[Webtistic]

Webtistic are excited to announce the launch of RunByAffiliates.com (http://www.runbyaffiliates.com), a new international affiliate marketing network with a difference.

RunByAffiliates is unique in that it is the first affiliate network to hand control to its affiliates in the form of affiliate elected staff positions, community rewards, and 100% control over network profit*.

In addition, RunByAffiliates provides affiliates with a completely transparent platform offering full disclosure on affiliate spending, revenue, management, and performance, so affiliates can be certain that the day to day activities of the network remain in the interest of the affiliates as a whole.

RunByAffiliates also promotes and rewards active community participation in the form of 'activity points' that are earned by posting articles, forum posts, uploading design templates, and videos.

“Historically, affiliate networks have suffered from a high level of distrust from their affiliate base, often as a result of the network having to take action against affiliates for low-quality traffic or fraudulent activity. The mission of RunByAffiliates is to hand the control to its affiliates and allow the community to decide on the key activities of the network. We have combined this with a strict 'affiliate charter' which will go much further in protecting the way in which affiliates are serviced by the network.” said Dave Bird, network manager of RunByAffiliates.

Bird continued, “we also offer advertisers an opportunity to join the network without set-up costs or any management fees, so when you couple this with the promise of high-quality traffic, the viability for advertising partners looking to widen their marketing reach is literally without risk”.

RunByAffiliates will operate international campaigns (with the base currency being US Dollars) and offer commissions to affiliates upon the generation of leads, sales, clicks, impressions and other performance metrics. Affiliates will also benefit from reliable tracking technology, fast payouts, and friendly, experienced affiliate managers who will assist in offering advice on maximising affiliate revenues.


About Webtistic:

Webtistic is an online digital media business formed in 2006. The company has also established and run the Profitistic (http://www.profitistic.com) affiliate network in the United Kingdom since March of 2007.

CONTACT:
Dave Bird
Run By Affiliates
Tel: + 44 (0) 845 68 002 68
Fax: + 44 (0) 845 63 813 77
info@runbyaffiliates.com
www.runbyaffiliates.com

*Disclosure - Webtistic fulfill the basic management duties of the network and receive a 10% (of gross revenue) management fee in exchange for this service.

http://www.runbyaffiliates.com/file/style/Mameem-Green/logo.jpg

[writerguy]

Maybe it's just because you guys are new, but I went to your site, found no really easy or simple explanations of what merchants/advertisers you offer for affiliates. I saw a ton of good sounding ideals, but very little I could understand about "here are the campaigns/merchants we have for you to promote."

I like the concept. I applaud your notions of transparency, sharing, affiliate involvement, etc.

But it would really be nice to have a simple way of knowing whether or not I want to take my time and webspace to work with you??

[Webtistic]

Hi Writerguy,

Thank you for looking at the network!

We are actually due to offer a demo login and it was due to be available today, but there is some last-minute tweaking of the affiliate interface going on and so we will get it up ASAP.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

Thanks.

Dave

[AffiliateHound]

I echo writerguy's thoughts.

Anytime I view a "new" network, or an old one I have not previously been familiar with, my first and foremost thought is "what merchants do they offer that I would have interest in?". And I then peruse their merchant list.

A "demo login" is a worthwhile feature, but there should be a complete merchant list accessible with a homepage link.

If I cannot determine if there are merchants available that are worth considering, my first thought is that there are few merchants on the network, and likely no established merchants, and to spend any more time on the site would be a waste of time.

I applaud your concept, but until you make it quick and easy to view available merchants, I have no interest.

One additional question, though: Why in the world would you have picked that color scheme for your site? (where have I seen it before? Hmmm?)

[sam_park]

In addition, RunByAffiliates provides affiliates with a completely transparent platform offering full disclosure on affiliate spending, revenue, management, and performance, so affiliates can be certain that the day to day activities of the network remain in the interest of the affiliates as a whole.

So all affiliates know about every other affiliates' revenue, spending and what programs they are promoting. That's really scary.

[Webtistic]

Hi Sam,

Thank you for reply and taking the time to wander over and have a look.

So all affiliates know about every other affiliates' revenue, spending and what programs they are promoting. That's really scary.

No, absolutely not!

All of this information is available at network level, so affiliates are able to see what the network is earning as a whole, and factors such as TOTAL payouts, TOTAL revenue, etc.

There is no drill-down into individual statistics or earnings.

[BurgerBoy]

Who are the merchants that you have right now and what % is their affiliate commissions for each merchant?

Also, what are their return days?

We need to be able to see these things to consider joining your network.

[Webtistic]

Hi Burger Boy,

Thank you for your reply.

This information will be ready shortly via a demo login, and then with a full merchant directory accessible to all.

Thanks for the feedback guys... it is much appreciated!

[sam_park]

Hi Sam,

Thank you for reply and taking the time to wander over and have a look.


No, absolutely not!

All of this information is available at network level, so affiliates are able to see what the network is earning as a whole, and factors such as TOTAL payouts, TOTAL revenue, etc.

There is no drill-down into individual statistics or earnings.

But then you said, the network will be managed by elected affiliates. So those elected affiliates will be privy to all other affiliates' information, correct?

[Webtistic]

But then you said, the network will be managed by elected affiliates. So those elected affiliates will be privy to all other affiliates' information, correct?

Hi Sam,

Let me clarify:

The basic management duties of the network will be conducted by ourselves (Webtistic). FOr this we earn 10% of network revenue. It is unrealistic and counter-productive (for reasons you have mentioned) to allow full access/control to affiliates.

However, we are making a number of ongoing staff positions available to elected affiliates, but none of these staff members will have access to any personal information, including personal performance statistics.

We use Directtrack (love it or hate it) and a feature we have is to allow very limited access to specific modules to certain users as required.

As an example, we are due to appoint a 'Campaign Commentator' who will have access to overall campaign data (only) and be able to publicly commentate on the performance of each campaign including charts, etc on an ongoing basis (in addition to a dedicated affiliate manager).

We are able to just give this person access to campaign data only.

I hope this makes sense in regard to staff positions.

[SeymourButts]

So I guess no important details until the demo is ready. I guess you may have jumped the gun a little.

[Webtistic]

Hi Seymour,

Well the demo login just provides affiliate access to see the merchant list, but the network is now ready and live.

With this feedback, I am making sure the demo access is available ASAP!

[rematt]

Well the demo login just provides affiliate access to see the merchant list, but the network is now ready and live.When will networks understand, YOU ARE SECONDARY. We don't promote networks and most of us really don't care about how great the network is unless there are merchants and programs that we want to promote. A good practice for networks to follow would be to provide a list of available merchants and programs WITHOUT REQUIRING A LOGIN, demo or otherwise. There is absolutely nothing proprietary or secretive about a merchant list.

Why not just post a list of your current merchants here to satisfy our curiosity?

-rematt

[Webtistic]

Hi Rematt,

As already mentioned, following feedback, we are providing a demo login and merchant directory (no login required).

The point of RBA is to offer transparency, and a degree of control to the affiliates. You are absolutely right in that the network is secondary to the offers/campaigns.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you,

Dave

[writerguy]

Certainly hope all things will become clear -- or at least clearer.

Frankly, I echo the feelings of those above who suggest this is perhaps not well thought out or well planned -- and maybe launched prematurely?

I honestly would prefer just having a site with a list of merchants. And whatever that deal is I saw on the sight about "activity points" smacks more of a buyers' club or even kids' club rather than a professional collection of merchants and marketers.

Perhaps it just comes off that way to me.

[FriendlyPlanetTravel]

Your 30% service fee for merchants is a deterrent.

[markwelch]

rematt asked: > "Why not just post a list of your current merchants here to satisfy our curiosity?" <

That was my reaction, too. A new network that won't identify any merchants is not going to inspire any response from me.

But in fairness, naming merchants would potentially violate the rules against unpaid advertising. Could a moderator clarify this? If it's OK to post a list of merchants here, then I think a list should be posted here.

[Webtistic]

Certainly hope all things will become clear -- or at least clearer.

Frankly, I echo the feelings of those above who suggest this is perhaps not well thought out or well planned -- and maybe launched prematurely?

I honestly would prefer just having a site with a list of merchants. And whatever that deal is I saw on the sight about "activity points" smacks more of a buyers' club or even kids' club rather than a professional collection of merchants and marketers.

Perhaps it just comes off that way to me.

Hi again WG,

Clearly we need to add a merchant list and I am feeling that the written content can certainly be improved and extended based on some of the confusion.

Launched prematurely? Well, I am bound to disagree, but I do concede that the 2 points mentioned above should (and will) be addressed as a priority as a means of clarifying the concept and increasing the level of transparency that we seek to champion.

On the 'buying club' comment, we are simply rewarding affiliates for community interaction by awarding points that they can then add to their commissions. I don't think the concept of community collaboration and professional marketing are mutually exclusive and neither do I think this smacks of a 'kids club'. Maybe others could comment on this.

So, armed with this feedback and constructive criticism (whis is all fair) we will improve things.

Again, I really do welcome the feedback as we need to get this right!

[Haiko de Poel, Jr.]

But in fairness, naming merchants would potentially violate the rules against unpaid advertising. Could a moderator clarify this? If it's OK to post a list of merchants here, then I think a list should be posted here.

It's perfectly fine, but I agree he should list it publicly on the site -- it's a selling tool as to why someone should join.

[Webtistic]

Your 30% service fee for merchants is a deterrent.

Our basic override rate is 30% (of affiliate commission) which is fairly standard, especially for a network where no other fees are involved.

[lookstare]

Thanks for the offerin. I am going there ASAP.

[Bill-VendoQ]

Webtistic, good luck with your new network. Your concept sounds interesting and I am sure if you take all the above suggestions into consideration, you'll find affiliates and merchants to give it a try.

[rematt]

As already mentioned, following feedback, we are providing a demo login and merchant directory (no login required).Ahhh, but now another day has passed, still no list of merchants (or demo login which I really couldn't care about anyway) and I am quickly losing interest (as I'm sure others are too).

The point is, you made an announcement, you got some initial excitement that you immediately followed up with disappointment (you're starting to sound like a bad date). Instead of giving us excuses, you should have just given us the list.

Customer service 101: Give him the pickle.

-rematt

[Webtistic]

Webtistic, good luck with your new network. Your concept sounds interesting and I am sure if you take all the above suggestions into consideration, you'll find affiliates and merchants to give it a try.

Thanks for your kind words Bill. We are certainly looking for any feedback and constructive criticism is very welcome!

[Webtistic]

Ahhh, but now another day has passed, still no list of merchants (or demo login which I really couldn't care about anyway) and I am quickly losing interest (as I'm sure others are too).

The point is, you made an announcement, you got some initial excitement that you immediately followed up with disappointment (you're starting to sound like a bad date). Instead of giving us excuses, you should have just given us the list.

Customer service 101: Give him the pickle.

-rematt

Hi again rematt,

Thank you for following-up the thread although I am not sure that 'following up with disappointment' is fair!

Anyway...

It is now 2 days since my initial post, and we have added much text copy and the network demo login is live on the site (I wont link to it as I don't want to break any rules - look under 'Information'). The login provides full access to the network as a demo affiliate which includes our current offers list (note that some campaigns are invite-only as per the merchants request and so are not shown).

For those who don't want to login (although full login details are provided so there is no need to submit any details) we will also be adding a straight merchant list. However, we have decided to wait a week or so for the campaigns to settle before doing this as I don't want it to be misleading and showing outdated campaigns (like umpteen other networks who start with good intentions).

Following other feedback, we are still in the process of:


Adding A General FAQ
Improving Load Speeds
Improving The email Notification Set-Up
Modifying The Point System


So, yes, I am listening, and looking forward to working on further improvements.