What Can The Networks Do Better? Thats Right The Networks Should Be Taking Notes!

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I know how to use the SOAP API with directtrack and it's pretty easy once you get it setup. For most of the networks I work with I am using their webservices to automatically update leads in propser202. Once you have this setup and you can see your ROI on each ad, campaign, etc without doing any manual work you won't go back. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.
 


BTW, "no haggle" prices (carmax) are not the same as "the minimum we'll take". I've bought my most recent vehicle from a no-haggle dealership and I did negotiate for a lower price from them.

The funny part is that you're ok with comparing your industry with used car sleazebags.

C'mon Steve, hold yourself to a higher standard and be innovative. You know that some level of transparency is a good thing for your clients .. it's sad to see you shrugging it off and explaining it away like this.

I'm really not quite sure where anything is "muddy". Networks post a public rate. Affiliates are free to compare public rates network-to-network and pick the best rate and/or negotiate a better one with their network

The public rates are exactly the muddy water & nepotism I'm speaking of. Network payouts are much more fungible than any other price structure that I know of. You really can't see this?
 
For the networks I use, this is what I wish they would do better.

Provide an API, make it public to all affiliates without asking for it so I can use your site with prosper easily (Copea.c and Advalian.t)
Make your site fast and not time out constantly. (Copea.c)
Provide payment history. (Marketleverag.e)
Provide ACH payments instead of wire (almost all networks)

edit, a few more wishes:
Provide a public campaign rate card that is based on volume/quality and not haggling.
Provide a way for the advertisers to report back on what subid is of low-quality so that the affiliate can respond and shut down the corresponding low-performing ads.
 
You do see the minimum we'll take price at Walmart, which is my favorite store, and boy can I not wait for an affiliate network that I love as much as Walmart to come out. I doubt it'll ever happen, but I can hope.


Two thoughts I have on comments on this thread:

......I want to keep this post short and just pull in a real world analogy: you don't see "the minimum we'll take" posted at car dealerships, furniture stores, or even farmer's markets.
 
- I believe that networks should enforce affiliates to use correct links. If there are search links, and you are grabbing email links for your search campaign; then there should be consequences for repeat offenders.
Ok. If there's different payouts on the different types, that's one thing.

But in terms of web vs. search links where the payout is the same?
If anyone really bitched at me over that I would be a little annoyed. But if they offered up 'consequences' for it, I would tell them to go fuck themselves, and change networks.
It's not my job to build up your internal statistics. My job is to get sales and leads. Get it straight.
 
Ok. If there's different payouts on the different types, that's one thing.

But in terms of web vs. search links where the payout is the same?
If anyone really bitched at me over that I would be a little annoyed. But if they offered up 'consequences' for it, I would tell them to go fuck themselves, and change networks.
It's not my job to build up your internal statistics. My job is to get sales and leads. Get it straight.

I just don't quite get why you would use links for another source for your campaign. First of all, I think search links should have banners also, so the affiliates could use those for their landing pages. But if they have an established website, that receives traffic outside of search; then web links/banners should be used.
 
I just don't quite get why you would use links for another source for your campaign. First of all, I think search links should have banners also, so the affiliates could use those for their landing pages. But if they have an established website, that receives traffic outside of search; then web links/banners should be used.
It's not a question of why I would. The point is that it's trivial, not my job, and any network that even considers 'consequences' for it needs to get a reality check.
I'm apparently going to have to spell this out.

ROIShareTeam: (Assuming I was even signed up at your network) would you be...

  1. The Government
  2. My Employer (no, you wouldn't be)
If you answered "no" to both of these you don't get to punish or give consequences to me, or anyone else.

Maybe you need to read up on what affiliates are. Last I checked, we got leads+sales. That's it. It's not my job to organize your data.
 
It's not a question of why I would. The point is that it's trivial, not my job(remember, I get leads?), and any network that even considers 'consequences' for it needs to get a reality check.
I'm apparently going to have to spell this out.

ROIShareTeam: (Assuming I was even sign up at your network) would you be...

  1. The Government
  2. My Employer (no, you wouldn't be)
If you answered "no" to both of these you don't get to punish or give
consequences to me, or anyone else
.

You're taking my words to literal, and not seeing it from my view. if I ask an affiliate 5,6,7 times to use search links instead of email links; and they continually decide to use email links, it raises suspicion on my side.

Let's take the suppression list for example. It's quite known to all affiliates that you are NOT allowed to email market to anyone in that list. So what happens if you do market to them, you get consequences (in most cases your affiliate account is suspended). So even though you are doing the job you are supposed to "generating leads"; there is a protocol to follow. I understand that comparing the suppression list example to asking an affiliate to use correct links is a difference, since it deals with laws.

I'm just trying to point out that I don't see why correct links cannot be used if they are properly presented and easy to find.

I do understand your saying in that we should be doing all the work, and that your job is to generate leads, and that it should only be that; but if affiliates simply used correct links, it would so help in organizing things, and providing better information for everyone. It's not that much to ask.
 
What I want to say lastly is that the "consequences" depends on other factors. If you're the type of affiliates that brings in great quality leads and in good volume; then we wouldn't enforce any additional regulations on you. But if you're lead quality is on the borderline, and the traffic is questionable, and you keep denying to follow a single regulation; then it raises red flags.

Also, the "consequence" would be something as just pulling that offer from your account.
 
You're taking my words to literal, and not seeing it from my view. if I ask an affiliate 5,6,7 times to use search links instead of email links; and they continually decide to use email links, it raises suspicion on my side.
I am much more disturbed that you have the time to do this and read into it than I am disturbed it's occuring in the first place.
Let's take the suppression list for example. It's quite known to all affiliates that you are NOT allowed to email market to anyone in that list. So what happens if you do market to them, you get consequences (in most cases your affiliate account is suspended).
Plus the e-mails are trash and will get your IPs blacklisted. And it's illegal.
So even though you are doing the job you are supposed to "generating leads"; there is a protocol to follow. I understand that comparing the suppression list example to asking an affiliate to use correct links is a difference, since it deals with laws.
Yes, it's a tremendous difference. So much so that it invalidates any comparison you could've made, unless I'm missing something.
"It's illegal" vs. "I want to have more valid data for competitors/our inhouse to see"...come on now.
I'm just trying to point out that I don't see why correct links cannot be used if they are properly presented and easy to find.
For fucks sake. I'm not even really arguing against using the "proper" link.

I'm arguing largely about the fact that your solution to it ("consequences") is a bag so full of bullshit that it makes my head spin. I cannot imagine writing that line, seeing it on the screen, and deciding that it would be a good idea to push "Submit Reply".

There are reasonable arguments for using/not using the right link, but none of them involve whatever the hell perspective that was.
 
I am much more disturbed that you have the time to do this and read into it than I am disturbed it's occuring in the first place.
Plus the e-mails are trash and will get your IPs blacklisted. And it's illegal.
Yes, it's a tremendous difference. So much so that it invalidates any comparison you could've made, unless I'm missing something.
"It's illegal" vs. "I want to have more valid data for competitors/our inhouse to see"...come on now.
For fucks sake. I'm not even really arguing against using the "proper" link.

I'm arguing largely about the fact that your solution to it ("consequences") is a bag so full of bullshit that it makes my head spin. I cannot imagine writing that line, seeing it on the screen, and deciding that it would be a good idea to push "Submit Reply".

There are reasonable arguments for using/not using the right link, but none of them involve whatever the hell perspective that was.

Sorry if I'm making your head spin, I can't seem to grasp the concept behind not using correct links. I can't see a benefit coming out of it. Care to entertain me with a single reason?

Also, how is knowing that you are advertising through either search, web or email that much of an advantage to any party on my side?
 
If this idea is THAT bad, then I have no problem dropping any intention of implementing it. I just simply thought that it would help everyone in the long run, and since it's such a simple request. Would love to hear further opinions though. I'm all ears.
 
Sorry if I'm making your head spin, I can't seem to grasp the concept behind not using correct links. I can't see a benefit coming out of it. Care to entertain me with a single reason?

Also, how is knowing that you are advertising through either search, web or email that much of an advantage to any party on my side?
It's not a real big concern because no one uses the right ones. But if that were not the case, then yeah, it would matter. For example, if I'm the only person running something search, and I'm using an e-mail link, then other affiliates don't see the search epc go up, and blah blah blah.

How about you entertain me with a single way I benefit by using the proper links?

The fact is that it just doesn't fucking matter, so I'm not going to bother with it. It doesn't affect me positively in either condition.
 
It's not a real big concern because no one uses the right ones. But if that were not the case, then yeah, it would matter. For example, if I'm the only person running something search, and I'm using an e-mail link, then other affiliates don't see the search epc go up, and blah blah blah.

How about you entertain me with a single way I benefit by using the proper links?

The fact is that it just doesn't fucking matter, so I'm not going to bother with it. It doesn't affect me positively in either condition.

Ah, I see what you mean now. Though, the chances that you are the only one running that offer on search is slim if you're on a popular network and it's a good offer. But you're explanation is logical.

I was looking at it the other way, while you want to make sure that no other affiliate gets any advantage from reading your stats, I assumed that by showing statistics as accurate as possible, it would help affiliates better choose which offer to promote.

But, the way it would help you personally is if lets say you were looking for another offer to promote, if you were able to see accurate statistics, you could make a better business decision in promoting a higher ROI yielding offer.

We seem to tackle this matter from different sides.
 
Ah, I see what you mean now. Though, the chances that you are the only one running that offer on search is slim if you're on a popular network and it's a good offer. But you're explanation is feasible.
But once again, this isn't about the reasons to not use the right link.

This is about you thinking you can discipline non-employees for some reason. Even if that weren't the case, I'd still be asking who the fuck you are that you can discipline non employees.
I was looking at it the other way, while you want to make sure that no other affiliate gets any advantage from reading your stats, I assumed that by showing statistics as accurate as possible, it would help affiliates better choose which offer to promote.

But, the way it would help you personally is if lets say you were looking for another offer to promote, if you were able to see accurate statistics, you could make a better business decision in promoting a higher ROI yielding offer.

We seem to tackle this matter from different sides.
I want the stats to always be accurate when I'm looking for a new offer, yes. But after I start running it, I have nothing to gain from them anymore.
Sucks, but it is how it is.
 
But once again, this isn't about the reasons to not use the right link.

This is about you thinking you can discipline non-employees for some reason. Even if that weren't the case, I'd still be asking who the fuck you are that you can discipline non employees.

I want the stats to always be accurate when I'm looking for a new offer, yes. But after I start running it, I have nothing to gain from them anymore.
Sucks, but it is how it is.

Xmcp123, when you join a network, you are confined to at least some rules. Those who have a problem following some simple rules will obviously leave, but those who have no problem spending an extra second or two will stay. Depends on the type of person you are.


Then it becomes a mutual situation. You're stats help other affiliates make better decisions in choosing offers, and their stats help you make better decisions in choosing offers.

I'm not trying to get hostile or anything, I just want to get some more in-depth criticism on this.
 
Xmcp123, when you join a network, you are confined to at least some rules. Those who have a problem following some simple rules will obviously leave, but those who have no problem spending an extra second or two will stay. Depends on the type of person you are.

Oh that was so not the right response....
 
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