interesting about argos....

13-04-03

Isn't it interesting that after all the threats that have come from ARG, Argos and others about the use of their name in respect of the search engines and keyword optimisation etc., that when you go and look at Google as an example, little appears to have changed.

How therefore do we read this?

Was it: -

1: all hot air and bluff?

2: they have insufficient knowledge to identify those sites infringing?

3: they've now changed their minds?

4: they don't really care?

5: they've realised they were wrong and have chosen not to communicate this to the network?

6: they now realise how important their affiliates are in what they do, and don't want to rock the boat?

Whatever the answer, how should we read this?

While at first glance this question may only seem like an invitation for idle speculation, it is'nt. To me it tells a story of a merchant that is possibly making threats but that at the same time does not want to lose out on customers. If this is the case then it is only the more honest or easily frightened affiliates that remove the offending words, while others simply say "stuff it, lets leave it the way that it is and see what happens". In such a situation the only persons penalised and miss out are those "honest or frightened" affiliates.

Actually this might give rise to a 7th option that might explain increasing sales reversals from some of these merchants:

7: They are happy to leave all those offending links, sites or affiliates in place and simply proceed to reverse all those sales they "suspect" are coming from offending sites.

Is'nt this called - Having you cake and eating it too? :| :evil:

13-04-03

They did make changes to their original ... but I've just done a search for argos and there you have it. They're not number one on google.com for it. or the.co.uk unless you click uk only.

Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 20:18:28 +0100 (CET)

Amendments to the Argos Retail Group (ARG) Partner Programmes Policy
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::

Dear Argos affiliate,

We recently sent an email to you regarding the ARG policy on the brand names Argos and Homebase with respect to the Affiliate Programs live on the TradeDoubler network. Following feedback from you and after discussions with the Group, we have made some amendments.

Effective immediately, the following will be prohibited from the ARG programmes:

§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations in the written copy of adverts on PPC (Pay per Click) search engines.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations as keywords or key phrases for the purposes of targeting adverts on PPC search engines.

Please note that PPC (Pay-per-click) search engines include Espotting, Overture, Google and any other search engine that offers full or partial Pay-per-click advertising.

As of the 1st April 2003, the following will be prohibited from the ARG programmes:

§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations in any main domain names.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Partner site representing themselves or passing themselves off as being any of the ARG brands or taking any action which is likely to confuse or mislead third parties to believe that such partner site is part of the ARG brand. Partners may also not frame or copy ARG pages.

These conditions relate to both Argos and Homebase on TradeDoubler

We would appreciate your co-operation on this - failure to do so will result in exclusion from the Program involved.

Please appreciate that the ARG Group must protect its brand but we encourage promotion of these Programs within the usual realms of affiliate marketing. We do our best to provide creative which will drive sales for us and commission for you. Please log onto TradeDoubler and check out the content units which have proven to have excellent conversion rates.

We would like to thank you for your feedback and look forward to a good future relationship.

Kind Regards,

The orig was

20/2)
Re: Affiliate use of Argos Retail Group (ARG) brand names

Now that the very busy Christmas trading period has passed, a new policy regarding the protection of our well established and trusted brands has been agreed. ARG wishes to inform you, therefore, that from 1st March 2003, any affiliates in ANY of the ARG Group affiliate programmes with Trade Doubler will be prohibited from the following:

§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations in the written copy of adverts on PPC search engines.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations as keywords or key phrases for the purposes of targeting adverts on PPC search engines.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations in any domain or sub-domain name.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using ARG brand names, brand name misspellings or similar variations in the HTML Title tag of website pages.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using sites dedicated solely to ARG brands or using HTML Framed copies (or similar methods) of any ARG websites or webpages.
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Using alternative copy, logos or graphics to those provided on cj.com unless otherwise agreed with ARG.
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Currently the ARG brands within the programme consist of:
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Argos
§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Homebase

§&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp NB. These restrictions also apply to Jungle, Choice Argos Additions, Kays, Great Universal, McCord, Innovations, Abound, Style, Home Free, Marshall Ward

For the purposes of this policy, PPC (Pay-per-Click) search engines include Espotting, Overture, Google and any other search engine that offers full or partial Pay-per-Click advertising.

Any affiliates found to be in breach of any of the above after 1st March 2003 will have their commission rescinded and further breaches will result in permanent exclusion from any programme run by the ARG Group of companies.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation. We at ARG are confident that the affiliate programmes will go from strength to strength during 2003, with your continuing support. Please be assured we are redoubling our efforts towards providing even better offers and services to our customers, and look to further cement our position as one of the UK?s premier on-line retail companies.

Argos Affiliate Team

13-04-03

Im pretty sure the sponsored links / paid listings are argos themselves ROFLMAO !! If theres tracking/affiliate codes in the links then their probs using it track their campaigns.

13-04-03

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>They're not number one on google.com for it. or the.co.uk unless you click uk only.[/quote]

Thats coz google.co.uk just puts out the .com results unless you specify for just UK.

Cheers
Wardy

13-04-03

...try searching on "argos shopping" on google - affiliate links extend for over 20 pages - I only looked at the first dozen pages or so and over 100 familiar affiliate sites using the big A word in the necessary positions of prominence for SE optimisation...

Should the big A and others should either crap or get off the pot on this issue? Either they want affiliate business or they don't?

13-04-03

Hi TobyT,

1. Typing "Argos Shopping" will also produce Adwords for those simply bidding on "shopping".

2. Perhaps TD or CJ can clarify "the ARG's" ever changing demands.

3. Is Homebase part of the ARG Group?

4. Realistically though, we estimate their affiliate sales will suffer quite drastically and reckon apart from sales they receive from major portals, it will drop off at least 50%. I wouldn't be surprised if it was nearer 75%.

5. It would be interesting to see if the new person from ARG group attends the CJU this year, who as adopted a totally different stance to that of the lady who represented them at last years event.

13-04-03

Hi there QGJ

How are you on this fine day? and why aren't you at church? The reason I did not buzz you by email is because I don't have it.

Re: 1. Typing "Argos Shopping" will also produce Adwords for those simply bidding on "shopping".

Yeah, but if you read through the title and descriptions that appear you can see who is using the A word on the page or in the source.

Re: 2. Perhaps TD or CJ can clarify "the ARG's" ever changing demands.

While this is not meant as any slur on TD or CJ, I think that there is as much liklihood of meaningful answers coming from the respective merchants as there is seeing ducks crap golden eggs. I mean do we expect them to come out and say we've changed our minds and you can use the A word as much as you want - can't see that happening. Do we see them reconfirm that we cannot use the A word and then they start to enforce it - can't really see that happening because they would loose so much business from it and there could be some ripe repercussions over such a move. More likely they are hoping it will all go quiet and that everyone will just forget about what they said originally and that's precisely why I said what I said earlier.

Re 3. Is Homebase part of the ARG Group?

I believe so

Re: 5. It would be interesting to see if the new person from ARG group attends the CJU this year, who as adopted a totally different stance to that of the lady who represented them at last years event.

This was my only regret in moving out here. Things were starting to get moving over their in respect of affiliate marketing coming out into the light of day so to speak. With people like you, Matthew, Neil and some others shaking the tree, and then the start of the first "get-togethers" this business was just starting to get interesting after 4 or 5 years. And it's one of the few things I miss.

The business needs people like you guys and the business needs that Association that we spoke of, but I fear it's gonna take an awful lot of pushing and pulling to get that off the ground. I think without it though the road ahead is going to get increasingly painful. As Confucious once said " He who wants to have a great game, has to start with a level playing field". Then Sing Sing Chow added "... and one without rocks too!"