Merchants shouldn't be charged for content generators.

29-01-03

Just a suggestion..Not a Moan

From what we understand TD charge a fee for set up costs and monthly charges for basic maintenance and basic bolt on packages...up to 20 images etc..

However, they apparently also receive a 30% over-ride on affiliate commissions.

We are a great fan of their content generators, especially the ones with adjustable sizes on their one or two columns, these are very useful for affiliates and can fit neatly in to most publishers sites.

However, this is at considerable additional expense to the merchant.

Wouldn't it be more prudent, if this facility was FREE or part of the package for the merchant...the merchant updates these anyway themselves....leading to a greater uptake and insertion by affiliates...leading to more commissions...leading to a greater over-ride volume for TD....which would no doubt out-weigh the charge the merchant incurs.

More sales leads to happy merchants, delighted TD and affiliates ecstatic...

It just seems TD may be too concerned with these additional surcharges and "advice" fees, rather than effective promotional tools for the affiliate (e.g. boring banners) than looking at the overall picture.

Granted each merchant may have different arrangements, but it just makes ecomonic sense.

Just my tuppenny bits worth.

PS Good to see most invoices were paid, according to the payment report.

29-01-03

That's one of the reasons why we chose DGM - I agree.

Ben
Emporio Lingerie.

29-01-03

Makes perfect sense to me QGJ, extra tools to make extra sales to make more for everyone.

It does seem that merchants pay a lot of money for the service and don't get much for it. As the other thread in the affiliate lounge seems to be showing affiliate marketing works better for the merchants that get involved themselves and don't just leave it to the network.

What do the merchants get for their monthly fees at TD and other networks?

29-01-03

I agree too! We paid the set up fee for our content generators and update them ourselves.

it simply wasn't cost effective to pay for TD to update them for us.

29-01-03

abbieis,

__________________________________________________
set up fee for our content generators and update them ourselves.
__________________________________________________

From a merchants perspective. Do you feel if the set up fee was free for content generators and merchants updated themselves, more merchants would get involved and it would benefit everyone all round.

From your perspective Expedia have a good interactive tool fro bookings, are you planning the same, i can show you an example if you like.

30-01-03

great post QJG!

i have lots of ideas for editorial style content units etc but i have no more budget to buy these units.

I agree for my overrider, set up and in some cases monthly running costs i would like to see more technical development happening.

we all know content adds value to a users experience so bring it on!

Helen

30-01-03

Hi all,

sorry to mislead... just to confirm that we did not get charged a fee as we produced the content generators ourselves, but TD does charge if you would like them to do it instead....

and QGJ, yes, i think a lot of merchants would use them if they were free but need to be committed to changing them and ensuring they are always fresh and valid, which is sometimes where the problem lies... you will probably find those that fit into that category are those that let the network run the programme without intervening at all

TD do actively encourage content generator units to be used as far as possible, but perhaps merchants need to be educated on their value a bit more....

Best regards,
Abbie

30-01-03

yeah, like Bensons World with the christmas 2001 best sellers!

30-01-03

If TD is letting the merchant set these up for free and want to charge if the merchant can't or won't do it themselves I don't see a problem asking for a small fee for this.. Otherwise everyone and his granny would want one, no one would be paying, everyone would want them all the time and TD would need more staff and so with no one paying they might shave off our commissions by a 1% to pay for the service.

30-01-03

Surely they would pay for themselves over a period of time, initally it would cost TD however when the extra sales start flowing they will not only be cost effective but profitable.

Content = Stickyness = Sales = £££ for all

Keith

30-01-03

Yeah that's what I think also, maybe you set a limit of 1 free per client per month so every gets a fair crack at it, and if certain clients are making you a bomb in the over ridding commission you offer them more of them.

I personally can't see how you can make all your money from set up fees and monthly charges, the over ridding commission should be what your working to make more of as that surly must be where the big money will be, if the programs not a donkey that is.