Innovation in Affiliate Marketing

[jess1]

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Collectively on this very forum we have so much talent, marketers, technical bods, ppc bods, seo bods and just about everything you could wish for in terms of pushing innovation in affiliate marketing forward.

Just lately, I have been looking at all the affiliate networks and bar a very few, the innovation does not seem to be too forth coming, some seem to have grounded to a halt and two seem to be going backwards (eek)

In a recent thread we discussed web 2.0 and social networking, how it could be used to make money. I think most of us agreed that we were not too enamoured of this new craze, there were a couple who saw this as something really good, you can add your own thoughts here .

But Im looking to the networks now and asking them, do you believe that you are innovators? Do you have a department / people solely looking at new ways to bend and break down the wall of same old same old? Would you say that you are innovating? Are you proactive or reactive when it comes to new linking technology?

Some of the best innovation, in this industry, in terms of affiliate business models have come from affiliates. Do affiliates feel were are breaking and pushing the boundaries or do you think what we have is enough and there is not a lot more that can be done.

Would Merchants and Networks pay affiliates for innovative ideas?
Example: affiliate lets call him Tom, has an idea and take it to a merchant and or network (obviously NDA's would be used) if the idea could be done and implemented, Tom gets % over all the merchants that can facilitate.
Do any Networks already do this?

[John Jupp]

Already happening Jess. I have arrangements with some merchants for innovations to benefit affiliates where I either get a % on the back end or something else.

In the process also of putting together additional functionality facilities for one sector which will enable affiliates to present the product(s) in a more interactive manner.

Not everything these days is network driven. It's good to see many affiliate managers and merchants willing to go direct to innovators for the creation of working projects which may benefit not only themselves but help affiliates promote them.

[jess1]

Hey John :0)

Convert a feed being an example?
Its refreshing to hear your comments that this does go on, although I would hope that if you are bringing ideas to anyone, that you are rewarded, if those ideas are actioned.

[John Jupp]

Hey John :0)

Convert a feed being an example?
Its refreshing to hear your comments that this does go on, although I would hope that if you are bringing ideas to anyone, that you are rewarded, if those ideas are actioned.

Hi Jess

I cannot go into too many details but the Convert A Feed software has a hidden functionality which merchants may use subject to a separate licensing agreement whereby we occasionally get something on the back end (if you see what I mean). The software operate cross server. This means that a merchant could utilize the software with a few custom mods our end and provide white label functionality using a datafeed and also rss. We're in the early stages of providing a demonstration for a large entertainment company with multiple affiliate schemes that if taken up will reward me with thousands of one way back links and a "skim off the top". Cost to the merchant - nada, ziltch, zero, nothing. It's all paid for out of a special budget.