Calling all Merchants and ASPs re CSV and links

**jess1** · 09-04-04

Two simple steps to take you all forwards in the affiliate marketing industry in the UK.

It beggars belief, that affiliate marketing has been alive and kicking since 1998 and we still have no affiliate standard links from some merchants. One of the first golden rules is to provide affiliates with the tools to enable them to convert. I am gob smacked that no ASP has made this compulsory for their merchants joining their network. It’s not that difficult! So…. Here is a list of banner sizes that should and ought to be in every merchants program.
88x31, 125 x125, 468x60, 120x 600 & 160x600 (minimum requirements)

With regards to CSV files.
The lack of subcategories is now, unacceptable. Example if the product is male or female, if the product is home wear or kitchen or bedroom. For some merchants, pulling data from their databases can be difficult, this I appreciate. But it can be done, all be it a manual procedure. So here is an idea, why don’t merchants pull whatever they can from their databases and then pass their CSV file onto one of their affiliates and pay them to add the subcategories and remove the skewed products, it only needs to be done once per week. With regards to images, 355 x 355???? I don’t think so! Affiliates would benefit from your thumbnail images and if you don’t have those, then the next time you do your shoots, why not take two pictures and going forwards start adding them to your database. This way over time, the smaller images will replace the huge images, if that makes sense.

Its time we saw some standardisation in this industry. Its not hard and it could be that this brings in extra affiliates and extra money!

**uklejon** · 09-04-04

Great post Jess........I hope other merchants read this and take in on board.

I'm lucky as my two main merchants are you and Figleaves who do everything to help out affiliates.........

But then again asking other merchants for information is sometimes like getting blood out of a stone.

My site is about breasts and breast surgery and lingerie so you would think that a cosmetic surgery merchant would would be grateful for my highly targeted visitors.....but no, after 3 atempts of getting copy and articles from this merchant i have now given up and will be dumping them after easter, its a shame they are seem to be the only company like this who run an affiliate programme.

Plenty of merchants use PR companies to promote their products, why don't they give us the option of recieving these PR's so we can use them as conent in our sites.........just a thought.

Happy Hot Cross Bun Day

Carol

**matbennett** · 09-04-04

I had a good look at feeds before we launched our program and must admit that I was horrified by what some merchants thought was acceptable. My thinking was that I wouldn't use them, so why would anyone else.

I think that, as a result, our feed is pretty good (although I must admit we are about to make some minor changes to it). Our advanced feed is even better!

As a result, most (not all though) of our higher earning affiliates are using one of the feeds. Now, if I could just get people to refresh their copy of the data a little more often then we'd all have slightly heavier pockets.

**Spreader** · 09-04-04

Hi Jess,

Good thread. I agree whole heartedly with your sentiments.

We allow Affiliates to grab their own feeds when and how they want:

a) http://www.prezzybox.com/affiliate/Data/awin.aspx for Affiliate Window and

b) http://www.prezzybox.com/affiliate/Data/por.aspx for Paid On Results

scuse the blatent plug

If ever there is anything more we can do, then if the affiliates let us know we'll be glad to do it.

It would be good for the industry to adopt a "standard". Not only would this mean that the affiliates get what they wanted, but Merchants would know what was required.

Overall a Win - Win situation.

Have a great Easter!

Zak.

**NaturalInstinct** · 09-04-04

Originally posted by Spreader

It would be good for the industry to adopt a "standard". Not only would this mean that the affiliates get what they wanted, but Merchants would know what was required.

standard sizes for banners can be found at http://www.iab.net/standards/adunits.asp

but you're right there's no standard for categories/subcats or for feeds in general. As this board represents the biggest collection of affiliates and probably webmasters in the UK then maybe it's about time we took the bull by the horns and came up with a few standars. Don't know how many people would adopt them but i'm damn sure that nobody else is going to do it.