I wanted to share my thoughts and experience about coupon sites from a merchant, affiliate network and affiliate\u2019s perspective, this is how I see the coupon world within the affiliate marketing industry and why it still remains a hot topic.<\/p>\n
From my research (please feel free to jump in and correct me) Asa Candler started the US coupon phenomena in 1895 and American has had over 100 years in which to turn this into an American institution, coupons are nothing new and most if not all online and offline businesses here in the USA have \u201cspecial offers\u201d, all the coupon sites are doing is using technology to advertise what is, mostly, already in the public domain.<\/p>\n
The merchant\u2019s perspective (true examples)
\nHere is where conflict can occur and can still be seen happening today.<\/p>\n
1. Coupon sites that rank above the merchant in the search engines. I have heard a number of merchants complain about this as and when it happens. Whilst it is clear to us that the merchant can\u2019t blame the coupon site from out ranking them, I can see how some merchants would not be too happy. What this tells me is that the Merchants had not researched or been advised about the impact it may have on their natural page ranking by working with a strongly positioned coupon site. I wonder\u2026 did the merchant know at the time that he\/she had the option not to work with coupon sites. This raises another question, should the role of an affiliate network be advising \u201cnew to the industry \u201cmerchants about the impact they may have on their own search engine listings. I\u2019ll be generous and assume that all outsourced affiliate agencies would be advising their clients of such a possibility.<\/p>\n
2. The coupon site that goes ahead and lists the merchant\u2019s website without having joined the merchants program. Why would a coupon site do this? The competition between coupons sites is fierce, that\u2019s a given.\u00a0 A strongly positioned coupon site in the search engine can list a new merchant\u2019s offering within minutes. The coupon site now having out ranked the merchant is in a position where by they are essentially bullying the merchant into giving them a coupon \u201cIt\u2019s better to work with that coupon site if they are coming up before you\u201d, I have heard being said. \u201cnew to the industry\u201d Merchants have very little recourse and of course this will sour their views on coupon sites.<\/p>\n