Merchants with split programs

This has always been something that annoyed me. Merchants who split their business up affiliate wise so you have to be signed up to two programs. Then you've got to ask them if the cookies cross track when you can flick from one site to another easily. They don't always and you've got to be signed up for both.

Well in the last couple of days two programs with split affiliate programs have sacked one part of it - because they've realised that they can do it all from one program.

*sighs*

It wasn't really rocket science was it?
I wonder if it's to do with saving money in these recessionary times that you can cut staff costs perhaps by having less people working on it when it's all together. Maybe. But from an affiliate point of view it means work chasing links and replacing code.

How many H1 tags on a page?

I was just pondering the answer to this question when it hit me.

One.

The clue is in the name.

Not only is H1 the most important tag on a page but there should also only be one H1 tag used per page.

So what about H2? It's a bit less important - so why not have two...

H3 - three - that works for me!
H4 - four
H5 - five
H6 - why not six? If you've got six sub-sub-sub-subheadings on a page then why not make them a H1?

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Dear merchant

Dear Merchant I wanted to get in touch regarding your program on ANetwork

I have noted that you have not recently successfully converted any leads into sales and therefore, have not earned me any commissions from promoting you.

With the current conversion rate at 0.00%, it is not a great opportunity for me to provide additional exposure for this program,

Whilst your program was one of the most successful and well known merchants in your category I feel your performance is well below the standard I need to keep your program active on my site.

If you wish to contact me regarding this program or have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.



Regards,

Comimg home to roost

As the last years trading figures for various companies are being released I've noticed with interest that some have had a really tough time.

I have little sympathy.

Is that uncaring of me?

 It might be if those very companies hadn't been really arsey about their affiliate programs over the last year or so and made stupid decisions that have meant their online selling teams (affiliates) have been put off, gotten rid of, unfairly treated and worse!

One company now having trouble balancing the books was giving one particular voucher affiliate a MASSIVE discount voucher. Clearly this mean that affiliate did really well. However the scores of other affiliates all suffered as a result.

This meant many affiliates pulled the links never to bother adding them again.

One other affiliate program decided in it's wisdom to cull most affiliates and then cap sales - what a stupid idea is that? A huge one!

My advice to affiliate program managers is to not give silly exclusive voucher deals to any affiliate. It antagonises the rest of them! Have unique codes by all means but don't give one an unfair advantages.

And don't cull affiliates.

Asda commission zero - thanks!

We regret to inform you that from 5pm on Friday 26th November Asda will no longer be awarding commission on any categories (within the first bullet point list of this notice) on the Asda site. This is due to Asda internal budget restraints.

All currently pending affiliate commissions will be honoured.

The following product categories will therefore be set to 0% commission:

• Electricals (including PAYG mobile handsets and accessories)
• Furniture
• Home
• Toys
• Baby
• DIY & Motor
• Sports & Leisure
• Jewellery & Watches
• Gifts & Party

End date for Commissions:
No commissions will be awarded for sales made after 5pm on Friday 26th December 2010. We recommend that affiliates adjust their campaigns and remove any deeplinks or creative to the direct.asda.com site prior to this time.
This programme pause is only applicable for the ASDA Direct section of the ASDA site. The following categories will continue to operate as normal:

• George
• Entertainment
• Flowers
• Optical
• Pharmacy
• Photo
• Travel

Please note the separate Asda Grocery programme will not be affected.

Please accept our apologies for the limited notice period of this campaign change; ASDA Direct will be re-instating commissions on these categories and look forward to working with you in the near future.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch using the details below.