look good and hopefully clarification of revshare tracking for old players will be made available.

Old links can be addressed in two ways. We could change some links to the new ones, but what’s more probable is that we’ll add some code that will basically remove all links to William Hill.

In terms of work it’s probably as much effort, it may lose us commission (but I have a feeling that would happen anyway), and it does mean a well known brand being removed from our site. However, it means we’re not going to have hassle in the future (it’s expected), we don’t have to waste time with a network who we’re not happy with and we do get to work with merchants who are a joy to promote.

Good news all round!

Finally the title of this blog relates to the William Tell Overture “Come Away Come Away with William Tell” – and so to end on a fun note, here’s a cool Youtube video of a guy drumming what was also the theme to The Lone Ranger.

Now it’s time to get changing those links!

Last week myself and Jude were very lucky to be asked along to a driving day event organised by Herotech and Cashcade – the guys behind bingo sites like Think Bingo, Foxy Bingo and Cheeky Bingo. Going under the title “The Bingo Rally” it was a fun affiliate meet up with the opportunity to have a go in some very nice cars and have a bit of fun. Not only did they organise the driving day, an overnight stay and food were also covered (other merchants take note, this is now the level of treatment we expect lol).

Throughout the day we all got a turn in taking a Peugeot 106 on a gravel pit for handbrake turns, an Evo, a Subaru, a Mini, an Audi R8, Ferrari, Lamorghini, Porsche 911 and an Aston Martin (although that turned into the Audi R8 due to techinical reasons). Don’t ask me what kind of Ferrari or Lambo – one was red and the other was yellow will be the answer.

I’ve never really got cars in any shape or form, but having now done two driving days this year I can see why they can be quite fun. If you’ve never done a car experience day then it’s well worth giving it a go (even better be a good affiliate and you might get invited along to one).

The highlight of the day…. well Jude came third in the overall standings and picked up an impressive looking trophy. The same trophy that’s now the wallpaper on her mobile, the same trophy that sits by the bed during the night and in the office during the day and the same trophy that she casually reminds me about at least once every hour!

To say this was a fantastic day out would be an understatement. It was relaxed, a lot of fun driving cars and taking photos (as above) and great to meet other affiliates and of course the guys and girls from Herotech and Cashcade. Big thanks to them!

I’m now off to give their sites a lot more promotion, just after I’ve hidden a certain silver cup in the garage.

The first round of the A4UExpo roadshows 2009 took place on Tuesday 21st July in Bristol. Last year’s event resulted in 50 Photos of Drunk Affiliate Type People and some very important lessons learnt like avoiding The Ibis and not drinking too much.

As Bristol is just down the road it made sense for myself and Jude to make the trip, so twelve months on what important affiliate lessons did we learn by attending the 2009 roadshow?

1. The Travelodge in Bristol is not somewhere to stay if you want a quiet night, but it’s great for a late bar though. However, a lack of double glazing and some weird drunk skanky bird looking for somewhere to stay at 4am conspired to ensure sleeping off the late bar was made all the more difficult.

2. Jude is quite scary when woken up at 4am by said skanky bird in the corridor (apparently she was trying to bag a night with me, but I was half asleep and failed to notice this… mind, still got it lol).

3. Krispy Kreme Donuts are the food of Gods! So big thanks to Julie for bringing them.

4. Krispy Kreme Donut hats can be the source of much amusement and photo opportunites….

5. Jägerbombs are the drink of the Devil. Thankfully I avoided them, but everyone who drank them had a look of disgust on their face for around 10 minutes before passing out.

6. We’re no longer “young people in affiliate marketing”. When we started over 10 years back, some affiliate industry members were still in primary school… now they’re drinking the free bar dry whilst the oldies comment on their over-exuberance (eeeh youth of today and all that). ;o)

7. Matt Wood doesn’t half overshare when he’s had a couple of Jägerbombs.

As ever it was good to meet up with new people and have a few drinks with old friends, even Purple after his anti-Saints tweeting! Big thanks to Existem AM for the bar, Julie for the donuts (again) and Hannah for the duck soap (which helped take away the smell of the Travelodge room).

Next stop for this duck will be the Existem BBQ in Plymouth, but there are other roadshows before the A4UExpo in London, so do try and get yourself along to one – it’s a good night out.