The significance of May 5th?

[Stavros]

OK,

So I'm a relative newbie and my experience is fairly limited. I'm trying to get my head around just how significant May 5th will be for affiliates and merchants when Google opens up brand bidding.

I read the blogs but understandably they often skip over the basics and it's a little hard to gauge just how much of an impact this will have for affiliates.

I know how lucrative closed brand bidding groups can be for affiliates, so could Google's policy change see some affiliates raking in a lot more commission in the near future?
Or will merchants enforce their own policies about brand bidding (which is what I've heard, regardless of how difficult it may be to police). So I assume this isn't the end for closed BBGs?

In the long run, are merchants likely to loose out? The way I see it, there'll be more affiliates popping up in the PPC results and therefore more commission paid out by the merchant.
Meanwhile, competing merchants will benefit from affiliates bidding on competitor brands and directing traffic to them, although I imagine conversion rates would be low.

Any input would be much appreciated.

[KevinEdwards]

Hi,

You may find the Affiliate Window response useful:
http://www.affiliatewindow.com/docum...cy_Changes.pdf

Thanks,

[Stavros]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the link, an interesting read. I had no idea you offered brand paid search cookies as well as content cookies. Apologies if this is an obvious question but how do you allocate the correct links to affiliates and ensure that brand PPC affiliates aren't exploiting content cookies?

Are content and brand PPC cookies something other networks are offering too?

[Brigadoon]

Some merchants are making new terms & conditions in a knee jerk reaction before the stable door has opened, instead of managing any situation that creates a problem in the future.

A few merchants are telling affiliates not to bid on competitors names, but I would guess that they will allow their agencies to run wild on competitors names?

Time will tell!