Networks 
8 Comments Do Networks Give A Flying F…
After many weeks, many complaints and many examples I and many other Discount Code websites are starting to get pissed off with the complete lack of action taken by UK affiliate networks, when it comes to dealing with affiliates who simply abuse the internet. By this, I mean websites who use others exclusive discount codes and ,as has recently been highlighted, now copy others websites newsletter content.
To me, very few networks give a flying toss as to who generates them money, or how it’s being generated, as long as it goes via their links and continues to line their little fury pockets. They obivously have no care in the world as to the knock on effect it has to other, ethical and honest, affiliates or the industry as a whole as they continue to turn a blind eye, and I very much doubt they ever will.
A few networks are keeping eyes on rogue affiliates after they accidently scraped a load of exclusive codes from many other discount websites. Since then, there are examples of newsletters being copied word for word (including links to the originating website!) and adding other affiliates URLs to footers. Not to mention bidding other affiliate websites domain names, which some may see as good PPC tactics.
My problem is, that on most occasions I am ethical, and I expect networks to be the same… If I join a merchant, nearly everytime the PPC guidelines asked by merchants and networks, is that I do not bid using the merchants competitor names or URLs. I therefore wouldn’t run a PPC campaign for Bunches, and use words like Next Flowers, Interflora and such like to advertise them. I would like to think networks would also request the same from affiliates, by asking them not to bid on other affiliate URLs or domain names.
When it comes to exclusive codes, for which I have taken time out to obtain, may have agreed reduced commissions, may have had to prove my worth beforehand, I and other affiliates find it infuriating when someone comes along and spends 5 minutes scarping your site for their gain. What is even more annoying is the way the networks bury their heads in the sand, say nothing and do nothing.
The amount of money being made by all Discount Code websites is pretty phenominal, however if 1 website is generating £m’s, you can see the reason why UK Affiliate Networks are reluctant to take any action considering the slice of action they will get which is 3x the affiliates income.
Sadly this is, and will continue to damage the industry, as it is making us honest ethical affiliates seriously think that maybe we should be going down the same unethical route as its easy money, and networks dont give a stuff. Instead of spending time building relationships with networks and merchants why not just scrape other peoples sites? Its a lot easier and less time consuming after all. Once thats in place, I will throw a few iFrames to help drop cookies everywhere… again, as long as the networks take a cut, they’re unlikely to pull me up on it.
There will be some people out there that suspect jealousy is the driving factor behind all of this, but believe me, its not. There is enough cake for everyone, however by networks allowing affiliates to go down this route, its not donig the industry any good and its an industry I like and am begining to care about more and more. To me it shows that they are happy to make money any which way, whether it be ethical or unethical.