[philhancox]

Originally Posted by mainlime So my question is this : "Does having this debate in public about Next and i-level harm the professional image of the affiliate marketing industry?"

Personally, I think it can only improve the image of the affiliate marketing industry as it is showing it is just that - professional. Merchants need to understand that affiliates are professionals, not kids in their bedrooms with a website or two. It can only show merchants that they need to be fair with their affiliates and understand that they are an extension to their marketing team, that they are experts who maintain enviable SEO and PPC positions as well as loyal users who trust the words of affiliates and buy what the affiliates recommend. Brands mean very little when you have a large amount of visitors/subscribers who will either buy from Merchant A or Merchant B - and that decision is up to the affiliate, not the strength of the brand. My two penneth.