Credit where it’s due, well done Next and i-Level
The Next affiliate programme has, its fair to say taken a bit of a beating of late. One of my main concerns (and other’s too) was that they didn’t participate in any form of dialogue with affiliates and chose to keep quiet whilst we were all in uproar.
However that changed in mid March when a representative from i-Level started a thread in the A4U Forum. Hats off to Fiona, this is what we wanted. She hung around too, and while I’m sure she didn’t appease all affiliates she did a good job trying.
Then today, I and other affiliates received an email from Roz at Buy.at detailing some conference calls and an affiliate day that i-Level/Next and Buy.at are planning.
Here’s an extract from the email:
The Next affiliates team would like to invite affiliates to participate in a series of sessions which aim to address the current issues surrounding the programme. We hope that through open discussion we will be able to address any concerns; understand affiliate requirements; and move the programme forward for all involved.
Conference Calls – w/c 7th April 2008
We will be holding a number of conference calls during w/c 7th April. Dates and times will be subject to interest.
Suggested topics of discussion are as follows:
The Online Marketing Mix
• Where affiliates fit in with overall strategy
• Competitor brand bidding
•Affiliate brand bidding
Commission structure
• Directory program vs Transactional commission, conversions and EPC
• Transactional - why we pay what we do & what we are working towards
• Flexibility & Bonuses
Understanding Affiliate Promotions
• Why we need to know where the traffic is coming from
• The application form process
• Affiliate requests based on type (incentive, PPC etc)
Consumer Incentives
If you feel that we have missed anything please let us know so we can add it to the agenda.
Affiliate Event – 25th April
Following on from the conference calls we would like to invite affiliates to an evening event on Friday 25th April 2008 at i-level’s offices in London. Here we aim to address the following:
• All of the above issues and any resolutions which come out of the conference calls
• Who’s who on the team
• Next’s sales channels
• Consumer demographics
• Above and below the line advertising with timelines
• Panel discussion
Affiliates have the opportunity to propose a few questions prior to the event to get the panel discussion moving.
We aim to keep the presentation and discussion to 90 minutes. We also have a room booked in local bar for refreshments and networking afterwards.
I’m really pleased that i-Level and Next are facing their recent challenges head on. Let’s hope that the people who feel passionately about the recent problems attend the event or at least the conference calls. If anybody wants any more information about this then please get in touch with Roz Fenwick at Buy.at.
What I’m listening to right now: Musiq Soulchild Ft Estelle – “People Everyday”
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Affiliate Marketing. 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.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:23 am
Great blog post K, as usual.
Is this Next v. affiliate meeting going to be on Pay Per View television?
Nevermind £15, I’ll gladly pay £50 for it as it’s going to be a bigger punch up than the Ali v. Freeman Rumble in the Jungle half a century ago.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:57 am
At last, good quality, in-depth thought process that looks as though it may lead to some thoroughly challenging debate, discussion and feedback. Hopefully, they’ll listen (& talk) and deliver some effective changes to the way they operate. Well done to all involved .. we got there in the end!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am
Although I promote Next, I won’t be involved in the talks but it will be interetsing to see the outcome.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am
Although I promote Next, I won’t be involved in the talks but it will be interesting to see the outcome.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Hi,
Have remained silent on all the Next issues throughout the whole transition from Awin to other networks.
It’s a huge shame that Next couldn’t support their network at the time when we were crying out for communication - indeed the whole debacle could have been avoided had our words been heeded.
Having worked in the industry for five years however it isn’t uncommon that certain networks get burnt unfairly.
I hope they do finally listen rather than see any feedback from their network/affiliates as an attack on their reputation.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
[...] affiliates as “polluters” and kicking established affiliates off their program and even dropping their network - see comment from Kevin Edwards) because they dared to voice concerns about the [...]
April 21st, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’m don’t really care about what they do because I’m not promoting Next. I do think it’s a good idea and maybe other merchants so do the same.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
[...] was backed up when iLevel held a teleconference in early April to respond to the heavy criticism the affiliate programme has received. The [...]