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AllanGardyne
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 7:09 am
Post subject: Alleged spammer creates big problem for merchant
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Here's an interesting article that describes how a rogue affiliate has the potential to wreck an affiliate merchant:
In the wake of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's $20 million lawsuit against an alleged New York-based spam ring, marketers have been put on notice that they could be held responsible for the actions of their affiliates.
Full article: http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/3292121
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Allan Gardyne
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edburdo
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Bangor, Maine
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robertb
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:19 pm
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Good read Allan. I really like this quote:
| Quote: | | Though spam gets plenty of media attention, affiliate marketing is not as widely reported upon. But affiliate marketing is a $95 billion industry that is expected to grow to approximately $230 billion by 2008, according to an August 2003 report by Forrester Research. |
It'd be nice if I can get a chunk of that increase! 
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Robert
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Kathy
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UK
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:31 pm
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This has the potential to become a huge problem.
A friend of mine had to shut his site down due to an affiliate spamming. I find it amazing that after all the hard work, energy and money he put into his site, it was all wasted because of the actions of one person.
I find it hard to believe that this hasn't surfaced before. I am all for controlling spam, but can you really be held responsible for the actions of your affiliates?
Be interesting to hear what others think!
Regards
Kathy
BTW, Wishing you all a very MERRY Christmas  |
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Charlie
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 4:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Alleged spammer creates big problem for merchant
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Makes you wonder what more the merchant could have done to emphasise that the affiliate would not be paid any outstanding commissions if caught spamming.
I still find it hard to believe many affiliates will risk promoting for nothing if the stark facts (and numbers) are put in front of them.
Just a thought,
Charlie.
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Corey Bryant
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 5:20 pm
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I have wondered about this myself. We are in CA and with the new anti-spam laws - what effect might this have on us? We actually did have someone want to sign up:
| Quote: | I am intersted in promoting your products & services as an affiliate, because I have necessary means to hit your target audience! I maintain a fantastic b2b email list which allows me to contact the directors & the executives of business websites (over 24,000) and also businesses advertising on pay-per-click search engines (over 17,000).
Do you mind if I use my email lists to promote your service?
Please let me know ASAP and we could go from there! |
We talked about the potential problems & everything.
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Corey
Merchant Accounts 4 Less |
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Debs
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:33 pm
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The new Federal CAN Spam law will supercede the California law. there are some great threads on this, you can search the forum for more info on the new Spam laws.
Debs
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Bobby
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 1:48 am
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On a brighter note, consider Clickbank. Thousands of merchants. A person can sign up for an affiliate program, promote, earn commissions, and the merchant will have no idea of the affiliate's identity (in many cases).
I see people making referral sales for my site and I don't know who they are - I see people buying AdWords ads to promote my site through their affiliate link.
Yet with all these merchants and affiliates, nothing bad seems to have happened to Clickbank. (at least not yet)
Bobby |
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Charlie
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 10:40 am
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| Bobby wrote: | | I see people making referral sales for my site and I don't know who they are |
Although I love the idea of other people earning me money, I have to admit I don't like the idea of handing over my reputation to people in blind faith.
Not knowing who I'm being "associated with" unnerves me.
Cheers,
Charlie.
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Bobby
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 3:49 pm
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| Charlie wrote: | Although I love the idea of other people earning me money, I have to admit I don't like the idea of handing over my reputation to people in blind faith.
Not knowing who I'm being "associated with" unnerves me.
Cheers,
Charlie. |
It does sound like a recipe for headaches, but I seldom if ever hear of Clickbank merchants having problems with unknown affiliates.
Bobby |
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wayne
Joined:
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50
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 3:58 pm
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There was a thread on the Anthony Blake forum just a couple of weeks
ago about a Clickbank merchant that had his site shut down due to
an affiliate spamming. This is why I think all Clickbank affiliates should
have to have their own website and send all traffic to their site first,
and then can recommend Clickbank merchants from there. They
should make the hoplinks so that they do not work in email at all. I know
a lot of people would not like this, but the spam problem has gotten so
out of control, that the merchants need a little protection. |
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Debs
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4296
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NY
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 7:36 pm
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I used to include affiliate links in emails ... no more. My newsletter is now strictly updates and new articles. I no longer post it to the web automatically with SBi either.
If there is an article in the newsletter I want online, I just create a new page after the newsletter goes out. My subscribers qualify for free downloads not available to unsubscribed visitors, so I don't want their access links online and they are included in each newsletter.
I also put a disclaimer in my newsletter, telling them that if they click on the links, they will see advertising, on our site and other sites we may link to.
I run a blog (separate from my main site) for site updates and member news too. Gives me a quick place to post updates, but primarily doing it as an experiment. with dedicated blog sites in general.
What this all amounts to is ... I am being very conservative in wake of the new CAN Spam law.
I don't want to be sued by anyone, let alone by a merchant because of some complaint.
Debs
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Charlie
Joined:
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3305
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UK
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 10:23 am
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| Debs wrote: | | What this all amounts to is ... I am being very conservative in wake of the new CAN Spam law. |
I know of one publisher of a free ezine who has converted to a paid subscription model simply because he is scared about these new laws. (His theory is, that this is the only way of having a concrete way of proving people actually requested the info., but seems a bit strong to me.)
He is only charging a very low fee, but still says he is losing most of his subs base. Seems a cruel shame, as he's taken years to build a nice list. Can't help but wonder if he's over-reacting.
Cheers,
Charlie.
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