Affiliate Association Forming? Affiliate Insider Discussion
The special guest on Thursday’s Affiliate Marketing Insider radio show will be Rebecca Madigan. Rebecca was formerly director of product management at CJ and was recently hired by Anik Singal of Affiliate Classroom to do discovery and research on forming an affiliate marketing association.
Host Linda Woods and Rebecca will be discussing the need for an industry association, what’s being done, what it could look like, what timeframe is being discussed, what issues it might cover, who is involved so far and how you can get more involved.
This is a much needed organization which has been discussed numerous times in the past, but never got off the ground. The need for an association has been getting a lot more interest recently among industry leaders, especially in light of the NY legislation. Although it would take too long to form an association to impact the June 1 NY deadline, this situation clearly shows why we should have organized one long ago and it could help with other tax or legislative issues that affect our industry, down the road.
UPDATE: If you missed the show here is a link to the podcast so you can listen anytime. Forming a Performance Marketing Alliance
Affiliate Marketing Insider is broadcast at Noon Pacific (3 PM Eastern) every Thursday on WebmasterRadio.fm. Listen to some of the past shows in the archives here.
#1 Phillip Dampier wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
I met with a few people locally and also spoke with some interested folks down in Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse and NYC about what exactly the time frame is supposed to be on this lawsuit, and what exactly other merchants and interested parties are doing about it. I also had a response from one of our state legislators regarding this issue.
PHILLIP’s LONG INFO FILLED POST - MOVED BY LINDA TO
THIS NY TAX THREAD
WHERE MORE WILL SEE IT.
#2 Linda Buquet wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
Thanks Phillip for the detailed info. Since this post is about a general industry association and a radio show. I’m afraid people following my NY tax blogs may not see it. So I’m copying it to the comments in the post below.
Consumer Backlash Over New York Affiliate Tax Could Hurt Us
#3 peter bordes wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
Linda
Would it make sense to take a poll to see who in the industry wants to participate in an Association. Would it be more service and solution providers? Would affiliates be interested of find this as a benefit. I have not seen much commentary from affiliates regarding this or the NYC tax issue.
I have had several conversations with others in the industry that have said that for the most part they felt affiliates would not actively participate and like to stay anonymous.
What are your thoughts?
What are the thoughts of any affiliates reading this?
#4 Linda Buquet wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
Hi Peter,
Thursday’s show is up in the archives now. Be sure to have a listen as it answers a lot of questions.
One of the main reasons an assoc has never been formed is everyone is too busy to follow through on all the work that needs to be done to research, set up and oversee.
The great thing about this effort is that Anik from Affiliate Classroom has hired a Director level person from CJ, Rebecca, to do nothing but research the formation of the assoc. KUDOS TO ANIK!
So Rebecca is talking to lots of people and would possibly have a better answer than I.
HOWEVER I know lots of very sharp, high profile affiliates that are not at all worried about anonymity who would probably be interested in sitting on the board, which I think is the 1st step. We need to have affiliates who are being sure the association is representing the best interest of affiliates.
As far as affiliates coming to meetings, some are not meeting goers and like to stay anonymous. But many are very social and actively participate in all kinds of events. Local meetings, the Summit, Adtech. So I don’t see that as a problem.
#5 Linda Buquet wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
One of the interesting things that came up on the call was that one of the missions of the organization would be to come up with standards.
For instance datafeed format standards. Right now it’s all over the place and very hard for affiliates to deal with. If there were standards it would be so much easier for merchants, networks and affiliates.
IMPORTANT distinction. When they discussed standards they made sure to say standards are only guidelines.
EXAMPLE the IAB standards on banner sizes. They established 468 as the industry standard as well as other common sizes. To make it easier for the industry to have some common consistent elements to use across various ad and affiliate networks.
However a merchant or affiliate and can make and use any size banner they want - it’s only a guideline.
So anyway, lots of important info was on the show. I missed the last 1/3 so need to listen again and if I can do it this weekend may have some other points to add.
I am interested, like Peter, to hear what affiliates think about an assoc.
#6 Mayank - Start Internet Business wrote on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008:
This is a welcome move by Anik. An association is required that can speak as the voice of the affiliates.