72 Kilowatts Internet Marketing

Is the PMA Right for you?

This was an interesting bit to return to after a few weeks of fishing.

It’s well known amongst the folks I talk at on a daily basis that I believe the time has come to form at the very least a lobby group for affiliate marketing. The scope of this group is somewhat vague, even in my head, as I consider the benefits and inevitable drawbacks of forming an industry association.

Groundwork is being laid, however, at the Performance Marketing Assocition blog.

It’s a daunting task they are undertaking, and some of the things I’d like to see addressed are:

1.) Forming a vocal lobby that attempts to represent all levels of affiliates and merchants.

2.) Establishing a set of ground rules for good behavior on the part of merchants and affiliates, without overstepping what would be the role of a good association.

3.) Endeavoring to “recommend”, and never to “mandate” when it comes to courses of action.

4.) Showing real value to affiliates of all sizes.

5.) NOT becoming a union. The industry is too broad for that.

I look forward to reading more on this effort. There have been concerns raised already, in particular at Abestweb, and elsewhere. I think it’s important, however, that we keep a level head on this, and work together in many respects.

The industry has grown to large to go unnoticed, as evidenced by the Amazon tax issue in New York.

If there truly is going to be an association, it’s important that everyone be included, even if at the end of the day they don’t necessarily feel that they were. I’d rather see the isolation be of their own choosing, and not by inaction on the part of the committee’s forming members.