Association of Affiliate Program Members

[Rocky]

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Isn't it about time someone started an Association for Affiliate Program Members?

Like many other affiliates members we are totally fed up with the poor commission rates and incentives offered by some affiliate program managers.

Some affiliate programs that we have promoted have produced absolutely NO income whatsoever in the last 2 years! Are affiliates simply being used for branding purposes by some companies??

An Affiliate Association could give affiliates a much stronger voice with Affiliate Program managers, and perhaps in some cases persuade them to offer some REAL incentives for us to do well!

At the moment many affiliate programs simply don't pay enough commission to justify their existence.

If businesses are prepared to pay large amounts of money to advertise in newspapers with almost no provable results, then surely they should be paying affiliates who CAN prove their results a much better commission rate than 2% or 3% on sales??

If someone out there has the time to organise such an Association, please drop us a line, we woul be interested in participating.

[watcher]

If an affiliate program pays rubbish commissions and converts poorly then don' t promote them - and use forums such as this to advise others about such poor programs.

[drivetowin]

The idea of an association has been discussed several times - most recently here

http://www.a4uforum.co.uk/showthread...threadid=22615

It will happen but probably not until the new year as we are now rapidly moving into the busiest time of the year for all of us (affiliates and merchants alike) so it is doubtful at the moment that any of us could afford to give it the time it deserves

[Shane]

think at the moment everyone is in the same frame of mind regarding this,

We would be happy for someone else to sort it out but dont have time ourselves,

but if someone else sorted it then yikes.. we'd join in a heartbeat.

Sooo how about we form a set group of experienced affiliates who create the policy and parameters that are acceptable to us all for an association and then we all pay a membership fee, merchants/affiliates etc alike and we actually hire someone to run the association full time who is answerable to the set group (who listen to all affiliates)

that way we all benefit and no one person does all the work, it isn't fair leaving it up to 1, 2 or 5 people, really as their time isn't going to get compensated for effectively, so it's going to cost individuals so the masses benefit, which isn't fair if you are one of the individuals.

I am sure if we all contributed we could muster enough to make a full time salary for someone who could actively work on the association full time.

[loquax]

we'd join in a heartbeat

Not entirely true - not without actually understanding the purpose and requirement of an association.

To me it just seems people want an umbrella to sit under so they feel stronger as a unit - rather than perhaps take unilateral decisions when it comes to running a business?

If you take the points raised in the first post, you don't need an association to decide what to do... don't promote the merchants.

Would an association make any difference to the points raised... maybe - but I'd guess probably not.

My concern is that people think "create an association" and they'll suddenly be roses in the garden because of it...

Jason

[Shane]

yup fair points jason

I am more for the "collective voice" basically if the more experienced affiliates and receptive and pro active networks and merchants had input then I'd feel that by the time it was all thrashed out then it would be something worth joining.

It won't be a bed of roses or "the air is better up here" scenario but it should be something worth the trouble I am sure.

so yeah, if people like clarke, fraser, paul, john, darren, lee, malc, you, etc etc were involved then surely the end result has to be something of value.

This way the association could be a valuable first point of conact for new merchants and affiliates and educate them quicker into how to interact with us and work with us and thus we can hit their programs faster, harder, and more profitably for us and them than if they had no clue.

I know it's an idealistic view but it can't hurt can it ?

I agree with the low commission argument, bin em !! lol, but I always make a point of telling a merchant that I am dropping/ not going to promote them due to the derisory commission rate and back it up with other evidence that they should be paying more if it's available, so yeah bin them/ dont promote them but at least tell them why, if htey hear it enough they can't complain that affilaite marketing doesn't work then can they.

[Keith]

One view is that this forum is effectively an Affiliate Association, as it brings together internet marketers from all spheres and as a body has addressed some very important issues with positive results.

On the other hand if a formal association was set up I would probably join.

[Fraser]

Yep you are right Shane, I'm of the view that it is worthwhile but at the moment I can't find the time to do it myself. I would certainly support a collective voice for affiliates if it could be done properly.

[loquax]

educate them quicker into how to interact with us and work with us and thus we can hit their programs faster, harder

True, but independent programs aside - isn't this what the networks should be doing?

Here's an open question - how many affiliates have been approached by a network (any network) prior to launch of a program and asked for their opinion on creative, datafeed, commission, offers, site set up, etc etc etc?

If as you suggest, we're the guys to educate these people (lol) then why is our expertise (more lol) often ignored by the networks?

If networks had a "to do" list before a program went live - and consulted affiliates too - then the need for an association in many respects can be diminished.

I'm all for a collective voice like the unison ants advert - but I do think there's often simpler solutions available.

Jason

[watcher]

First comes the association, then the special favours, then the corruption, then the bullying, then the legislation, then restrictive practices and then everyting that made you leave your "normal" job and become an affiliate.