Suggestion and Caveat:

Suggestion- Perhaps a call for papers that have outlines of questions…(or an online form)…

a) People can be anonymous if they want to submit ideas

b) Not everyone has time for forums, etc

Caveat: I think it is important the PMA be a supportive force. I sense some think a "forum" might be a community disruptor (I don't think so), so while the PMA might have a forum now or comments on (maybe access for due paying members if and when it congeals) it is one that doesn't try to usurp readerbases, members, etc. It nees to be a neutral entity and supportive of the existing communities out there.

e.g. I see insurance benefits and education as an important issue.

Note on the dues. Affiliates and indy publishers bear enough risk as it is. I think any dues for affiliates need to be a low hurdle. I doubt we will see thousands of members even though there are thousands of affiliates. Most just are not that active…another reason to broaden scope to performance marketing so we can serve those that fall ouside of the normal "affiliate description". e.g. those who use etsy, or publish their own art, etc. They live on performance, but happen to own their own brands or products.

Large networks, etc and merchants have budgets and should bear a higher range of cost. Like the IAB does…

best,

wayne

rebecca@performancemarketingalliance.

I do engage in "affiliate marketing". Granted on a very limited scale…I even do it in Second Life …it is even harder now than it was "back in the day". The Web has matured. The skillsets are far more complex.

Where am I? I am in the conversation. First step however I wanted to be quiet and listen.

Note: Stop calling them parasites…because by nature, all "affiliates" are parasitic. See Reality Check Post…

On the trust issues- it boils down once again to choice. People do not have to participate. Is it over the COC? No one could be more dissappointed than I was that self-regulation didn't work, but life moves on…will the problem ever get solved?

I don't know- I still have some ideas, and I have tried alot of them. I AM going to take one last attempt at it and see where it goes…but before something like that can be tackled it would be nice to have "an industry". Because right now- there is NO INDUSTRY. Anyone who says there is in the land of ***sunshine and lollipops***.

On asking the right questions and where am I?

On the phone asking questions, on skype, in IM, writing blogs, etc… Like anyone else I can choose where I want to have my conversation(s). I simply choose here, but invite people to choose what is *best for them*.

The most important thing is that we have meaningful conversations. I would love to see people just throw open word pad and start a list of THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE…send my way, blog them, comments, forums- wherever. People read them. I know where industry news is…

Everyone I talked to seems supportive of this attempt but it will get chill if it looks like it is going to be big headache.

I know some will say well "thousands of affiliates from site X" say you are wrong. I disagree. The influential people (those that actively make a full time living, attend conferences and build connections) would like to see something. Even the security community is noticing and would like to see something.

http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2008/06/mid-week-spy…

This isn't my idea- I was approached and asked to serve…so one last time I doubt the adware controversy is going to be solved to everyone's satisfaction, but people HAVE A CHOICE. Don't do business with places that are not in alignment with your goals or values. Don't read what you don't like. If the market forces were really that strong, we wouldn't have a problem.

In the grand scheme of things I thought ok- it would be "a good thing" if decent "affiliates" stopped getting a bad rap for the actions of a minority of blackhats. It would be a good thing if indy publishers could get health insurance and REALLY make a go at it…it would be a good thing if the press had a clue what it was…and how it works. There are other problems and an organization has to start somewhere. At the this point- keeping it simple and seeing if there is an "industry" out there.

Sidenote: MSFT cashback…Google Checkout…the industry is going to change. Time will tell if I am right…

What you said about adware, put it aside this and that. There are some trust issues there, with other affliates associated with adware, with some of the networks. It's there. It's easier if people feel they're on the same page. In the UK they have an assocication which seems to be working but the major networks have taken a stand against adware, minus one of the networks, so it's a little easier.

And some of the other stuff about asking the right questions, getting into the conversation. Where you at? We have a thread going, a lot of issues are being brought up and talked about with some input from the people behind it as well. It would be great to see you, Todd etc join in the conversation.

Side note, MSN, nothing to worry about