I got rejected today by Overstock affiliate program available through linkshare.com. Common, what’s really the big deal with these companies rejecting websites to participate in their affiliate programs? It’s not like these are cost-per-click programs. So, how does it matter whether Overstock’s ad is on one of my crappy web page?
The truth is, I found that Overstock provides its data feeds without much of a fuss unlike Amazon which carefully selects whom to give its data feeds. So, after downloading the data feed from Overstock and experimenting a bit, I realized that I could invest some time and effort to build a good website around their data feed. However, it’s a chicken and egg problem. Unless I am accepted into their program, why would I spend my precious time in creating a solution based on their data? So, I just used one of my other websites that is not really related to retailing just to get accepted into the program and then work on the idea. However, Overstock rejected me.
BTW, Overstock is not the only company. There are a few other companies too that carefully select their affiliates. I am currently an Amazon affiliate who got accepted without much hassle and I have earned as much as $300.00 a month from Amazon. Now, who is the loser? Overstock or me? If it doesn’t want to accept me, so be it. I will just spend more time promoting Amazon’s products!
Here is my serious advise to all those marketing managers sitting in the ivory towers. If you are thinking that part of your job is to police on the affiliate signers, you are probably missing out to the bigger guys like Amazon. Why do you think Amazon has more than a million affiliates while most others are lucky to have a few thousand?
Again, I repeat, with CPA (Cost Per Action) model, you guys have got nothing to lose whether your ad is on a well designed website or otherwise.
Reasoning might be more around brand protection. Again- if they don’t like what they see (or don’t see), they won’t want to partner with someone that might express a bad representation of their brand. Ultimately control and limiting their liability.
Overstock might be a bit of a stretch- but this is definitely the case with other, brand sensitive companies… Saks, JCrew, etc…
Comment by knowthebiz — February 14, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
IMHO, it’s not like companies that are particular about brand don’t want certain class of people (whatever that demographics might be) to buy their products. Isn’t it? Besides, in this world of blogging and internet activity and YouTube, anyone writes their opinions about any brand based on their experience (ofcourse, as long as it is not falsely represented). I wonder if any website can prevent me from linking to it even though I don’t gain anything from it!
Comment by S — February 17, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
At Overstock we are always happy to have new affiliates in our program. In the past we had an open program where everyone was accepted, but we had too many problems with affiliates violating our terms and contidions. The ability to look at an affiliate’s site before accepting them into the program gives us more control of our brand and our affiliate program in general. We would be happy to take another look at it. Please email us at affiliategroup@overstock.com.
Thanks,
Ryan
Comment by Ryan — February 21, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
[...] Filed under: Affiliate Programs, LinkShare, Overstock — S @ 5:30 am Earlier in my What’s The Big Deal With Accepting Into Affiliate Programs? post I mentioned how I didn’t get accepted by Overstock.com because I used an existing [...]
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