Fyi

In the UK, a few key affiliates are boycotting networks that partner with predatory advertising companies like When-U, Claria, 180 solutions etc. And it’s starting to work.

This is what they are sending all of the affiliate progarm managers”

“Notice to All Affiliate Managers from Members of Affiliates4U

Dear Merchant,

Did you know that customers to your site, who have certain software on their PCs, are presented with third party advertising when they try and buy online from you? Effectively stealing your customers, increasing your sales costs and reducing your profit margins.

As one of many hard working affiliates, we are becoming continually shocked and dismayed to discover practices involving malicious adware that jeopardises the affiliate-merchant relationship. This software is commonly referred to as spyware, parasiteware, hijackware or scumware, each having it’s own unique attributes or characteristics. You only need to search for these terms on a search engine to see endless amounts of information pertaining to the matter.

Unfortunately a growing number of malcious adware companies are accepted by some networks, more often knowingly or sometimes unknowingly have been operating for some period of time. They are allowed to falsely pose as bonified affiliates, yet are ambushing affiliates and online retailers through software that displays ads of rival companies in front of customers visiting web sites like your own.

Basically they are stealing the customers that are visiting your website at the point of sale through software that either places an ad of a competitor in front of your own website or overwriting with their own affiliate links, in some instances costing you commission you shouldn’t have to pay, consequently these consumers are whisked away from you to your rival significantly increasing your CPA (Cost Per Aquisition) or in our circumstance stealing our hard earned commission.

There are a number of well recognised applications in circulation and some ethical affiliates like ourselves are out to restrict the practice by working hard to create an environment that allows legitimate affiliates and retailers to be more profitable. However, for a small handfall of companies it’s fast becoming an effective way to feast on competitors, again like you and in your own front yard whereby a few networks are doing absolutely nothing about it as they still receive their commission over ride on what is deemed as theft.

Ads like these find their way onto browser windows through “plug-ins” that come bundled with certain software downloads where it is not always clear to the customer that they are allowing their daily online activities to be used to earn another company significant revenues. Furthemore, these companies often make it exceptionally difficult to remove the software – something which may effect the perception of your brand when the company serves competitors adverts which interferes with the users enjoyment of the internet.

Several companies are behind the practice, of whom one or more are possibly associated with the network you currently use. Reading the forum will establish which networks in our views are ethical or not.

As an affiliate community we are seeking your assistance by applying the necessary leverage on your network to restrict the practice and start to ask the pertinent questions to gain answers to questions they continuingly avoid and hide you from. Allowing these companies to be on your affiliate provider (network) is the “path of least resistance” for them, they have to do less work to earn you your returns whilst these companies live off and scavage off the efforts of hard working affiliates and other internet marketing activities at your expense.

Obviously, we are not sure of your awareness on the matter, but your feedback and actions are vitally important in order to maintain both the succcess of your affiliate program and all your online marketing activities. The scale of the problem is huge with millions of PC’s affected within the United Kingdom alone.

Other points to consider are that you amay not be aware of:

Did you know that this advertising overwrites any affiliate set cookie – so your loyal affiliates often end up losing sales from this “hijacking”? If they feel your not being proactive in helping eliminate this problem, they will probably promote a rival company on another network. Unless of course you move your program to another ethical network which is one possible solution.

This situation could also lead to confusion amongst your customers in the marketplace and ultimately lose you income. Consumers will go and shop elsewhere, whilst affiliates will look to promote alternative programs on ‘anti-malicious software’ networks.”

Indeed, even without affiliate links your own direct links and any PPC campaigns you are running are also “hijacked” by these malicious practices with the network equally as guilty for allowing them to abuse the affiliate status.

Obviously this is a grave concern for all those involved in affiliate marketing and because of that a website (insert website) is being set up and promoted as a joint non-profit making venture by a number of leading UK affiliates. The website aims to educate customers, affiliates, merchants and networks about this software.

As affiliates we politely insist on some feedback from you or your company’s official view on these disturbing matters, by either replying to this thread ( which would be a good PR exercise within itself) or communicationg with any of the moderators.

Kind Regards,

The A4U Forum”

Good work there!