AM article - Industry News - AM association

[morleymouse]

Tweet

Okay saw this before I went away but only just got chance to get it scanned, if you have a bit of spare time today could you please have a read through the below article, 3 pages from a supliment from marketing week. (after a few attempts I can only attach one page, call it a teaser, ill try and post the rest in another post.)

Bits and bats from various network representatives, a bit about this new affiliate association and overal quite interesting reading.

One thing I did think was a bit odd was the section about the new association, the article says how the recent meeting told its own story with only one merchant - prezzybox.com showing up, no agencies and then goes on about how the lack of representation clearly points to the lowly position affiliate marketing has in the industry.

Now as far as I know this meeting was by invite only?

be keen to hear anyone elses thoughts on this.

[morleymouse]

got to type something to make it post...

[morleymouse]

last page ...

[Sandis]

Nice post mate!

[morleymouse]

cheers, shame it seems to have been ignored by most.

I see theres a nice private discussion going on about the association in the private forum though, well hope its all panning out well.

[Elaine]

Excellent post Dan - missed this as we were on holiday. Shame the Association bit was misrepresented - I don't think it was by 'invitation' only though - most folk couldn't make it to London early enough to take part - and unfortunately it does seem to have stalled again - hopefully we can get it going again after the World Cup.

Be interesting to discover how this Journo got his information though!

cheers

[getvisible]

Is Alan still around??

[3wdl]

cheers, shame it seems to have been ignored by most.

I see theres a nice private discussion going on about the association in the private forum though, well hope its all panning out well.

If I was the moderator, I would have moved that post to the non-private forums a while ago. The meeting may have been setup in there, but it should be avalible to everyone, not just the people that have paid to access a "members" section on this website. The affiliate association is bigger than the A4U, or at least should be. I think it's a huge problem that does not seem to have been addressed.

There was an article in the NMA about it too with some "interesting" quotes from IBG's Maz...

[getvisible]

The affiliate association is bigger than the A4U, or at least should be.

completely agree. And I'm sure Matt would too.

[Azam.net]

Thank you so much for going to the trouble of scanning that article Dan.

Agree with James' comments.

[Matthew Wood]

What a shame - Co'mon guys, I tried to help by getting things moving, I was astonished and surprised by Maz's comments from Affiliate Future, infact very dissapointed - but whats new, I thought that sort of attitude left affiliate marketing years ago?

The real fact is that an association is a huge undertaking that involves many parties and needs to be financed. In the past many do not have the time to devote to it, perhaps you do James?

From my experience peope are happy to say yes, yes wonderful, great idea! blah blah but when it comes to the crunch and devote time to the cause, things fall apart; then you get people who think you are involved due to some kind of hidden agenda and thats pathetic.

In addition many are just happy to sit back and enjoy the rewards and benefit of others hard work. Just look at many individual efforts from affiliates to rid the UK of the many spyware / adware affiliates from networks. Did others really appreciate this?

As for quoting the private forum, it was simply a discussion - but it seems some people feel they have been left out. In reality we had a small meeting just to get things moving - Anyone who as actually contacted me about it would know I have shared all the minutes for that meeting as would others. We have also had an 'open association forum' for years - http://www.a4uforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Unfortunaltey certain journalists have taken things out of context. A best practice association will be very hard to finance, run and devote time for. That latter reason I suggest is why things are moving, but slowly.

On another note, of course any association is bigger than a4u! - The main outcome of that initial meeting was to find an individual or group to take things forward. That is certainly NOT going to be me, or a4u for that matter, and those that actually know me would realise that. I'd suggest that Keith Budden - having put a huge amount of effort and entusiasm into the idea would be a perfect candidate, but it puts a great deal of pressure on one person, and thats unfair.

I'd love to write more, but don't feel its appropriate in such a public place.

An association of one form or another is a must for this industry, and is welcomed from big merchants, brands, all networks that have forums on this board and the vast majority of affiliates, we just have to work together and stop the backstabbing so we can raise the profile of affiliate marketing for everyone's benefit; that of course being one of the main roles of an association.

Matthew.

[3wdl]

Matt,

As you picked out my name, I hope you didn't take my comments the wrong way! I was merely stating that if there was a long running discussion on the Private forums about the association and the initial meeting to discuss it then I would have thought that it was something that could have been moved so that people without access (a large majority of the readers of this forum) would have beeen able to get involved.

I'm pretty sure that the majority of the community are thankfull for your continued efforts to help affiliate marketing progress in the UK (I know I am) and I don't think that anyone on this thread has suggested otherwise.

Keep up the good work, and if you really *do* need people to help and devote time to the effort i'm sure there are plenty of people that will offer their services, myself included.

James

[Matthew Wood]

Back from the world cup! - what a match - though shame about Zidane!

James, certainly not aimed at you at all - and sorry for earlier rant!

The main task now must be to get some funding to enable any association to move forward, realistically we all have day or night jobs and it would be hard to progress without full commitment time wise.

As above Keith has done a wonderful job, even through his personal situation, but even for Keith I feel this would be a huge task to take on.

Perhaps it would be an idea to arrange an informal meeting for those interested along with those who attended the first meeting and form a working group (as per minutes in first meeting), as there are plenty of people who want to be involved. Its important though that those who attend commit time to the project, an I feel as long as its not too big as decisions simply won't be made.

[Elaine]

You can certainly count me in, Matt. Happy to commit some time to get this up and running.

[morleymouse]

My only worry about all this was that it would become a very affiliate association. My personal opinion is that for affiliate marketing to grow, and progress is that it needs all parties to be more involved with each other and more fredom of information with some representatives from all sides.

As association thats bias will be ignored. All affiliates wantes top level commission. All merchants want next to nothing fee's. And all networks want merchants paying top level commission and top level fee's. Mix the lot and we might actually get somewhere.

Im sure nobody would object to keith heading something up, but as matt says he is but one guy and it would be a lot to try and get one fella to do. Hes got the eperience and im sure the contacts, he also seems to be quite balances and democratical (from reading posts!).

If help is needed with setting this up im sure I can find some spare time.

Matt could you email me over the minutes fro mthe first meting please? daniel @ alpharooms.com ta

Also any chnce of seeing the after discussion which seems to have been taking place privately?

What do you think is needed to move this forward? Bullet points or something like that, time is one yes but time doing what? Im your opinion (anyone) what do you think are the next steps and what needs to be done?