Thread: Aims of an organisation like the one proposed?

This forum seems to have died a bit of a death lately but to me it seems an important thing to discuss and get going.

One of the key things I would like to see is brought about by issues arising from companies who are placing restrictions on affiliates e.g. see the numerous argos threads regarding PPC activity, meta tags, links etc.

Individually we would not be able to do much to convince argos that this is an incorrect course of action, if we had an organisation representing us then the collective power we would hold, could sway some merchants opinions or at least let them realise the implications of their actions.

PS - I'm not an argos affiliate, but the actions by merchants imposing restrictions seems to be increasing and will ultimately affect us all

Would merchants take notice of affiliates removing links? If we all stop promoting them then they in effect get all the top listings (They could stay with the cheapest network just to threaten affiliates who continue to use their name)

I think it enough affiliates (and enough high earning affiliates) were represented then it would be very good for negotiations - which would benefit ALL affiliates - to prevent this sillyness where soon we won't be able to mention the name of a merchant at all.

I can see it now.

"Buy this now from a shop we're not allowed to name"

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Would merchants take notice of affiliates removing links? If we all stop promoting them then they in effect get all the top listings [/quote]

Depends what you are advertising - If you are advertising a product that is sold by two merchants and Merchant A imposed stupid rules, so everyone switched to selling that product through Merchant B, then Merchant A would notice a lack of sales!

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>"Buy this now from a shop we're not allowed to name"[/quote]

In the case of a certain merchant (lets call them outerweed) you would need to say "Buy this product (that we are not allowed to name) from this shop (who we are also not allowed to name)".

Infact that has quite a ring to it, I'm off to change all of my links to say just that.:rollin:

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>What should be the aims of an organisation like the one proposed?[/quote]Probably to formulate good practice guidelines for Affiliates and Merchants.

I think it should go both ways.

You need one set of rules for Merchants and another one for affiliates.

My idea would be to have a body of well respected and renowned affiliate marketeers and Merchants who operate in an ethical and fair environment.

When launching an affiliate program, a Merchant would have a lot more credibility for their program if they seeked approval by the board. (The program could be allocated with an approval logo)

In the same way, an Affiliate who was approved by the board would have a lot more credibility. (Again, they could apply to programs with a special approval logo against their name).

That would be where I would place the value for such an organisation.

Who wants to do it?

Seems fairly clear to me that affiliate marketing is developing into a significant industry in it's own right, merchants are covered by their trade associations, affiliate marketeers are not - therefore left out on a limb.

There's strength in numbers and so an association must be a good idea. The affiliate networks and the affiliate publishers/web-site owners should have an association which:

sets out a code of practice for affiliate marketing, ensuring reasonable standards and thereby offering some warm comfort feelings to merchants.

enforce the code of practice, the gist of this would be to leave irresponsible marketers out on their own in the cold rather than any severe regulation.

publish recommendations on which merchants are taking the schemes seriously, maybe a green, amber red alert status would name and shame, whilst serving as a guide to perpetual newbies like myself.

serve as a credible final opinion on payment issues, maybe an end to all the forum messages cross checking whether their payments have arrived yet?

offer benefits to members in a relatively loose/casual organisation and only bring in any rules and regulations after members had had a bedding in period to guage the pros of belonging versus going it alone.

Finally, the field is still relatively new compared with other genres of marketing, but what will happen as the market matures? Long established merchants selling over the net, especially with a high street presence, could end up 110% calling the shots in development of rules surrounding aqffiliate activity. Look at the way Independent Financial Advisers have been phased out (not a brilliant example), or how supermarkets are effectively calling the shots in the farming industry (any better?).

With a form of union/association it might be more of a recognized and acknowledged activity, and not just a transient phase until the big companies have truly got the net sewn up.

Just needs someone to start it up really.
PR