a4uAwards 2008 - Community Choice Shortlist

[Matthew Wood]

Thank you for waiting - we have finished auditing and totalling your nominations and have now released the shortlist for the Publisher and Community Choice awards

See who's made it through to the final five on the A4uAwards Blog

you now have 3 weeks to vote for your outright winner for each category. The winner and runner up will be announced on the 5th of June!

[drivetowin]

Disappointing to see there is not a single content publisher up for the publisher award - four ppc, one ppc and cashback and one pure cashback......mmmmmmmm....

Should add this is not a knock at the awards by the way Matt - just a shame that presumably nominations have been made on cash returns rather than necessarily on effort or innovation.

[3wdl]

Originally Posted by drivetowin Disappointing to see there is not a single content publisher up for the publisher award - four ppc, one ppc and cashback and one pure cashback......mmmmmmmm.... Should add this is not a knock at the awards by the way Matt - just a shame that presumably nominations have been made on cash returns rather than necessarily on effort or innovation.

Indeed. Blogged about this here:

Community Choice A4UAwards Selection... | Affiliate Marketing Blog by James Little

Also surprised TD are not in the network choice too! Gone downhill since Nick left?

[ian]

Originally Posted by drivetowin Disappointing to see there is not a single content publisher up for the publisher award - four ppc, one ppc and cashback and one pure cashback......mmmmmmmm....

It is disappointing that a content site didn't manage to make an impression on those that were doing the nominations. Not sure what the rational behind the award is though, were they published somewhere?

[UKOffer]

Originally Posted by ian It is disappointing that a content site didn't manage to make an impression on those that were doing the nominations. Not sure what the rational behind the award is though, were they published somewhere?

Do you know for a fact that none of these affiliates operate content sites?

[loquax]

Disappointing to see there is not a single content publisher up for the publisher award - four ppc, one ppc and cashback and one pure cashback......mmmmmmmm....

Been thinking about this one... when thinking about who I'd vote for as best network/merchant... the earnings I make did come into the equation - I'd be surprised if other affiliates didn't make similar considerations. Therefore should we be surprised that the affiliates who earn for the merchants/networks would get their vote?

Another possible point is that a content site may only work with a handful of merchants - whereas ppc/cashback will have a lot of strong ties with a lot more merchants/agencies/networks etc. That may well have influenced how the nominations went.

It would have been nice to see something different - but perhaps as content affiliates we should take it as a challenge?

Geez... i think the sun has got to me... must drink water, take tablets, lie down ;-)

Jason

[ian]

Originally Posted by UKOffer Do you know for a fact that none of these affiliates operate content sites?

No, and I didn't say they shouldn't win the awards either. It depends on the rational behind the award as to who should be nominated. Based on the list, many would base it on volume given that they are the established big boys in ppc.

What I did say was that its disappointing that a content affiliate hadn't made enough of an impression to get listed. This is not to say the shortlisted affiliates shouldn't be there, just that no publishers are wowing the community with great sites or new affiliate methods.

[Elaine]

but perhaps as content affiliates we should take it as a challenge?

it would be nice if pure content affiliates who rely on the organic serps did get more recognition - but then again we do make more money for ourselves rather than lining the pockets of the networks, merchants and google - about 85% of our earnings go in our pocket (and the taxman's ) - so I'll be content to stretch my arm round my head and pat myself on the back

[ian-d]

Originally Posted by drivetowin Disappointing to see there is not a single content publisher up for the publisher award - four ppc, one ppc and cashback and one pure cashback......mmmmmmmm....

For a publisher award, how have ppc affiliates managed to get voted? Who would vote for them? Maybe someone needs to explain to me what these 4 ppc affiliates do which makes them noticable for an award?

[ian]

Originally Posted by ian-d For a publisher award, how have ppc affiliates managed to get voted? Who would vote for them? Maybe someone needs to explain to me what these 4 ppc affiliates do which makes them noticable for an award?

They have a massive number of campaigns, for a massive number of merchants, agencies, and networks, giving them a good chance of getting quite a few nominations. They do produce some nice sites, and as Kieron aludes to, they probably have a number of content sites as well. If enough people nominate them, it's hard to ignore them for a place on the shortlist.

Maybe for 2009 we could have an innovation / startup award ?