New Best Practice Guidelines from IAB for Voucher Code Sites

[loquax]

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But Jason will you be hammering on their door telling them to whip off their party hat and start policing?

Yeah - just after Big Ben and Auld Lang Syne... :-)

[John Jupp]

Well if anyone is hammering on my door come New Year just make sure that the hammering's done before I hit Vegas. :tup

Otherwise my assistant isn't going to be overjoyed having more work to do.

Now if anyone needs additional clarification re: Urban Retro or Stand-Out.Net then just email me.

[Hero]

I have a few codes onboard that don't have expiry dates as the merchant has never given one - or have a 'until stocks last' and have never communicated a 'stocks are out' message? Is it best for me to change these to visible 'offers' and no click to reveal? IE only know valid codes have a click to reveal?

The guidelines are not only for affiliates, it's for the merchants as well - all those merchants who don't clearly state the terms for the voucher, expiry dates etc, will need to get better at communicating them, in order to ensure their affiliates comply with the rules they want them to follow. One of the things we have discussed was to get merchants to email their affiliates not only when a code is released, but also when it ends to get affiliates to amend the listings.

For anyone interested, the next AMC is on 27/11 at 3pm (last info I had). I'm sure we'll be discussing this further, along with any other matters you would like to raise. If anyone fancies meeting up with webgains, our offices are right across the road as well

[Frostie]

I would be interested to know what voucher code affiliates were involved in the meetings, the quote on the IAB website states

I heard a rumble about this, and expressed my interest in dialing up and voice-conferencing in as I wasn't able to go to London. Nothing materialised which I was disappointed about tbh

[mwd2000]

Well, I've just spent the afternoon cleaning up my voucher site (Voucher Mad UK - Daily Discount Codes and Voucher Codes) to comply with the new guidelines.

I believe my site was 'pretty' clean anyway as I always try to clearly communicate if its a code or a promotion/offer in the summary but I did have a generic 'Click HERE to reveal discount code or offer' CTR link against each one that would previously state 'No Code Required' in the case of offers (post cookie-catching click, of course...) which has always made me feel slightly uneasy.

Now I've separated presentation into codes and offers. See :

Play.com Discount Codes

for an example.

I still use CTR if there is a code unless the merchant has explicitly stated (as is the case with Expedia) that it is never to be used (I have a nice new toggle at shop level in the spiffy Rails based back-end voucher code CMS I developed to set this as appropriate :-)

If any merchant/network has any comments I'd be happy to modify the presentation to comply. Hopefully I haven't totally misunderstood the IAB guidelines?!

[befuddle]

Now I've separated presentation into codes and offers

No you haven't but I'm not going to pick as I'll leave that to others

[John Jupp]

UK'S BIGGEST VOUCHER & DISCOUNT CODE WEBSITE THE FIRST TO COMMIT TO FULLY COMPLYING WITH IAB CODE OF BEST PRACTICE BY 1st JAN 2009 - [affiliates4u Blogs]

Personal congrats to Mark Pearson.

I am very pleased to see this positive declaration.

[mwd2000]

No you haven't but I'm not going to pick as I'll leave that to others

Surely two distinct lists of vouchers, then offers, is separation?

[loquax]

"First to committ"... you'll be telling me they're having a media muscle campaign next ;-)

Good to see they're taking a stance - but let's celebrate the people who followed the rules from the start before slapping the backs of those who are now complying!

Jason

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Good to see they're taking a stance - but let's celebrate the people who followed the rules from the start before slapping the backs of those who are now complying!

Very good comment, but which sites unfortunately get more column width / coverage.

[Elaine]

mmm The Return of the Prodigal Son - never did get that parable ....
I'll hold off killing the fatted calf for a while

[Paul-Morris]

mmm The Return of the Prodigal Son - never did get that parable ....
I'll hold off killing the fatted calf for a while

Parable of the Prodigal Son - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All about making a plea for repentance apparently!

[ash]

I think my sites are already compliant with no forced clicks in sight.

A couple of queries would involves these two areas:

* A valid code is defined as a code that has been legitimately issued by a merchant for use online. This code will have an activation date and where necessary a deactivation date.

- I do have some codes where expiry dates are ongoing (or unknown), as i'm not forcing a click (and this the fact that the expiry date is unknown is stated) is this still an issue?

* Voucher code directories must contain clear categorization and separation between deals/offers/sales and discount codes.

I would have thought that my sites would clearly define what is or was'nt a code as OBVIOUSLY any codes will have a code any sales / deals wont!

[Mogga]

* A valid code is defined as a code that has been legitimately issued by a merchant for use online.

That's a bit vague and wooly. Doesn't exclude me from stealing other people's codes. Which is what 90% of the debate is about.

[dougs]

Agreed it is a problem.....but not the major one.....it is clicking when no codes are available.

Doug