Amazon, watch out. Earlier today, Google launched an affiliate ad network. Or, rather, it rebranded Performics, the affiliate ad network that came along with its purchase of DoubleClick, as the “Google Affiliate Network.” As with other affiliate networks such as Amazon’s, participating Website publishers get paid a fee for each referral that results in a sale. Existing advertisers include Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Citi, Target, and Verizon.
The service isn’t yet integrated into Google AdSense (publishers and advertisers still have to set up separate accounts), but that would be a logical next step. An integration with AdSense could add a contextual element to the affiliate ads placed through the network. The more relevant Google can make those affiliate links, the more that consumers will actually click through and buy (in theory).
Google also continues to experiment with a pay-per-action advertising program, which is still in beta. At some point, it might make sense to consolidate that effort into the Google Affiliate Network as well.
Update: Google will actually be phasing out the PPA program at the end of August as part of the integration with DoubleClick. You can read more details at the blog post here.
Time to short VCLK – goodbye High Commission Junction
Tough time ahead for companies like Commission Junction and Amazon(Affiliate network). I am sure Google network is going to wipe out the small networks which are already struggling in this game.
Its unfortunate to see that Double Click deal got approved, Google is creating the monopoly in every area of online advertizing.
Finally.. The end of Commision Junction is near!
They are such an aweful service, I don’t know where to begin.
Its ultimately the small publisher who is going to lose. Google is going to wipe out other affiliate networks and will give pennies in commission to publisher.
Publisher with no or little options will have to settle with Google’s low commission share.
Any idea if there will be a fee to join as an advertiser like there is with CJ?
Yes, there definitely is a fee to join. I think it’s around $500.
How robust is Google’s pay-per-action beta? What are some examples of what this has to offer? Anybody know. Look at this tip for innovation… http://www.read...ex.php?RTA=web2
It seems like Google is spending so much time figuring out ways to monetize their huge search volume that they may be neglecting their core search technology. There is definitely room for a disruptive entrant to overcome the current issues with search (eg. pages of irrelevant and spam / ad filled sites).
Wooww!!! All the more reasons for me to believe that Google is the most powerful company on this little planet that we call Internet…
Check it out:
http://www.them...rfulcompany.com
It’s about time online advertising takes an upgrade.
The Google Affiliate Network is definitely another step to make online advertising more widespread through affiliates/referrals. This trend will continue to grow and we will see more innovation in the future to make online advertising to be more consumer friendly, more intuitive and more engaging.
Lots of potential in this space.
Best regards,
Darren Lee
http://www.adexcel.com
This really has nothing to do with Amazon. Amazon doesn’t technically have an “affiliate network”. It just has an affiliate or (associate in their case) program. Affiliate programs participate in affiliate networks like CJ, Linkshare, Performics, and a handful of smaller tier 2 networks. Amazon manages their own program. Interesting move by Google, nonetheless. Are they going to play nicer with affiliates who promote through Adwords?
When did Amazon become an affiliate network? Google Affiliate Network will go head to head with CJ, LinkShare, Sharesale, etc., as DoubleClick Performics was already doing, but Amazon?
A huge affiliate program with lots of offerings, but not a network.
We are pleased to introduce Google Affiliate Network . Effective Monday, June 30, 2008, DoubleClick Performics Affiliate will operate as Google Affiliate Network. The integration with Google’s brand is a reflection of efforts to quickly assimilate our business and teams, as well as reinforce Google’s commitment to the Affiliate channel. Together with our new colleagues at Google we are creating new opportunities for monetization, expansion and innovation in Affiliate Marketing.
Within the next couple of weeks you will see some exciting changes to the user interface reflecting the new brand. The platform will continue to be hosted at http://www.ConnectCommerce.com, but will eventually migrate to a google.com product url.
As noted in earlier communications, DoubleClick Performics’ Search operations are being spun off and sold to a third party. While many advertisers have relationships with both DoubleClick Performics’ Affiliate and Search, there have always been separate account teams and product-specific specialists servicing clients’ search and affiliate programs. These teams remain intact. While the formal separation will occur when the Search business is sold, the businesses are functionally separate today.
We are proud of what we achieved as Performics and this name change signals a new milestone. Google provides world-class resources and enables us to continue to attract the best talent to support our advertisers and publishers. Now as part of Google we have an exciting and unprecedented opportunity to advance our industry. We remain committed to ensuring you receive the quality service you have come to expect from us.
We appreciate your business and look forward to doing great things together.
Sincerely,
Chris Henger
Group Product Manager
Google Affiliate Network
Excellent, I was waiting for something just like this!
There’s a hell of an overlap with Adsense and I’m sure Advertisers, Agencies and to a lesser extent publishers will be weary of working on both Search and Affiliate marketing through one partner (Google). The two performance based marketing channels together must account for over 60% of online spend and the interesting thing is that over 50% of affiliate sales and therefore revenue is generated through SEM…a virtous Google circle..
One thing’s for sure, It won’t be long before Microsoft and even Yahoo have to acquire the Valueclick’s and TradeDoubler’s (both of whom’s shares have slumped over the last 6 months). Aquantive style.
“Its ultimately the small publisher who is going to lose.”
I disagree. This potentially makes it easier for people to get involved buying traffic. And what does everyone want? More traffic. I see this only increasing demand for traffic. And where do you get traffic? Adsense.
i could totally see google using their ownership of performics to restrict creative combination placements of adsense and affiliate links – and that would be too bad.
Thanks I just saw this earlier today because I am a member of DoubleClick .. I posted their email they sent me at http://www.home...te-network.html if anyone wanted to read it.
there’s a blog post on “inside adwords” that clearly says ppa is being retired. erick, your last paragraph seems to completely ignore that blog post?
It would be better if they soon integrate it with other google accounts.
Good news for internet marketer. Thank you for your information.
Converting traffic is the next step in Google’s money making strategy. Getting paid for each referral that results in a sale could be a matter of millions of dollars for affiliates and probably double for Google.
another great step from google. cj sucks anyway
I have lost the faith of google.
It disabled my adsense account.
Google Affiliate Network is light years behind CJ affiliate-wise…they better get the affiliate recruiting into high-gear. Best hope is to convert all the adsense publishers into affiliate marketers!
wouldn’t be funny if this turned into adwords advertisers demanding to pay on CPA instead of CPC. That would be a sad day for google.
High quality advertisers for high quality sites = more money
Let’s see how it starts up
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Just started both affiliates and adsense on our site http://www.land...ncorporated.com. Hope it pays a little on the side
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It is good step from google, but it is no deal for me
i love to blog
Easy ways to do things
I am just trying to find Googles own affiliate program where is gives free vouchers for new accounts.