Revisited : Affiliate Association - Who should the membership consist off?

[pistol101]

I'm voting for Jason.

I personally think that that the Association needs to be open to all, with sub-sections for networks/merchants/agencies and affiliates. Not that you'll get many of the networks or agencies sharing ideas!

The biggest sticking point is the credability of the association. There are too many people with hidden agenda's trying to run things or people providing commercially suicidal consultancy.

[3wdl]

Originally Posted by pistol101 I'm voting for Jason. I personally think that that the Association needs to be open to all, with sub-sections for networks/merchants/agencies and affiliates. Not that you'll get many of the networks or agencies sharing ideas! The biggest sticking point is the credability of the association. There are too many people with hidden agenda's trying to run things or people providing commercially suicidal consultancy.

Completely agree - it was obvious from the last time that something was organised that afterwards some people tried to gain PR from being part of the association - it takes away the whole point of it.

It HAS to be open to everyone, though meetings should probaly only consist of one person per network / agency to make sure that it is not overrun by them.

I think if it was limited to affiliates it would get a bad name for itself - look at what happened with the IAB when no affiliates bothered going - affiliates felt they should be invited (and were) and I think this works both ways.

I also think that we need to make sure that meetings and agendas are done on a public part of the forum (or somewhere else such as it's own site) and not in the private aspect that not everyone has membership for..

[D-Mac]

Originally Posted by pistol101 commercially suicidal consultancy.

Sucidal for who?

[pistol101]

Originally Posted by D-Mac Sucidal for who?

The merchants.

[D-Mac]

Originally Posted by pistol101 The merchants.

So by implication, the networks too?

One of the big problems are that affiliates, merchants and networks goals are not always mutually beneficial. Hence the need to have reps from each in the 'association'. Otherwise at least one gets peed on. At the moment networks are topdog, by quite a long way.

[Elaine]

Originally Posted by D-Mac Elaine, you work as a merchant too though, so wouldn't/shouldn't that exclude you from affiliate only talks?.

Don't see how - I am an affiliate with a pure affiliate site, who also happens to part own a merchant's site, which, incidently gives me a greater insight on how to treat affiliates and what part Networks play in the great scheme of things.

Any pure affiliate would be eligible to join - but not pure merchants, networks or agencies.

[kier]

I've voted for everyone to be included.

[pistol101]

Originally Posted by D-Mac So by implication, the networks too? One of the big problems are that affiliates, merchants and networks goals are not always mutually beneficial. Hence the need to have reps from each in the 'association'. Otherwise at least one gets peed on. At the moment networks are topdog, by quite a long way.

We're on the same lines, it's killing the merchants at the expense of the affiliates, networks and agencies.

[drivetowin]

Originally Posted by Elaine Don't see how - I am an affiliate with a pure affiliate site, who also happens to part own a merchant's site, which, incidently gives me a greater insight on how to treat affiliates and what part Networks play in the great scheme of things. Any pure affiliate would be eligible to join - but not pure merchants, networks or agencies.

I'm not sure it's as simple as that Elaine - I think if it is going to be affiliate only then it really should mean affiliate only - any affiliate who is also a merchant and/or also an agency and/or also a network should not be allowed to take part (or maybe should be allowed to take part but certainly not be allowed to vote on any decisions - I think to allow them to do so would be to give them an unfair advantage over other merchants/networks/agencies)

Otherwise, what is to stop any network/agency/merchant setting up a de-facto affiliate site and joining your 'affiliate only' association - which surely would negate your original reasoning.