Affiliate Window rant
Affiliate Window, I love you guys but this has got to stop.
Every now and again when I try to log into Affiliate Window I get an *urgent* message that pops up and then stops me from logging into the system until I type “I CONFIRM” into a text box. Usually these messages are from merchants who have a change in their policies or commission structure. Now I’m all for communication from networks and merchants but this is just *too* intrusive.
Whats wrong with sending out a normal email to your affiliates? We do read them you know. This current system that you employ *really* bugs me and I just don’t see a business need for it. No other network in the UK does this so come on guys, please lose it.
Does everyone agree?
What I’m listening to right now: Various - “PopChop - Cut up or shut up! The remix project 2″
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007 at 8:44 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Welcome to my blog. My name is Kieron Donoghue and I run UK Offer Media Ltd. I thought it would be fun to post a daily (well hopefully daily) blog, writing about my experiences in Internet Marketing and more specifically Affiliate Marketing. I'll include some personal stuff too, probably about my other passions, music and cars. Please feel free to post your comments and thoughts too.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I can see your perspective whereby it may seem instrusive in the sense that its the first thing you after you have logged in. But at least we are being notified & can confirm we have read it. All too frequently keyword policies are changed without any form of notification, or non receipt of email from network or merchant. Worse culprits in the past i feel for this are Tradedoubler, Buy.at & DGM. I think adding this extra communication layer ensures receipt of message and allows affiliates to be correctly informed about changes, whilst a few other networks sneakily claim they were there originally. What I always suggest is a screen capture any page with ppc policies & time stamp it. Because there are bound to be a few occasions where you need to protect your hide & pull it out of the archives. Generally I think there should be greater use of communicating within interface, with options to opt in to promotion correspondence from merchants we want to receive from as well as compulsary notifications like keyword policy changes that we can now see on AW. On the whole I think their idea is good and endorse it in principle.
P.S. Great Blog & Good Health to You
February 21st, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Hi,
I agree with the first comment.
It maybe annoying but changing the programme’s rules is big deal. A) Affiliates needs to know the rules of the game, so they dont break them. b) Merchants need to have evidence that the affiliates have read and accepted the new terms otherwise affiliate could break all the new programme guidelines then when it came to a court case they could just say “i was never told that the rules where changed”.
Its a pain but a necessary pain.
February 21st, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I agree that mercghant program terms are important but I still don’t see why email can’t be used to communicate this. For double insurance then maybe a hyperlink in the email that the user must click on to approve the terms.
I just really don’t like the way AW are doing it at the moment.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Yeah I think Kieron has a point. An email with a link plus then they can see who is actually active.
I personally find it annoying though. I am all for ease of flow when its comes to thought and usually I am after something quick if I am logging in. Don’t want to be interupted.
Regards,
monk-i
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:23 am
I’m sitting on the fence on this one. I totally understand why Affiliate Window do this, and also agree with the reasons and welcome their approach to making it a fair playing field to one and all.
But…
I completely agree with how annoying the system/process is. I am a true believer in that any communication should be done by email, and email alone. This is MY chosen communication method and I don’t want to be in a position of logging into every network on a daily basis making sure I haven’t missed any CONFIRM THIS or CONFIRM THAT. I simply don’t have the time!
I would be interested if you submission of ‘I bloody confirm now sod off’ was submitted, and if so, was it accepted?
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Hi,
I totally agree with you.
Its getting really annoying.
Matt.
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I am lucky, I have have 5 different members of staff for my Affiliate company and the first one to get on to the AW accounts is the first one to type I AGREE.. shame the rest of us have no idea what they agreed to.. I think this was a nice try but back to the drawing board.
February 25th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Kieron - thank you for bringing this subject up… it’s been annoying the hell out of me!
I signed up to nearly all of the Affiliate Window merchants (most of them I have yet to work with) and to have to jump through these ridiculous hoops just to check my balance or latest clicks is insane!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 am
Hmmm it’s a tough one from a Merchant perspective. I can see both sides of the argument and I don’t really know if there is a solution that will suit everyone. Whilst emailing and getting affiliates to click a link to agree to the term, what will the merchant do if they don’t, kick them off the program? I reckon if I did a trial on something like this less than 5% of people would click the link.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
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