Official Ocean Finance Launch

[kennethlillie]

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Hi All

The Ocean Finance campaign has been running for a couple of months now with OMG in a test phase. We are now ready to open up this campaign to the full UK market. There are, however, numerous restrictions that we simply must adhere to. Many affiliates in the test phase have found these restrictions frustrating but the campaign does pay very well. Conversions continue to increase in conjunction with Ocean’s active offline and online marketing activity.

The programme overview is as follows:
“Earn £110 per validated mortgage or loan lead with Ocean Finance, the UK's leading finance broker for home owner loans. Applications must be for £3,000 plus, not from Tenants or Overseas, and duplicate applications on the same day will not be validated”

The main restrictions are on PPC with no brand bidding and on SEO with a no-go for web pages appearing in natural listings on the Ocean brand or keyword. Ocean are HIGHLY protective over their brand. Both TMG and OMG understand the negative impact this has on the campaign and the number of applications the affiliate programme could bring to Ocean but there is nothing more we can do as PPC and SEO are out of our remit. I have a list of keywords that I can give you if you are unsure as to what you cannot bid on – I also have a cheat sheet for how NOT TO rank your page on SEO (never thought I would say that!). I will, of course, keep everyone updated of any changes.

In addition no incentives can be used to promote this program. Cash back or incentive sites need to contact their account manager at OMG if they would like to run this program and they will be considered for approval.

Please note that Ocean do not allow, via this campaign, applications from “Lead Generation” sites i.e. those who have forms on their sites who then manually re-key applications into the Ocean site. However, this may change in the future - please email me if your activity falls under this description.

There are numerous versions of creative available including Flash Banners and HTML Emails by request, if you require any specific sizes or variations of current creative please let us know. So, if you can deliver large amounts of traffic via your site or via your email database, this is the perfect campaign for you.

If anyone has email databases then PLEASE apply online and also contact me direct or your OMG account manager. I can only assess your web site when you apply for this programme so do not know your real reach. Email is converting VERY VERY well with our direct media partners.

Please apply via the OMG site or speak to your account manager. If you have any direct questions for me, please do not hesitate to contact me direct.

Thanks and regards,

Kenneth
Head of Search & Affiliates
TBG London
www.tbglondon.com
kenneth.lillie@tbglondon.com

[drivetowin]

on SEO with a no-go for web pages appearing in natural listings on the Ocean brand or keyword.

Blimey this year has gone quickly - it's April 1st already

They really have to be having a laugh on this - I thought merchants who moan when you appear above them in natural search were bad enough - but saying you cant appear in natural search AT ALL for their brand name - what planet are they from!!

When will these merchants learn that we dont control what the search engines pick up and index our pages on - the search engines do - I'd be interested to receive your cheat sheet but afaik the only way I could guarantee not to appear for the name Ocean Finance would be to display their name only as a graphic and not have the words Ocean Finance anywhere in the text.

You see its all to do with keyword density and if I mention Ocean Finance often enough then this thread will appear when someone searches for Ocean Finance in Google and maybe just maybe then they will get the point.

[drivetowin]

Just did a search for Ocean Finance on Google

Can we presume that no commission will be paid to Greasy Palm then since they appear no2 in the results for 'Ocean Finance'

[lurker]

Hmm.....secret advertising.....is this the way forward for 2006?

"Hallo web-site visitor. Have we got a loan for you! Can't mention who it is in case Google/Yahoo/MSN notice, but just trust us + click here"

[Gavinio]

I think I'd prefer affiliates to be on my brand, rather than what's number 2 in a UK search... http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=3...UK%7CcountryGB

Still, as we've heard before, their programme, their rules. If it's a good earning programme, you can play by their rules, no matter what you think of them.

[simonb]

sounds like a challenge to me - who can get to No 1 first...