|
The 180 thing is complicated, because as you've all pointed out, once they were allowed into LS and CJ and established a foothold, the problem became much worse. The good news is that I think we have a technological solution for this and the loyalty programs that tend to steal commissions at the end of the sales process.
The one tool that's missing for AM's is a report that shows them the entire cookie trail for each transaction -- what affiliate links or ads (or keywords if they are being managed through the software) were clicked on, and when, as the customer made their way to the merchant's site. Armed with a report like that, which could easily show which affiliates were almost always taking the sale after another affiliate found the customer first, it will be very easy for merchants to spot loyalty programs that aren't adding value or spyware that tried to take credit after another link is clicked, etc. It may also help catch cookie stuffers whose cookie shows up in many transactions but who have very low conversion rates.
While this doesn't solve all the problems with spyware, I think it will be an important piece; most importantly it will give the AM some hard numbers they can show to decision makers that proves the value of affiliates and how some affiliates are in fact costing them money while adding no value (which is certainly the case for adware affiliates).
I think we'll have this ready for new MYAP merchants this month and as an add-on to existing merchants moving forward. If any of you have any more technological fixes that could applied at the network/software level, feel free to let me know.
|