Affiliate Association - Who should the membership consist off?

[Mogga]

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But there should be a declaration of interests so that people know who does what.

[morleymouse]

A bit late to comment on this but just spent a bit of time thinking about it and think Mogga makes a good point:

I think this is mentioned this elsewhere - should members have to declare their interests.

What is it each party would want out of this? The common goal is to make more sales / leads and increase the turnover done via the affiliate channel, I think im right in saying that?

If only affiliates are to be part of this I find it hard to see how things will move forward. I think affiliates could put together guidlines for programme launches, creative, best practice and this would be a great informational resource - throw 5 top affiliates into a room and give them a day they could do this, it doesnt need an association.

I think one thing a lot of affiliates dont take into consideration (and I know I didnt as an affiliate) is the work merchants put in, the resources they dedicate and the pressure they are under.

Good example, network tracking goes down and the links are jsut timing out, landing on a 'server did not respond' page. Its down for 2 days. Affiliates cry out for compensation and chances are the top 5 get it but who from? The merchant? THey never received the sales as the link wasnt landing on their site, the network? So if the network doesnt want to pay up they are effectively harming the affiliate - merchant relationship? What about the merchant, whos got a 2 day hole in their sales? Say the programme is making up 30% of turnover which in a 30 day month is 2% of the total company turnover (i think, bad maths day).

Im all for more unity, but it needs to be thought out and needs to be worth people getting involved with, if its focused on improving some of the fantastic relationships which already exist then surely it will naturally move forward and its professional image will grow.

In reality I could sit and type about this all day, but at the moment feel it wouldnt be worth it, wouldl ove to sit in on one of these round tables, but never get invited

[jess1]

Dan: "I think affiliates could put together guidlines for programme launches, creative, best practice and this would be a great informational resource - throw 5 top affiliates into a room and give them a day they could do this, it doesnt need an association."

Fab point, most programs when they launch have all the good intentions in the world, as time moves on, changes can happen which may have an adverse affect on a network or affiliate or even a merchant. Programs do not remain static, circumstances change and terms and conditions should be updated often.

It's when things go awry that an association can act as the go-between, taking the heat off all parties. An association, in a utopian world, would have access to lawyers and a kitty in which to aid legal representation in extreme cases.

[Ambski]

Apologies for late posting but this thread has gone 'under the radar' somewhat.

In relation to what Jess1 wrote;
I (as you may recall) had a serious situation arise a little while ago, when a merchant reversed commissions on terms which had been changed and the Network issued a gag notice on my grumblings about it.
You may also remember that the 'wagons where circled' on this issue and I had some great affiliates standing up for me and my plight. Very soon after both Merchant & Network back down (way...way...down...) and the situation was put right.

However...

There was a stage of some days where I was 'out there' alone. I had posted about it but although alot of influencial Affiliates had read the post, there seemed to be a general lack of interest which I found really hard to take. Especially when there is alot of 'pat-each-other-on-the-back' & 'we're-all-friends-together' comments. That hurt.

To get back to the point, I would have loved to have been able to take my grumble straight to the 'AA' (no...) 'AFF ASS' (no...) 'TAA' (no...) 'The Affiliate Association' and to know that very experienced Affiliates that have seen it all before, could respond privately on the best approach to ensure the situation was put right.

Incidentally, I now have a new situation involving unduly reversed commissions with a different Merchant on a different Network.
Will I get any help? Will I need any? Time will tell.

[jess1]

Could I set up an affiliate association tomorrow, yes!
Could I make it so that its pretty much free for all, Yes!
Could we get lawyers to represent people, yes.

Its not the could that is the problem for me, unless there is support for it then Im hesitant. Im also an Agency and would be in conflict with my own thoughts that an association should be set up by affiliates for affiliates.

I had a very very interesting discussion with JonJup quite recently about setting up an association and its not easy but its not impossible and john should know

Affiliates are the life force to aff marketing, you guys are our present and future most if not all would agree. I dont like the way affiliate marketing is heading not just because of external forces at work, but if we dont even have the basic inner foundations in place a real bible/blue print of good terms and conditions best practice, how can we ever protect ourselves from those external threats when we seem to always be in conflict with the internal struggles. I hear you and thousands of others all operating as individuals, I mention collectivism and Im called a lefty.

But as David Hall said at affiliatesummit, it is about collaboration and if we want a robust and strong industry in years to come, its about standing up and being counted and showing dare I say... solidarity when things like commissions being reversed without reason. So call me a lefty... call me a revolutionist, call me anything you like but when affiliate **** hits the fan, when affiliates are beaten with a merchant stick or a network sets up as a competitor to your affiliate site, is this really such a lefty idea after all? If it means legal support? If it means better quality aff programs, transparency, ethical... who stands to benefit from this?

[bakerdvd]

Affiliates are the life force to naff marketing, you guys are our present and future most if not all would agree.