Shockingly bad affiliate programs
Shockingly bad affiliate programs should not be allowed in this day and age!
To continue the theme on networks not going the extra mile to ensure all online businesses that they take on have at least some hope of generating sales and commissions for affiliates. I am so appalled by some of the online businesses that have been allowed to set up an affiliate program. Are networks so desperate for the business? Whats wrong with fewer but converting affiliate programs. These poor excuses of affiliate programs does nothing to promote affiliate marketing, on the contrary, it provides the fuel for those vultures whose metrics are based on spending clients budgets with little roi. One particular US network that I used to really rate has done such a U-Turn, I can’t believe that two years on they have done nothing to improve their appearance and functionality. Why is one of the few ethical networks in the US accepting such desperados into their network? I am embarrassed to bring any new clients to them, even though they are such cool people. They say appearance isn’t every thing… oh yes it bloody well is! Image, be it fashion, be it a person and be it a business, looks matter… you don’t need to have a degree in psychology to know that we all make subconscious pre judgements by first time appearances. Decisions are mostly already made and the future sealed based (rightly or wrongly) on first impressions. The irony is that the marketing game is image driven and to present your company in such an unprofessional manner is inexcusable in my personal opinion. Its so frustrating, to see what was the most promising affiliate networks in 2004 make such little headway in the last two years, I really hope this funky little network will see the light and start helping those small struggling online merchants by being brutally honest “Hunny, it aint gonna happen unless you do XYZ”. I know affiliate networks are not business consultants, perhaps there is a new department and jobs to be created within the networks? Its in every ones interest to launch an affiliate program that is going to work or at the very least have some very clear check lists that merchants (Im from the UK and I don’t think there was anything wrong in the terminology merchants and affiliates, advertiser and publisher is so “new meja darling”) have to comply to.
I hope networks read this and really look at who they are accepting. Some times turning a client down and explaining why will be worth its weight in gold. The client will come back because of the professionalism and honesty. Don’t give your client false hope.
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Comments
Look it had breaks when I posted, I hate blogger and it hates me, Ill be doing it all in HTML from now on… arrrrggggg
But yes, I know what you mean…
Hi Jess
I totally know what you mean. I currently work for an agency and am having to fully educate my colleagues on what clients or campaigns are and are not right for affiliate marketing.
Recently I recommended refusing to propose affiliate marketing for a niche mail order firm. Many elements of what could be potentially a very problematic campaign were there: payment as late as 3 months down the line! Data to all be captured on the client’s site, third party tracking, fixed budgets, and expectation to deliver all leads within a short space of time.
For the sake of confidentiality I cannot go into any further detail but suffice to say it had all the signs of a campaign that would not even leave the runway never mind fly.
Mumtaz
Carriage Return? 🙂