Google Affiliate Network Launches
Major announcement! DoubleClick Performics after being acquired by Google has evolved into a new brand and is now the Google Affiliate Network.
From Chris Henger - Group Product Manager - Google Affiliate Network
“We are pleased to introduce Google Affiliate Network . Effective Monday, June 30, 2008, DoubleClick Performics Affiliate will operate as Google Affiliate Network. The integration with Google’s brand is a reflection of efforts to quickly assimilate our business and teams, as well as reinforce Google’s commitment to the Affiliate channel. Together with our new colleagues at Google we are creating new opportunities for monetization, expansion and innovation in Affiliate Marketing.”
More details can be found at the Performics Blog
I think this is great news for our industry and will help get affiliate marketing more into the mainstream. I’ve watched DoubleClick Performics grow by leaps and bounds over the past year and knew the Google acquisition would really expand their network. With this announcement they should grow even faster and stronger. It’s going to create increased competition for the other networks. Competition can be good and is often a catalyst for positive change!
CONGRATS to Chris, Kristen and the rest of the DoubleClick Performics team. I’m sure this is a very exciting day for all of you!
One of the reasons I’m personally excited, is that the Google Affiliate Network is going to be a Premiere Featured 5 Star Affiliate Program.
DoubleClick Performics was supposed to join 5 Star Affiliate Programs in April but everything was put on hold, due to the Google acquisition. So now I know what they were waiting for. 
I will make an official announcement once I get the new creative and we are ready to launch.
Here are all the details about the Google Affiliate Network. If by chance you never joined the DoubleClick Performics network, I’d encourage you to get started with the new network today!
Other industry blogs referencing the news:
TechCrunch
AffiliateTip
Revenews
Pepperjam Blog
Jangro Blog
UPDATE: 7/1 10AM - Curious to find out what impact the GAN will have on our industry and what changes are coming? TUNE IN! Google Affiliate Network’s Chris Henger on Webmaster Radio this Thursday
We’ve renamed our DoubleClick Performics forum so if you want to discuss the GAN come to the new Google Affiliate Network Forum
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#1 peter bordes wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
Linda
Congratulations. This is very good for the industry. I am also very pleased to see them getting involved with the PMA.
#2 5 Star Affiliate Forum wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
Performics becomes Google Affiliate Network…
The Google Affiliate Network is going to be
a Premiere Featured 5 Star Affiliate Program.
They’ll be having a dedicated forum here at the 5 Star Affiliate Forums. So stay tuned to the 5 Star channel for more news!
#3 Beau Blackwell wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
It will be interesting to see what effect (if any) this has on Google’s position towards affiliate links in regards to SEO. They’ve come down pretty hard on affiliate links in recent years, but I wonder if they’ll change their tune now that they’re in the game. I just hope they don’t discriminate against other affiliate networks’ links while leaving their own network’s alone!
#4 Google Affiliate Network on Webmaster Radio Show wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
[...] This week’s special guest on the Affiliate Marketing Insider show will be Chris Henger, Group Product Manager at the new Google Affiliate Network. [...]
#5 CT Moore wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
This will, indeed, do quite a bit to bolster the legitimacy of affiliate marketing. I think that many merchants who have been reluctant to leverage affiliate marketing because of how other merchants have openly called affiliate marketers “scum bag cheaters” (such as at IRCE 2008). Google enjoys quite a bit of perceived ability to police traffic, and that will likely coax a lot of merchants into giving affiliate marketing a shot.
That being said, I think where Google faces a challenge is on the relationship side of affiliate marketing. With many affiliates and PPC advertisers, they are notorious for being dismissive and arbitrary.
If this kind of ethos seeps into their affiliate network, I think the more established networks will be able to pick up many of the disenchanted.
In a word, then, this is definitely good for the industry. On the one hand, it will bring more merchants, who are likely to branch out into other networks once they’ve realized that affiliate marketing is a legitimate marketing strategy.
#6 Linda Buquet wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
Good points, Thanks Chris!
#7 Angel Djambazov wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
Posted an extended interview with Chris Henger on Revenews:
http://www.revenews.com/angeldjambazov/thinking-forward-an-interview-with-chris-henger-on-performics%e2%80%99-transformation-into-the-google-affiliate-network/
#8 NETexponent Blog » Peter Figueredo Elected To The Performance Marketing Alliance Advisory Board wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
[...] Chris Henger - Group Product Manager - Google Affiliate Network (aka Performics) Adam Weiss - Director, Network [...]
#9 Michele wrote on Monday, June 30th, 2008:
I look forward to see how GAN is different than the other current Affiliate Networks.
Michele