I run a website in the same vertical as GSI commerce (nflshop.com, mlbshop.com, nhl.com, etc). Pepperjam is pitching to me that they are a great fit to start my affiliate program b/c they have a strong history and publishers in that vertical. In my mind this could be really good or really bad. I am going to be actively promoting new publishers into the network to join my program. I am no where as big as GSI commerce. What are the chances they would watch my account, contact my top affiliates and ask them to join their program only if they provide exclusives for GSI? I guess this could happen on any network as there are 2 or 3 huge competitors out there on them. Am I being paranoid?
Your concerns seem legit to me. I'd bet they would in fact allow the other companies to reach out to your affiliates as well. And so would CJ. Shareasale? Maybe. I never get any correspondence from them.
Onestopfanshop, Thanks for your post. Pepperjam Network advertisers are unable to see what programs affiliates are joined to. More specifically, GSI Commerce (or any other advertiser or agency partner) will not know what affiliates are or are not in your program. It's true that GSI Commerce (through their interactive division True Action) manages many of the largest sporting goods affiliate programs in the United States - in fact, as you point out several of those programs are active on Pepperjam Network. However, I'd encourage you to see the fact that Pepperjam Network works with some of the nation's largest sporting goods retailers as a potential benefit to you in that not surprisingly we also work with some of the largest sporting goods affiliates! I'd be happy to set-up a call with you to discuss in further detail to held alleviate your concerns and maybe even offer some tips for how you can leverage Pepperjam's large database of affiliates to grow your business. Private message me if you'd like to set-up a call - include the name of your primary point of contact at Pepperjam so that I may include them in on the call.