Comments on: Selecting an affiliate network http://www.mabailey.co.uk/selecting-an-affiliate-network/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selecting-an-affiliate-network My thoughts about affiliate marketing and online in general Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:12:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Matt Stewart http://www.mabailey.co.uk/selecting-an-affiliate-network//comment-page-1#comment-311 Matt Stewart Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:47:52 +0000 http://www.mabailey.co.uk/?p=322#comment-311 Whilst money issues are important, i'd say the single most infuriating factor from networks is a lack of timely and informative responses when there are problems with programs, payments, and just about anything else that can go wrong. The affiliate game is one which relies on a fair amount of trust - dealing with people you are unlikely to ever meet, trusting tracking systems etc, and most affiliates aren't stupid - "we'll look into it and get back to you ASAP" usually followed up a day or two later with some kind of formulaic excuse (if at all) doesn't wash. I certainly appreciate that things can often go wrong, but also appreciate it when that is acknowledged by the network, and i am being told all the details and how it's going to be resolved, rather than being ignored until the problem is sorted out. Whilst money issues are important, i’d say the single most infuriating factor from networks is a lack of timely and informative responses when there are problems with programs, payments, and just about anything else that can go wrong.
The affiliate game is one which relies on a fair amount of trust – dealing with people you are unlikely to ever meet, trusting tracking systems etc, and most affiliates aren’t stupid – “we’ll look into it and get back to you ASAP” usually followed up a day or two later with some kind of formulaic excuse (if at all) doesn’t wash. I certainly appreciate that things can often go wrong, but also appreciate it when that is acknowledged by the network, and i am being told all the details and how it’s going to be resolved, rather than being ignored until the problem is sorted out.

]]> By: Paul Newton http://www.mabailey.co.uk/selecting-an-affiliate-network//comment-page-1#comment-308 Paul Newton Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:25:52 +0000 http://www.mabailey.co.uk/?p=322#comment-308 Matt, There is an exposure to bad debt in this case but that's my job to manage that. If I don't get it right I get sacked, its as simple as that! There is no better stick to beat merchants with than to threaten closure of a programme due to none payment and explain to affiliates WHY. The trust affiliates have in that merchant will be gone for a long time and so cheques that were "stuck in the system" miraculously get released. Our view has always been that affiliates can trust us and that trust is worth its weight in gold and so we try our level best not to let anyone down. Paul Matt,
There is an exposure to bad debt in this case but that’s my job to manage that. If I don’t get it right I get sacked, its as simple as that!
There is no better stick to beat merchants with than to threaten closure of a programme due to none payment and explain to affiliates WHY. The trust affiliates have in that merchant will be gone for a long time and so cheques that were “stuck in the system” miraculously get released.
Our view has always been that affiliates can trust us and that trust is worth its weight in gold and so we try our level best not to let anyone down.

Paul

]]> By: admin http://www.mabailey.co.uk/selecting-an-affiliate-network//comment-page-1#comment-307 admin Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:58:47 +0000 http://www.mabailey.co.uk/?p=322#comment-307 Hi Paul, Great points and I know that buy.at have always been very proactive in addressing innovative ways to ensure that affiliates get paid when they want and how they want. However, does this approach not leave you exposed if a large merchant were to go bust? Appreciate it's a problem that all networks face and it's interesting to see how the different networks approach it. I feel a separate blog post coming up. Matt Hi Paul,

Great points and I know that buy.at have always been very proactive in addressing innovative ways to ensure that affiliates get paid when they want and how they want. However, does this approach not leave you exposed if a large merchant were to go bust? Appreciate it’s a problem that all networks face and it’s interesting to see how the different networks approach it. I feel a separate blog post coming up.

Matt

]]> By: Paul Newton http://www.mabailey.co.uk/selecting-an-affiliate-network//comment-page-1#comment-299 Paul Newton Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:01:26 +0000 http://www.mabailey.co.uk/?p=322#comment-299 Matt, Here at buy.at we took the decision that we would stick with one payment run per month but give assurances to our affiliates that the payment would be made even if we are having problems with collecting the cash from the merchant. We see that debt collection is our job, not something that affiliates should be concerned about. I guess its horses for courses....do you want the chance to be paid two weeks earlier possibly or once per month, on time for certain? Regards Paul Matt,

Here at buy.at we took the decision that we would stick with one payment run per month but give assurances to our affiliates that the payment would be made even if we are having problems with collecting the cash from the merchant.

We see that debt collection is our job, not something that affiliates should be concerned about. I guess its horses for courses….do you want the chance to be paid two weeks earlier possibly or once per month, on time for certain?

Regards

Paul

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