Swap Your Links Campaign

[Qui Gon Jinn]

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<b>By request, to make life easier for you we have collated the lists of the various merchant programs
from the various forums to make life easier for you to
Swap your links from TD and CJ to an ethical network</b>

PRINT IT OFF

<b>Tradedoubler</b>

These are the merchants currently on TD
where you can swap your links from TD to an ethical network like BUY.at, OMG, POR, AF, AW, DGM

Merchant Swap Your Links to

24-7Electrical - AW
Abcaz - AW
Accucard - BUY.AT
Active ISP - AW
Advanced MP3 Players - POR AW AF
BalticPine Conservatories - AW
BetHiLo - AW
BT Mobile - DGM
BT Shop - DGM
BT Yahoo - DGM
Car Credit UK - AW DGM
Carphone Warehouse - BUY.AT
CD WOW! - AW BUY.AT
Chooseaprize - AW DGM
Cloggs - AW
Consumerlifestyles - DGM
Cotswold Outdoor - AF
Cottages4you - BUY.AT DGM
Cotton Traders - BUY.AT AW
Countrybookshop - AW AF
Cucina - BUY.AT
Dial4aloan - DGM
Direct line Loans - BUY.AT
DIYtools - AW
Domino's Pizza - AW
Dress-for-less - AW
E2save - AW
Eden4flowers - AW DGM
Electric Shop - AW AF
EmpireDirect - AW
EPCBuyer - AF
Equitalk - DGM
Euroffice - POR AW AF
Furniture 123 - BUY.AT AW
Gamebookers - DGM
Germanwings - AW
Goldfish loans - DGM
Greenfingers - AW
HiFiBitZ - AW
Ink Factory - AW
InkClub - AW
John Lewis - DGM
Life 180 Loans - AW DGM
Linguaphone - DGM
Littlewoods Extra - BUY.AT
Littlewoods Index - BUY.AT
Lloyds TSB insurance - DGM
Loaded 247 - AW
Loopy Lotto - AW
Loopy Love - AW
Lucky Surf - AF
Lycos - AW
Lycos WebCentre - AW
Mailbox Movies - AW AF
MemoriseThis - AW
More Than Car Insurance - DGM
Musicroom - DGM
Myoffers - DGM
MyOffers - AW
MyPixMania - AF
Newitts N4Sports - BUY.AT DGM
NTL - BUY.AT DGM AW
Ocado - DGM
Oddbins - BUY.AT AW
OpinionWorld - AW
Panasonic eShop - POR AW
Pitney Bowes - DGM AF
Pixmania UK - AW AF
Playandwin - AW
Pricerunner - AW AF
Screen Select - AF
Screwfix - DGM
Sporting Index - AW
Sportingbet - DGM AW
SportingOdds - AW
Talkworld - DGM AW
Telewest - DGM
ThanksDarling - AF
The Ink Factory - AF
Thedailydraw - DGM AW
Tights Please - AW AF
Tooled Up - AW
Virgin Wines - DGM BUY.AT
VistaPrint - AW
Vouch 4 Me - POR
Yes Car Credit - DGM


AF = Affiliate Future
AW = Affiliate Window
BUY.at = BUY.at
DGM = Deal Group Media
OMG = Online Media Group
POR = Paid On Results

We are awaiting a list from OMG
When we do, these shall be added accordingly

If any are left out please let us know, and we can update accordingly

This is only stage 1 (c) of the 10 Stage Campaign

[jess1]

Qui Gon Gin: Have you taken down all your TD links yet?

[Qui Gon Jinn]

I am continually swapping links, I think most have been done, unless we come across any rogue ones which we will do from time to time.

TD merchants not on other networks will continue to receive incidental (just a small amount of) traffic, but we are not going to go out of our way to promote any merchants on TD to their fullest potential, no matter how good a rapport with have the merchant or potential of the program.

Those programs on dual networks, one of which an ethical network will be promoted more or less as normal.

Merchants we see taking a proactive rather than just vocal (do nothing) stance, will be heavily promoted by us.

Why should an affiliate go to the effort of promoting a merchant on an unethical network, if that merchant is NOT going to any effort or assisting an affiliates fight against spyware?

When in fact spyware affects merchants more than it does affiliates. How can they be so blinkered not to realise this?

For a program to flourish there is meant to be a synergy between the two.

One problem I see is that a majority of affiliate managers are not relaying information on spyware to senior management, it should be pre-requisite for the job to be knowledgeable about this and responsible for protecting their brands indentity, CPA & ROI. Perhaps some are afraid of job security, but if they don't inform them then affiliates will, it's their own fault for not doing their job correctly or receive backlash at a later stage from their bosses.

Merchants should just be careful before they get tarred with the same brush as spyware, which they will do sooner rather than later with the gradual increase of press coverage and press releases.

Merchants on ethical networks are given priority receiving our attention and we are promoting them more effectively. As a result we have founds some real undiscovered gems and are benefiting from this.

Yes, it has taken time and effort but I would rather have a clearer conscience than be TOO LAZY to swap links. It's a matter of principle.

Income has not suffered as a result as this is being distributed among the ethical networks, in some instances we have seen an improved conversion rate, which in theory shouldn't be the case.

[harris1]

Qui Gon Jinn, they have obviously annoyed you big time. I have obviously missed this, what broke the camels back ?

I would just like to add that where possible I no longer use CJ or TD.

[getvisible]

just going to go limited, get offices and take on staff. The later of which will greatly help my removal of "spyware-friendly" networks.

so let's get them off. It's hardwork but will be great when we can say that we don't use spyware networks.

[jess1]

One problem I see is that a majority of affiliate managers are not relaying information on spyware to senior management, it should be pre-requisite for the job to be knowledgeable about this and responsible for protecting their brands indentity, CPA & ROI. Perhaps some are afraid of job security, but if they don't inform them then affiliates will, it's their own fault for not doing their job correctly or receive backlash at a later stage from their bosses.

Im just asking, so dont take this the wrong way, if it ever crossed your mind that perhaps the affiliate managers are relaying the info to their bosses but their bosses just look at where the money is coming from? I have said from day one, there will always be a problem where big revenue is concerned. The other aspect is having invested time and money in to building an affiliate network. To add another network or to drop one network in favour of another can not, in most cases be done at a moments notice and will require "time and effort" Just some food for thought.

I think another problem that is likely, is that if an affiliate is generating £15K per month from one merchant, who is not on an "ethical" network... Do you suppose that affiliate will kiss that £15k per month goodbye?

The dilema most affiliate managers have is keeping everyone happy and providing suitable alternatives where possible...

[loquax]

To add another network or to drop one network in favour of another can not, in most cases be done at a moments notice and will require "time and effort"

I'm confused by this - perhaps I don't understand things so well - but week in/week out we see 'small' merchants being able to sign up on more than one network without any problems whatsoever.

Adding another network surely cannot be that difficult for any merchant if they so wanted to?

Jason

[harris1]

Well just discovered that you cant use redirects with TD links at all anymore apparently.

If I can independetly track links I am not using them at all anymore. Unfortunately a number of the mearchants I have with them are unique and not available elsewhere.

[Darren]

Who says/where does it say we can't use redirects anymore, Harris1?

[TD Nick]

[this is a copy of another post on another thread]

Hi Harris1,

100's of publishers use database driven sites, this method would not cause a problem with tracking. Please contact our support team who can check if there is anything amiss on your sites or implementation.

Just to recap, TradeDoubler do not drop a cookie for every click, if you already have the TradeDoubler cookie on your machine we simply take the unique ID stored inside it and update a table in our database with the rest of the click transaction details.

Kind regards,

Nick

[jess1]

Jason:

Adding another network surely cannot be that difficult for any merchant if they so wanted to?

Depends on how quickly you can get your tech to implement the tracking code... for a small to medium company the turn around may be quick but for larger companies there usually is a list of things to do... the next thing is ensuring that the merchant is not paying out twice the commissions. Paper work, passing the TS and Cs to lawyers. Testing the program then putting together a stratergy plan.... I am not talking about ASOS.com I am talking about setting up a program in general. Yes, some merchants can chop and change at a moments notice but some others can not.

Which is why working for yourself can have its advantages re swapping links.... you don't have to go through multiple channels to seek permission.

Just a different perspective on things

[Fraser]

It's always interesting to hear your thoughts Jess and you are right that it does give a different perspective which is great

You give some good points about the problems of eliminating spyware, how would you suggest we approach the issue? Are there ways you think we could be more effective?

Feel free to ignore this question as I am putting you on the spot but what are your thoughts on the stance TD has taken?

[harris1]

Well I have just finished testing all of my TD links. And I have found that some are leaving cookies with the server transfer some are not.

But more interstingly some of my normal TD links are not leaving a cookie either.

Nick have you made any changes in the last 3 - 6 days that could be causing problems with tracking ?

I have deleted all my cookies before testing the links. Also checked the error logs on TD nothing much there.

If you say there is no problem using redirects fair enough. But someone else from TD has been on here saying the opposite, so you can see why I am getting excited.

[jess1]

Fraser: Im glad you asked that question

I think it is common knowledge that ASOS.com will not partner (knowingly) with any one or anything that will get in the way of our customers being able to make a sale. We have made it known to TradeDoubler.com that we do not agree with them supporting companies like 180 solutions, with or without the addendum in place. But TradeDoubler.com is a profit making business and I understand why they are continuing to work with such partners, which is the very reason why some merchants will continue to work with these guys n gals, as I have said b4 we are not talking about small sums of money. The problem is one of merchants and possibly TD of not looking at the long term, rather, making decisions based on the short term. I have every confidence and Ill bet you £10.00 that these kind of companies will be squashed by law suites and if not law suites then through lack of funds, or they will make another bit of kit that does some thing legal. Or no merchant will touch them. In my mind it has never been a question of if, rather then when we see the back of these companies.

Another angle I see this from is the confusion that surrounds companies like 180 and ewallet... some affiliates are still confused and still dont know what the difference is. It does take a while to get your head around it, if you’re not technical.

Another perspective from where I sit is that affiliates are here in the forum telling other affiliates about how they have taken all their TD & CJ Links down yet these same affiliates are still promoting those very merchants that they have said that they have removed. There is a degree of hipocracy which merchants & ASPS can see, yet we are not allowed to breech confidentiality and name and shame. As I said in my previous post, do you think affiliates are really going to take down the links that make them a living? I know I wouldn't (just being honnest)

The way forward is to keep the dialogue open, keep talking to TD about your concerns, keep talking to the merchants but if you start bullying or become aggressive.... or jumping to absurd conclusions you loose! So keep your cool. In short, fraser there is no quick fix.... this will take time!

And just b4 I watch East Enders, give the majority of merchants and affiliate managers a little more credit.... just because we are not as vocal as some affiliates does not mean we are any less interested :0)

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Jess, I think the main focus has been on Swapping Links and focusing more on promoting merchants on other networks as there are often more viable and better alternatives rather than the actual removal of every CJ and TD merchant from an affiliates site.

Dialogue had been going on continuosly but with TD & CJ this has almost reached exhaustion. That is why more dialogue is taking place with merchants. If networks choose to drag their heels, discussion with merchants is a better approach as they hold more leverage.

Within affiliate marketing, what is most important.

(a) The affiliate merchant relationship

(b) The affiliate network relationship

(c) The merchant network relationship

...(a) of course