buy.at rolls out intial steps of an inclusive RFP process

[Tyson Pearcey]

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We said earlier in the year that we wanted to provide all our affiliates with more transparency in the management of paid search for some of our large brand merchants. We are now ready to roll out what we have been working on.

We have seen other RFP style scenarios in the affiliate marketplace that have bred mistrust. In true buy.at style our process is inclusive and fair. It also extends out to all specialist affiliates and not just those working in the paid search area currently.

The process is first started with a few filter questions designed to engage affiliates with certain skill sets and experience so our clients can be sure of a competitive RFP process from the filtered group who come through the first stage.

Preferred suppliers

buy.at is currently in the process of introducing an improved preferred supplier process across its network, commencing the process with the AA. The process is about finding preferred suppliers, confirming we have the best affiliates working for our clients and offering affiliates the opportunity to explain their abilities to deliver to specific merchants for us. We are aiming for the affiliates skilled at current best practice to move forward through 2007 and beyond together.

Initial Filter Questions:

You would need to be able to answer yes to the following questions :

- Do you have the resource to respond during working hours promptly to a client’s needs?

- Do you feel you have the ability to drive significant volume? - Do you feel you have sufficient resources to prepare sites that fit a client's brand guidelines?

- Have you/are you able - to open accounts with the Major SEM companies such as Google, Yahoo and MSN?

If you can answer yes to the above then please send your details and interest in being taken through to the next stage to tyson.pearcey@buy.at

AA RFP process

There is a specific RFP process which is starting in the next day or so ( bit of a tight timeline on this first one ) for the AA so in order to be involved in the full RFP process for this merchant you would need to get your interest in quickly as per the above.

Going forward

This process is one that we are going to extend over time to cover many more clients with their co-operation. Not withstanding this, we are pleased to hear at any time from affiliates who would like to discuss tweaks to standard terms in return for delivering incremental volume.

Kind regards

Tyson Pearcey

[Tyson Pearcey]

Hi,

Juts a quick post to say that there was a slight typing error in my email, so if anybody had emailed last night could you pease send the email again to tyson.pearcey@buy.at

Thanks,

Tyson

[loquax]

RFP according to Wiki is 'Request for Proposal' (just in case you're wondering like I was)

[KieronD]

Well done Buy.at for being transparent and not too complicated! May keep the brand bidding conspiracy theorists quiet for a bit

[drivetowin]

Tyson

As you know I don't do ppc in any scale so it's an academic question to me but what do you mean by drive significant volume - I appreciate that this will vary from merchant to merchant but I think you should give some guideline - to some people 10 sales a day is significant while others would not get out of bed for less than a few humdred

[Chris Brown]

Hi,

Just to add to Tyson's post earlier. The timeline for The AA is tight but the client and ourselves are aiming to get this in place for the start of April. So with that in mind if you are keen to get involved in The AA RFP then drop me an email at chris.brown@buy.at or call me on 0191 2416500.

Keith,

What is classed as significant volume will differ dependant on the merchant therefore as these are initial filter questions it is difficult to give a general indication. For example in the case of The AA it will differ depending on the product, as we have around 8 live programmes, and to give indicators for all these in the initial filter questions isn’t feasible.

If you or any other affiliate is interested and would like an indication of what represents significant volume then the best thing to do would be to call us and we can give clearer indicators.

Thanks for the support and interest so far guy’s our aim is to make this process as transparent as possible and to give everybody who is interested a fair shot.

Thanks

Chris