B&Q culling affiliates

[FionaR]

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We are currently in the process of developing a product feed with Wickes and hope to have this available to our partners soon - I will make sure I post on the forum as soon as I have a confirmed date for this. In the meantime, if there is anything else you think would help your promotions then feel free to let me know

Do you have a product feed with images!!! as I have a DIY feed site which might be wanting a new merchant to feel a void

[purple]

I will look out for updates on the feed, looks like I was saved from the b&q cull this time

[KirstyM]

Considerations of B & Q and Awin apart, I think they way that this thread has gone should stand as a reasonable example of negative ways in which your affiliates can react to a cull of this nature.

1 ) They'll feel unappreciated, and just stop promoting you. OK, you might think that it won't matter if they peel off. But 200 affiliates generating 5 - 10 sales each a month can add up to a fair volume. No real loss to the individual affiliates.

2 ) As an affiliate manager I've often found that within a lot of programmes there are a high number of inactive affiliates who are known in the industry for their ability to drive volume sales. Actions which make them feel negative about your programme may well ensure they never attempt to promote you and focus on programmes they feel to be more affiliate centred.

3 ) You'll get your competitors offering your affected affiliates an alternative, and because you've hurt their feelings - they'll "cull" you from their sites instead of contacting you for a discussion about continued promotion.

I'm sure B & Q et al have thought all of this through, but perhaps other merchants will read this thread and get some valuable information about the potential side effects of policies such as these!

[Qui Gon Jinn]

There are some constructive comments above which can only highlight this merchant as being a complete fool & illustrates one of the ways of how to castrate the potential of their affiliate program.

Another similar one is PruHealth Affiliate Audit on Tradedoubler, culling Inactive Affiliates