I received this in an email from a CJ merchant: ...and it goes on to say how they are dropping their base rate from 8% to 6%. This is from an advertiser that is already too low in the pay scale for me to heavily promote; one of their competitors offers a 15% rate on the same products if you ask for it and can show you will produce sales. So for them to go from 8% to 6% was unacceptable. And the reason? So they could spend more on their own PPC I declined the offer. EVERYONE SHOULD DO THAT if an advertiser presents an offer that you think is unfair. I declined and then I wrote the advertiser an email as they requested feedback on this change. I told them point blank that because of their decision to spend more on PPC instead of affiliates, I will now promote their competitors. Will it have an effect? Who knows, but I won't waste my time with 6% so they can have a bigger PPC budget.
Wow, talk about clueless merchants! I'd say what I just wrote here applies again! http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=739399&postcount=15 I'll bet money they have an SEO person running the affiliate program or upper management that got the advice from an SEO consultant that wants more of their budget. Silly merchant! Drop em!
I always find it hilarious when SEO's recommend PPC (or worse, include it in their estimates)... isn't that counter to the whole point of SEO? How exactly will it help your SERPS? Sorry... rant over.
A few years ago I was using CJ until those many changes in the payment structure and deactivated merchants made my revenue of near $50 was reduced to $10 that obviously never got. I joined again early this year with the hope of a new panorama, but now everything seems to be worst, at least from my point of view with non beneficial changes and merchants changes, more often than before.