Really GLAD I dropped the name brand domains on this one

by Jill Carpenter

Posted: 13 years ago 9 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

After 3 years with a certain affiliate program, I got a letter today.

Basically they are dropping the affiliate program, and asking I remove all the branding from my sites and marketing materials.

Initially I had purchased one domain with the brand of the company in it, which was all fine and good but here is the quote from the letter I got today:

Upon expiration of this period, please remove and discontinue use of any sign, logo or trademark "insert brand name here" and immediately take all the necessary steps to remove and cancel listings in telephone books, public records, web pages, social media or elsewhere that contain the (Brandname here) name. We ask that you assign any URL's domain registration containing the federally trademarked (brandname here) name or any (brand name) product names to (company name inc here) and (brand name) and redirect your customers to our new online store at www.brandname. com . Please contact our IT manager at blah de blah email or call 555-55555 for assistance with this process.

I guess the lesson here FOR AFFILIATE MARKETERS- if you do get permission to use a brand name, back it up with a keyword rich domain and direct all your traffic via that name.

Luckily my high traffic site was the keyword.

#brand #domains #dropped #glad

Marketing Cheetah 13 years ago

Ahan. Glad you had the back up. But I think the shutdown affiliate programs happen very rarely.
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Charlotte Jay 13 years ago

Yikes. Glad you made the right call on this one. That could have been hairy if you had a bunch of stuff branded.
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- Jill Carpenter 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Charlotte Jay
  
  Yikes. Glad you made the right call on this one. That could have been hairy if you had a bunch of stuff branded.
  
  Yes!
  
  You know, I am all for getting a brand in a domain if it is allowed - and one time in the past I just got the brand to promote something. But will always pair that up with a generic keyword from here on in for anything affiliate related. Even if you own it, it is a waste down the road if you don't actually own the company.
  
  Thanks
  
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  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
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Tom Lazenby 13 years ago

Why would they close their affiliate program? Seems odd.
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guewarascoy 13 years ago

yes, we must be careful about brand name issues..

thanks for your sharing..
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- JohnMcCabe 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by chameleon
  
  Why would they close their affiliate program? Seems odd.
  
  I've had it happen to me a couple of times.
  
  In one instance, the company got tired of policing affiliates and trying to steer clear of regulatory problems. It just wasn't worth it to them, so they took marketing back in house.
  
  In another instance, the company thought they had outgrown their affiliate program. They reached the user base they wanted, and got greedy. Killed the affiliate program and set up reseller deals with a handful of the most productive affiliates (all of which were other companies).
  
  I'm not naming names, so don't even ask...
  
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  1 reply
  
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  kindsvater 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe
  
  I've had it happen to me a couple of times
  
  I think we're in the same programs.
  
  And I don't take it lightly or just roll over and say darn, there went my commissions.
  
  Jill, you do realize that:
  
  (1) There is no "monopoly" right on every mention of brand name, especially in advertising, especially in shall we say ... comparative advertising. In other words, you can refer to one brand on a website and legitimately compare it to a second company, and based on the comparison make a recommendation. Again, shall we say, to a COMPETITOR's affiliate program. Or have Adsense and other ads on that type of page.
  
  (2) Thanks to these idiots the market for the original brand name has just opened up. While everyone else shakes in their boots and removes every mention of their brand from their web pages, one of nature's laws is that every void will be filled. Either by you, or by other affiliates such as myself. This could really be an opportunity for you. (Feel free to PM me the name of the company ).
  
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simbot82 13 years ago

dodged a bullet there
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zhang9547 13 years ago

It looks like you are not sad!
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