1. #1
    Matthew Wood is on a distinguished road Matthew Wood is on a distinguished road Matthew Wood is on a distinguished road Matthew Wood's Avatar Founder of affiliates4u, MD of Existem
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Bristol, UK
    Posts
    2,715
    Thanks
    105
    Thanked 108 Times in 55 Posts

    a4uAwards 2008 - Community Choice Shortlist

    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 :tup

    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!

    Read my personal blog @ Woody
    Follow me on twitter @ matthewwood

  2. #2
    drivetowin Driving to win
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    If I'm not at home, I'm in hospital
    Posts
    7,399
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts
    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.
    Never argue with idiots. They just drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience.

    If ignorance is bliss then some of the people I know must be orgasmic.

  3. #3
    3wdl 3wdl's Avatar Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    2,899
    Thanks
    155
    Thanked 98 Times in 66 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by drivetowin View Post
    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?
    James Little | Head of Affiliate Development | AffiliateFuture
    Email/MSN: james.little@affiliatefuture.co.uk | Phone: 0207 927 6579

  4. #4
    ian
    ian is online now
    ian is an unknown quantity at this point Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    819
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by drivetowin View Post
    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?

  5. #5
    KieronD KieronD KieronD's Avatar Crunk
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunderland
    Posts
    2,306
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked 51 Times in 30 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    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?
    ContentNow.co.uk - Content Writing and Link Building services | Read my blog here | Follow me on Twitter

  6. #6
    loquax loquax's Avatar www.onelittleduck.co.uk
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Swansea
    Posts
    2,729
    Thanks
    35
    Thanked 125 Times in 66 Posts
    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
    Stuff That Ducks Do.. Working | Blogging | Duck Twitter | Loquax Twitter

  7. #7
    ian
    ian is online now
    ian is an unknown quantity at this point Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    819
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by UKOffer View Post
    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.

  8. #8
    Elaine Elaine's Avatar Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Redcar Cleveland North of Leeds
    Posts
    2,450
    Thanks
    71
    Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts
    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
    Elaine - Children's Rooms and Allkids
    email: kev @ childrens-rooms.co.uk
    01642 491199

    Elaine's Space - Blog - Stop Reading and Bleedin' Get On With It ..
    Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

  9. #9
    ian-d Merchant User
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Cheshire
    Posts
    1,432
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by drivetowin View Post
    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?

  10. #10
    ian
    ian is online now
    ian is an unknown quantity at this point Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    819
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ian-d View Post
    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 ?

  11. #11
    TheBoyMitchell is an unknown quantity at this point Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    515
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked 47 Times in 28 Posts
    Maybe there should be a Content Publisher award next year? It would overlap - but look at Christiano Ronaldo. You could always be voted into both catagories, but it would give new and established content sites the chance to be recognised.

    How you would vote for it though - like the rest of the awards it is open to interpretation.

    (And to clarify that, I am not denigrating anyone who has been nominated, but *how* can the Average Joe vote for anyone unless they have heard of the nominee, which in turn begs the question "Are the nominees the people who make the most noise/posts/are most visible on site"

    Just my 5p

  12. #12
    KieronD KieronD KieronD's Avatar Crunk
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunderland
    Posts
    2,306
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked 51 Times in 30 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    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..
    OK so if they are the "established big boys in PPC" I can presume that they are big because they are successful and generate a lot of sales for the merchants and networks. So isn't that a good enough reason for them to be nominated? Or should small affiliate sites that generate little sales be nominated? Remember affiliate marketing is a business and business is traditionally measured by sales, volume and profitability so what's wrong with that?

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    What I did say was that its disappointing that a content affiliate hadn't made enough of an impression to get listed. .
    I don't really understand what you are saying when you say "a content affiliate hadn't made enough of an impression to get listed". Maybe UK Web Media were nominated as they were one of the first affiliates to launch a cashback site that gives to charity? They spent a small fortune building it and marketing it so aren't they worthy of a nomination for that? Just because these guys spend a lot of money buying traffic to their CONTENT sites doesn't mean they shouldn't be nominated does it???

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    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.
    OK we're maybe getting to the point a bit here. I think what you are saying is that there should maybe be an award for "best newcomer" or "affiliate innovation". I agree.

    However just because the guys listed as nominees spend a lot of money on PPC doesn't mean they shouldn't be rewarded and recognised. And who's to say that they don't utilise their PPC budgets to send traffic to their own content sites? Let's not jump to conclusions. Trust me, I've seen some of their sites and they are very good quality content driven sites. We all know that Google have cracked down on "thin" sites so they have to be, in order to buy traffic from them.
    ContentNow.co.uk - Content Writing and Link Building services | Read my blog here | Follow me on Twitter

  13. #13
    drivetowin Driving to win
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    If I'm not at home, I'm in hospital
    Posts
    7,399
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts
    Just to clarify that I'm not saying any of those who have been nominated don't deserve to be - just that it was a shame there were no 'pure content' affiliates nominated.

    From my perspective I don't view ppc affiliates who have a site with content as content affiliates but that's just my individual opinion - if you have an excellent content site (like Elaine's or Jason's or dare I say it even a couple of mine for example) you don't need ppc to drive content to it - build and they will come as the saying goes.

    This isn't sour grapes - just an observation that the full breadth of publishers is not reflected in the nominations.
    Never argue with idiots. They just drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience.

    If ignorance is bliss then some of the people I know must be orgasmic.

  14. #14
    Affi Liate Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    A new house with 76 windows, broadband, maid and a clock.
    Posts
    533
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 61 Times in 25 Posts
    Too much waffle for me to digest.

    Vote for who you think you should vote for...

    Aff.

    A.S.

    Remember affiliate marketing is a business and business is traditionally measured by sales, volume and profitability so what's wrong with that?

    You forgot the most importrant measure of them all (after JD): "Societal Marketing"... that's what's wrong with that... zzz

  15. #15
    Qui Gon Jinn is on a distinguished road Qui Gon Jinn is on a distinguished road Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    4,611
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts
    There is a signifcant difference between a PPC affiliate and a BBG (Brand Bidding Group) Affiliate. Some of the recent sites were perhaps built through a "guilt complex" or to pull wool over prospective clients eyes & funded by the obscene amounts of money generated from BBGs .. let's not forget that.

    So when you see these sites, take a peek at the [Wayback Machine] (exact match no hybrid) (though it can be embarrassing to see our own sites). & Whoopie Bloomin Doo to landing pages ...

    Internet Archive

    Usng the word charity doesn't sway a discussion, i know about the site mentioned above and have from early days when the bbg affiliate asked for my opinions at the time to which i had positive comments & suggestions, but my opinions hadn't changed on BBGs.

    It doesn't need to be sour grapes to have an objective opinion & echo what others are saying on msn in private or in a public domain.

    One thing for sure there is certainly a difference of opinion to what is perceived as a "content affiliate" imho the driver to those sites can be seo and / or ppc ... which can easily be set aside for another discussion.

    .... the fact remains that all bar Quidco are familiar Brand Bidding Group Affiliates.
    DisclaimerThis communication contains information which is confidential and/or maybe privileged. All information contained herein is without prejudice.Blog Moose On The Loose.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-04-08, 01:19 PM
  2. Subside Sports - Euro 2008, Champions League and more!
    By Subsidesports in forum Affiliate Window
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-04-08, 01:16 PM
  3. Subside Sports - Euro 2008, Champions League and more!
    By Subsidesports in forum Affiliate Future
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-04-08, 01:14 PM
  4. Subside Sports - Euro 2008, Champions League and more!
    By Subsidesports in forum Affiliate Marketing Lounge
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-04-08, 01:13 PM
  5. Choice Hotels - no clue?
    By altyfc in forum Commission Junction - CJ UK
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 07-06-07, 12:26 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.0 RC2