Category: 
Wednesday, 20 February 2008 @ 3:26 pm (Chris Frost)
It’s been a long time since my last post, so I guess its time to catch up with recent changes in the AM world…
As you already know DGM went through a Management Buy Out in December 2007, which was welcomed as a whole by affiliates and merchants alike. How does it affect things? Well in more simpler terms, I expect this MBO to result in DGM being freed of red tape meaning 2008 should see a lot of changes for the better. Over the past few years, DGM haven’t been the leading network for whatever reason and Affiliate Window have taken the lead with a huge amount of developments and changes.
DGM are now in the position of playing catchup, and already we are seeing improvements being implemented, propositions discussed and ideas bounced off affiliates. Below are just a few changes that have either been implemented, or are just around the corner;
Payment Terms
The monthly commission threshold have now been set to £20 for BACS payments (previously £100).
Payment Reports
Every month affiliates now receive an automatic remittance, sent to their registered address when payment is released. This gives a breakdown of the commission paid, broken down by month if commission has rolled over.
Voucher Codes
Development plans and a dedicated resource to focus on the ever increasing problem of discount codes usage.
Additional Merchants
The win of ALL JD Williams programmes (originally 50/50 split with CJ).
Availability And Visibility
Once a network that weren’t out there in your face and didn’t (IMO) pro-actively encourage affiliates to push their programmes. After attending the A4U Expo last year they are starting to shout again, and more recently have been extremely open and more than happy to meet/discuss/MSN any affiliates in order to help wherever possible.
We’ve changed. Have you?
That’s DGM’s new tag line and I can see that it’s not just a re-branding exercise - they actually mean it! To answer the question, I can’t say I have changed yet, but I am certainly in the process of changing. Links, where possible are being moved quickly from one network to another, planned development of new sites are being rescheduled so they make use of DGM’s network and merchants, not necessarily something I would have done 12 months ago.
So what does 2008 hold for DGM? Well time will tell, but certainly we’ve seen much needed improvements implemented and quickly at that! Lets remember they have some catching up to do so it won’t be an overnight job, and they themselves are aware of the work that lies ahead, but already the signs are very positive!
Horaayy..there are 9 comment(s) for me so far ;)
Yeh, I’m a big fan of DGM. I traveled down to see them and had a good chat for about 3 hours on the industry, what they can offer, what I feel affiliates would want …
The guys there are working exceptionally hard to be a serious contender for our inventory and I think they’ll get there.
Whilst other networks pay lip-service to affiliate-support, they actually do help out as much as they can!
I’m clearly missing something here, so I’ll have to get in touch with DGM. What voucher codes do they have to manage?
Lee
I agree. When you look at it as a whole, DGM have the staff, the knowledge, the history, the technical knowhow and the willingness. Now the future is in their own hands with maybe less restraints, I think we will see them develop into a major player once again.
Ray
I am not saying you have to contact DGM, I am saying that I am finding them more proactive? The voucher code issue is still very much in its infancy stage at the moment, literally a talk here and there, but it is on their radar. I don’t think there is any need to contact them as they already plan to contact a lot of people similar to discuss all the options available, very similar to Webgains last year.
I think I’m missing something too. Time I had a good look round the DGM site. Don’t even think I’m registered with them!
I am still awaiting the second coming, of DGM that is, or was the third, maybe 4th, possibly 5th ? It is like a magician pulling the wrong bunny out each time.. smaller.. spotted.. dead .. sleeping. Whichever way they have had more lives than a skinned cat.
I am just waiting to see if they rectify any of the considerations we put forward to them more than once before, sooner rather than later.
As far as I am concerned they are the bottom of the ninth innings & need a big play.
Will I give them a chance, yes off course I will, but won’t twiddle my thumbs in the process, though my missus is very supportive of them and pushing me to at least promote a couple of their programs.
Do I want them to recover, yes .. if they totally expunge & exorcise some of the elements which didn’t do them any favours.
Was Rome built in a day? There are no reasons why it can’t.
I might try to login to dgm again if i can remember my login.
What exclusive merchants do they have, last time I looked merchants in my verticals were catered for by other networks
Hey Frostie,
Thanks for the post and comments.
Also want to thank you all for your continued support towards dgm
A few of our exclusive campaigns are; World Vision, JD Williams, Wilkinsons, Insure and Go, 192.com, Be broadband.
If anyone has any general questions or has forgotten their login details to dgmPro, please feel free to get in touch with our dedicated affiliate team directly on jessica.nathan@dgm-uk.com, catherine.rudkin@dgm-uk.com or Helen.southgate@dgm-uk.com.
DGM blew it several years ago when they cut 70% of their merchants in about a month. They never really recovered from that.
Will 2008 be their year. I strongly doubt it, unless they get some really impressive merchants people can’t do without.
With the excellent personal service I have had they certainly deserve to do well. I think it is great that you get to speak to a person, yes I am a starter but it is those that help us that we tell others about in similar positions. The person who helped me was Kevin Sutton and I would certainly pass his name on to anyone.