Pop-ups - pros and cons

[rimski@page&moy]

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Hi guys

Not exactly an affiliate-related issue but I'm looking to put forward the cases for and against using pop-ups, primarily for questionnaires.

Firstly, could you point me in the direction of any interesting articles, knowledge, etc that can help me in compiling my document? Secondly, as affiliates, what are your thoughts on the matter?

Many thanks
Riman

[lurker]

Surely almost everyone has a pop-up blocker installed by now, making the issue a bit last-century.

[Wardy]

If you are popping up an affiliate link then this is against network T&C's as it is forcing a cookie (although if you have a page promoting a specific item and you pop direct to that page it might not be the biggest of crimes).

Cheers
Wardy

[5starAffiliatePrograms]

In addition to the fact that some of the networks prohibit pops, many of the programs we manage, specifically state in our own program TOS that these practices are prohibited. Why, because cookie stuffing - ie. setting a cookie without a REAL click by the consumer CAN steal commissions from the rightful affiliate that actually did the selling and created a REAL click from the consumer - and we don't think that's fair. The affiliate that initiated the REAL click is the one that should be paid period.

I think it's ironic that some of the affiliates that complain about parasites stealing 'their' commish are the same ones that think its OK to take commission from other honest affiliates.

On a bigger and even more important note however, pops hurt our ENTIRE industry and EVERYONES income - even the ones serving the pops. So if you serve pops you are hurting your own pocketbook. WHY? Consumers are bombarded with pops and don't like them. Many of the pops are served by adware and spyware, therefore creating more consumers that buy anti-spyware, internet security and firewall software. Most of this software blocks CJ and other major network ads.

MANY of these programs also delete affiliate cookies, which means it does not matter who set the cookie - the merchant will get the sale but NO affiliate will be paid.

Don't pop!

[jhood]

I never use pop-ups on my site (and this is clearly stated on my support page). Pop-ups arguably equate to consumer resistance. I, for one, tend to navigate away from sites that besiege me with pop-ups that circumvent pop-up blocking!

[Itchy]

Most of this software blocks CJ and other major network ads.

yep i use spyblaster and it took me %^*&ing ages to work out why i couldnt log into Tradedoubler which this prog blocks automatically