Enter Nik Kershaw lookalike Mr Neil Mitchell, my AM’s and his boss’ colleague!

At the A4UAwards, knowing that there was an issue, Neil went out of his way to listen to our complaints and after returning back to his office started to look into what was happening. He managed to achieve more in one afternoon than his colleagues did in 2 months, including getting things tracking!

He subsequently then went out of his way to figure out why our commission was always 0 and it was only yesterday that he finally cracked the case regarding our lost commission - which has been AWOL since 5th April.

Sadly, just 24 hours later, Neil tweeted that the bingo and casino side of Affiliates United was moving to Israel and that he was out of a job. An insane move by Aff United as from my point of view, Neil was the only trustworthy person I’ve dealt with on that network. It will be very difficult to work with them going forward as they seem to have no interest in looking after their affiliates.

So someone please offer Neil Mitchell an affiliate manager’s job

He’s hard working, keeps his word and goes out of his way to maintain good affiliate/partner relationships as well as protecting his employer’s brand. How he remained committed to William Hill and Affiliates United when all around him weren’t I don’t know.

Neil Mitchell is, at least from what I’ve encountered, an asset to affiliate marketing, and I’m pretty sure he will be snapped up by a company who truly deserves him. William Hill and Affiliates United loss will be someone else’s gain.

I’m blogging about it now as, regardless, there’s grounds of an interesting discussion about who gets last referrer!

The problem came to light when a splash page (a special landing page for affiliates) was changed by the merchant for the umpteenth time. I like to know my visitors can reach the site that we’re telling them about, but with the latest splash page version they can’t. They have to click “register” then follow a link in a pop up box. It all seems a bit of a faff to me and so an email was sent in questioning the brains behind such logic.

It turns out that this set up is required because if a visitor clicks your link (therefore setting a 45 day cookie) and doesn’t register - the merchant can’t track the fact you set the cookie unless the user returns to the splash page.

What that seems to mean is if your visitor clicks your links (therefore setting a 45 day cookie) and doesn’t register, but then returns to the merchant site (e.g. via a non-affiliated link like browser type in or via a free search link) then your cookie becomes irrelevant as the merchant can’t track the fact that you were the last referrer.

In fact what happens is that if your player goes via a type in or free search link they actually end up on a different splash page, and if they click register the last referrer becomes the merchant not the affiliate. This makes the 45 day cookie totally and utterly redundant unless your player returns to the affiliate splash page.

Assuming I’ve grasped the right end of the stick is this acceptable?

If I send a user to a site, burn a cookie, and at some point they return to register and my cookie still holds first place then I’d expect that to be honoured. I wouldn’t expect that the merchant would create a boundary in the form of a splash page so that the cookie is, in my view, forcibly discarded.

I really hope I’ve misunderstood the practice, but early signs are it is what’s happening and may well explain why this merchant, as a big brand, isn’t as good as you’d perhaps expect.

Anyway, I’d love to hear your views.

Perhaps someone has heard about similar practices, is it normal practice or is there validity in the method described? Should affiliate cookies be superseded by type in or free search referral? Or is there a possibility that a major brand merchant is behaving in a dubious way?

Keith Bond and Lee McCoy have already blogged their thoughts on what Darwin may entail, but are they right?

The teasers from Awin are based around quotes from Darwin like “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge it is those who know little, and not those who know much who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.”

My initial reaction was that Awin were intending to bring back TV game show 3-2-1 (dodgy 80s programme featuring Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin where contestants could win a car or a dustbin by solving impossible clues - a kind of forerunner for Saturday Takeaway but without Ant and Dec).

That may still be the case but after carefully analysing the above quote for over 5 hours I’m no closer to figuring out whether I’m going to get a Ford Fiesta or the booby prize - perhaps I’ll reject this one and hope for a better clue.

So there must be more to it.. and where better to get inspiration than the You Tube!

Can watching a bunch of videos on Evolution and Darwin help shed any light on what’s going on over at Affiliate Window?

Sir David Attenborough seemed to know about evolution but doesn’t mention Awin - so no help there!

Bill Hicks didn’t help much either, but he’s funnier than Attenborough when it comes to evolution!

There’s a possibility that Prezzybox are involved as Zak surely is voicing over this evolution animation?

But it seems that the answer lies in this video….

Perhaps Awin have unearthed this YouTube clip and realised that all affiliates are really geeks and that their days are numbered unless they start to evolve into more “normal people”.

Maybe Awin have scientifically proven, after years of study by “Dr” Kevin Edwards, that affiliates need to go out into the sunlight occasionally, sleep proper hours, get away from their computers, and interact with other people at various affiliate events taking place during the rest of 2009.

Darwin, therefore, is Awin’s cunning plan to make sure affiliates attend at least one event from the following: A4U Roadshows, Networking Event - London, Existem AM Plymouth BBQ, A4UExpo.

Awin want their affiliates to get outside and mix with others in AM. They don’t their affiliates staying in behind their PCs making them inward thinkers when it comes to affiliate marketing pursuits.

And in true 3-2-1 style, the proof of the pudding is that if you evolve from being inward to being outward then you’ve transformed. An anagram involves the transformation of letters, and if you transform the letters that make up the word ‘inward’ you get …. Darwin!

Could this really be Affiliate Window, Darwin And Evolution Uncovered?

Anyway, the exclusivity nonsense aside, it’s surely time networks and merchants devised a better set of plans for dealing with the wholesale booting of “voucher code affiliates” from promoting them.

Currently it seems networks and merchants favour Plan A, but perhaps there’s room for a Plan B?

Plan A

Dear Code Affiliate,

We’ve decided to stop offering voucher codes. However, we’re also unable to grasp the fact that you may run more than one website and have also decided that you are incapable of removing a site from your code directory.

To this extent we’re no longer going to work with you at all as we don’t think you’re intelligent enough to comply with our wishes. May work with you again in the future if this idea goes the way of the pear.

Yours Marketing Genius Merchant

Plan B

Dear Code Affiliate,

We’ve decided to stop offering voucher codes. However, we would still like to work with you in a non-codes capacity, especially if you run other sites that relate to our business. To this extent could you please remove our site from your code directory within the next 7 days and inform us of the changes.

We will then be in touch to offer alternative suggestions on how we can continue to work together in a non-code way. Unfortunately if the listing isn’t removed then we will have to regretfully terminate our affiliate agreement.

Yours Marketing Genius Merchant

Surely Plan B is better than Plan A?

Both have the same message, except Plan B offers a bit of an olive branch to the affiliate to maintain a working relationship with the merchant. Many affiliates run multiple sites, including code sites, just to cover their bases as various factors over the years have conspired to drive revenue into other areas of affiliate marketing.

We’d all love to concentrate on content this or blog that, but the simple fact is many affiliates need to run code sites and cashback sites in addition to other sites. In other words, we need to run different kinds of sites just to get a finger tip in the affiliate marketing revenue pie.

Kicking off an affiliate just because you, as a merchant, deems them a “code affiliate” is often blinkered and shows an inherent distrust of the affiliate you’ve been doing business with. It’s not good!

If a merchant doesn’t want to appear on our site they just have to ask… it’s not a puzzle so why do merchants/networks make life so difficult for themselves and for affiliates?

We have things set up on Loquax that if asked, in most cases, one click and all merchant offers are switched off or even removed… we work in what we believe is an appropriate way, so it’d be nice if we were treated with a bit more respect.

In fact AM is moving at the speed of Twitter and I swear that one day in the future there will be ex-siteowners, affiliates and online entrepreneurs reduced to something resembling Father Jack from Father Ted…. and here are just a handful of reasons why!

Drink! Why can’t merchants stick to using one tracking platform or at least make sure that the old links still work indefinately on their new one? I’ve changed so many links this week it feels like I’ve written a whole new site. Yes I know our links should be databased but hey…

Drink! And if a merchant changes tracking platforms which results in commission and sign ups being significantly different on the new system versus the old system isn’t that actually a good indicator that something is perhaps wrong and may need investigating? Surely that’s obvious?

Drink! And why do merchants keep messing about with landing pages? It’s all well and good that they look pretty and convey an important message but if our visitors can’t actually get to your website from the landing page it’s kinda pointless isn’t it? It’s like turning up the O.K. Coral and not being able to have a gunfight.

Drink! Talking of changing links, why do some merchants open on one network then on another then on another etc? Surely it makes sense to get the program working properly on one network first before just opening up willy nilly all over the place. Makes no sense to me!

Drink! And what’s worse than the above is when a merchant who runs their own network totally ignores their affiliate emails but next thing you know they are launching their “standalone” products on a network. All I want is a bit of chit chat from the affiliate manager!!

Surely life should be easier than this?

Anyway the sun is shining so perhaps it’s time to put the old feet up, enjoy a nice glass of red wine and forget about the trials and tribulations of AM for an afternoon!

What’s that? We have no Rioja and who wants their links changing?

Ah f…….!

Footnote: Some of you may have never heard of Father Ted. It was a Channel 4 comedy programme that featured three priests (Ted, Jack and Dougal) and a housekeeper. Well worth watching if you’ve never seen it!

So there was I all togged up in a tuxedo for nowt…

Nowt but a good time that is (nice things being said on OLD = plan to win Blog Award for 2010).

Firstly a big thanks to the three time award winning agency Existem AM for inviting myself and Jude to their table. You guys are really deserving of the accolades you get and it was also great to see Hannah honoured as best affiliate manager. Very well deserved.

It might have been the copious amounts of red wine I’d drank and slight delirium brought on by Lemsip, but I thought all the awards seem to go to those that deserved them. I was especially pleased to see DGM amongst the highly commended although everyone has a battle on their hands to topple Affiliate Window as the top network.

The vertical awards, at least in my opinion, need a slight tweak - just to encourage more involvement from the affiliate side of things. I’d like to see merchants and networks putting forward affiliates next year for the shortlists as in one case there was just one entry (so well done Bingo Hideout for making the effort).

Whilst these awards most certainly, and quite rightly, celebrate the whole industry it would be great to see more affiliates on those shortlists and being recognised.

The comedian Jason Manford was entertaining, Johnny Vegas on keyboard looked a bit bored though but it was cool that Alan “The Voice of the Balls” did the voice overs for the awards.

Personally I’d have happily sacrificed “the balls” for a bit more veg and a spot of gravy at dinner. Perhaps duck, spuds and broccoli is a big favourite in Bristol, but the plate was screaming out for carrots and to be drowned in something wet.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening and it was great to catch up with some of the real “old school” people like Malcolm, Tyson and James Cooper (he’s on telly you know - 1pm Channel 5, not that he mentioned it) as well as the usual suspects who make being in the industry a lot of fun.

Nice one as ever to Matt and his Existem team for a great event and a very big well done to all winners, highly commended and nominees (not even a bloomin’ graphic to add to the site… sob).

Other blogs about A4UAwards 2009

Photos of the Event
Hannah’s Paltrowesque Thanks
Kirsty wins Best Affiliate Blog (humph - must add spiders - lol)
Lee is Second Best Blogger (double humph - must mention Barbados - lol)
Webgains are highly commended
DGM are highly commended
Prezzybox want someone else to win next year
Skimlinks get 3 awards
Awin Celebrate with Skimlinks

Whilst any domain can be developed into a reputable site, gain recognition, backlinks, authority etc. over time, a bit of forethought about brand identity is in my opinion worth considering when starting off a new site.

A brand doesn’t have to be off the wall like Loquax. It can be generic like “Voucher Codes” or “Red Widgets”, but something a little different can often help you stand out from the crowd.

Take Lee’s Easter Eggs site for example (sorry Lee). Whilst he’s obviously done well with the generic hyphenated .org.uk version of Easter Eggs, could he have done as well or even better being say “IAmTheEggMan.co.uk” - ok that’s a bit of a lame name (and the domain is already taken), but you get the idea. It’s now something that’s not so generic, but a bit more brand identifiable.

Lee would still have the same excellent content and reviews but under a different umbrella it could possibly have helped make the site more memorable in terms of the media - as well as offer opportunities for branding (tshirts, chocolate bars) for users - something many affiliates overlook when starting out on new sites.

When we started Loquax developing a brand wasn’t at the back of our minds, nor was the fact that having an off beat name is quite useful when it comes to search engines. In fact we decided on a non competition or prize related name simply because at the time (1998) we could only afford to buy the one domain name. If the competitions thing didn’t work we could simply switch the site’s focus to something else.

For many affiliates domains are now cheap and disposable items that can be discarded once they’ve served their purpose or if they’ve failed to do as expected in the Google world. However, if you’re struggling to find that niche domain or generic-word.org.uk site that you so desire why not start thinking about coming up with a brand instead?

For us having an identity has been a huge asset and perhaps has been an integral part of the longevity of the site.

As you might imagine that news topped off what was already a memorable day.

So a big thank you to everyone at Bigmouthmedia for the prize and also for running the initiative. Thanks go to the judges, to the people who nominated and of course all those who read the ramblings of an affiliate here on One Little Duck.

I’m still in shock but genuinely pleased to have won.

Of course I don’t write this blog for awards (or for money come to think of it, d’oh), but it is nice to get some recognition. The last award I personally received was in 1997 and that was for geochemistry! The upside of all this is I’m over the moon and yes for once affiliate’s Mr Grumpy is as happy as Larry.

The downside is it does mean that I’m going to have to carry blogging on OLD with my views on affiliate marketing.

Thanks once again to Bigmouthmedia…

… the week could only get better if there was some positive news about the fortunes of Southampton FC…

… well what do you know?!

We used to promote Blackpool Club Bingo via the old Webroute Services system. All went well and it proved to be a reasonably ok program. However, when the program moved to the new William Hill merged Affiliate United network our links had to be changed. This was dutifully done and suddenly, almost to the day, commissions stopped.

Since April 5th we’ve earnt nothing from this program.

Having chatted to other affiliates they seem to be ok - so perhaps it’s just our links that aren’t working! Which is more than a little odd. We’ve been in contact with the affiliate manager but almost 2 months down the line we’re no further forward in understanding why my links don’t work, why revshare from previous sign ups aren’t earning, and what the hell is happening.

It’s a case for Mulder and Scully this one!

For a program to suddenly stop generating commission suggests something has changed. But what could have changed? Is it a cookie issue - you’d think not if other affiliates are tracking ok! Is the new system designed to track revshare as the guys I’ve spoke too are on CPA deals? Was the old system tracking properly? Or has something on my account been changed that we’re not being told about or that is known about?

Who knows… ?

What I do know is that I don’t expect to be kept in the dark for two months when a program that earns suddenly stops. It’s also a bit confusing that the network doesn’t seem too motivated to resolve the issue. If my understanding of the situation is correct the affiliate manager has done what he can but is now stuck between annoyed affiliate and inert technical support.

It’s a classic example of why affiliates get frustrated and have to resort to sharing their experiences to act as a warning to others.

See also Blackpool Club Bingo downturn? over on A4U.

I think that’s fair enough.

I’ve been having some issues of late which has resulted in a good merchant becoming a terrible one. Admittedly I’ve given the AM involved a hard time but if you go from a few quid commission each month to nothing it can be just that tad annoying. However, it’s not the AM’s fault that they’ve been landed with an inept new system. Hopefully it’ll be sorted!

As an affiliate you want to feel that the AM is on your side and when it feels you’re beating your head against a wall or being told stupid answers then it shouldn’t be a surprise that occasionally things can get heated. After all you’re just trying to get things sorted so everyone can go back to earning a living.

Anyway, all this got me thinking… what actually is it like to be an affiliate manager? Are all affiliates really ungrateful so and so’s who berate the affiliate managers and make their lives a misery? What would it like to be an affiliate manager for a day?

Perhaps it’s time networks or agencies encouraged affiliates to see things from their side of the fence with a kind of “bring an affiliate work day”!

Anyway the above video is especially for Neil, who having shaved off his trademark facial hair, is now modelling his hairdo on a young Nik Kershaw!

     

Grow back the Wolverine whiskers man!