Clickbooth's Blog/Review Guidelines

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mediasup said:
Again cloaking wont do jackshit http snooper can easily find where your traffic is coming from. $100 dollars I can find any cloaked link landing page location.
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From the advertiser end of things, I love being able to bust an affiliate for bidding on a brand name when it's disallowed, where the affiliate is cloaking (redirect, geo-targeting, cookies) to try and prevent being found out and then questions how I could've found their ad. Here's an astonishing revelation - Advertisers know how to use Google too, and know what ads look like. Networks can do the same.
 


johu said:
From the advertiser end of things, I love being able to bust an affiliate for bidding on a brand name when it's disallowed, where the affiliate is cloaking (redirect, geo-targeting, cookies) to try and prevent being found out and then questions how I could've found their ad. Here's an astonishing revelation - Advertisers know how to use Google too, and know what ads look like. Networks can do the same.
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My point exactly Advertisers are going to have a field day busting affiliate for not meeting the "New Guidelines" they are going to consider it like incentived traffic and spam meaning No payouts for the affiliate YOU! Clickbooth needs to fucking realize "All" the advertiers on there network are breaking the Guidelines they set into place. So fuck them! They are doing a really good job at throwing stones while living in a glass house. Can wait to see there investors bottomline next year if the company is still around
 
Split tested on CBooth last month, conversion from my rule breaking/ profitable lander was not good, but AM told me it was ok source. Just took down my last link, will be Pissed if they try & make issue with the revinue I have... Well see...
Anyone asked them about payment?
 
In all seriousness though: If any network that I push traffic to pulled anything comparable to this, I wouldn't think twice about cutting all ties. It's not even about the ridiculousness of all of this or whether it is even possible to policy any of this. If someone goes through all of the hassle to create the best of Facebook and Google, adds some random FTC regulations and make up their own set of rules, but doesn't follow up on it, that already should raise a flag.

Even though it seems as if this is supposed to "protect" the network, the advertiser and the affiliate and let's not bother with logic or realism for now: Neither affiliate nor advertiser have a direct relation between each other, it all obviously goes through the network. The advertiser and network in most cases will have signed an IO. Among payout, payment terms, restrictions, targeting, caps etc. it obviously also includes the URL, the name and often also the type of the offer and billing model. Networks will also check out the website, do credit or reference checks and generally try to find out about the offer, especially with new advertisers or offers. Both parties are aware of what the agreement entails, you have their signatures, the paper work etc. Point being: the advertiser has nothing to worry about. A network could put up guidelines saying anyone using a .com domain will be fined $25 for each lead, unless they actually amended the IO or expire the offer, there's no basis for the network to go after the advertiser. So the advertiser is safe. Most importantly, the network can't claim ignorance: They can't turn around and play dumb about what the advertiser was doing, claiming they had no idea and they can't possibly policy everyone. Plus they are getting paid, so it's in their best interest to be as thorough as possible.

Then we got the affiliate on the other end. They contract is between network and affiliate, it will most likely contain some phrase about abiding by whatever guidelines or regulations they may have. And even if they don't, it's very easy to miss an email sent out among dozen new offer notifications, or not reading internal news and notifications. And even then it doesn't require from the network to actually be proactive about it. They can claim ignorance so much easier: The user base is many times bigger, the approval process doesn't need to be as strict, you have many inactive publishers, the network and affiliate manager usually don't have direct contact besides to a handful of bigger affiliates. So a guy doing shady capitalist marketing, clearly against their policy, may slip through. And of course it's hardly feasible to monitor each and every single landing page, but if someone does point one out, the network may take appropriate actions.

I'm not saying Clickbooth is looking to dick anyone over, maybe some intern in legal just wanted to proof himself useful. Or maybe they are just trying to cover their ass. But if the advertiser is covered by the IO, they owe money to the network, not the other way round, the network can claim ignorance, point to the guidelines and present some examples of acting swiftly if made aware of violations, then as an affiliate I wouldn't want to take the risk to violate guidelines that are of consequence only to me, with a network that isn't enforcing their own rules and is clearly violating them with the sort of advertisers they chose to partner with.

We've seen it happen with the mobile space, we've seen Azoogle actively monitor ringtone ads on search engines, they recently disallowed weightloss blogs for Acai, networks would often make sure affiliates wouldn't bid on blockbuster or netflix (except spring 07, good times) and ad networks make sure their editorial guidelines are being followed. So it is possible, and it is being done.

Of course, if Clickbooth actually does force their advertiser to adhere to those guidelines, gets rid of the offending offers/creatives and proactively enforces and monitors publishers then my point is moot. Otherwise I would be wary of having an encyclopedia of pretty harsh guidelines in clear violation with seemingly no one enforcing them.
 
Sohan said:
Haha, yeah right. Flog isn't the only way.
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I agree and I hate the flogs but the fact is they convert and they drive traffic costs up since everyone and their mother promotes one now. So as long as they are around they're gonna make other landers that don't convert quite as well hard to justify.

It would require all networks to follow the same rule that clickbooth did to shut down flogs. Don't see that happening unless the FTC jumps in.

Review sites can be written fairly accurately with a little more effort.
 
Review sites are part of this
Review websites comply with these guidelines by reserving the right to review each such Publisher Website randomly for compliance. At Clickbooth's request publisher must provide copy of Driver License or other form of Government ID of consumer depicted on website as well as confirm or authenticate facts stated on website. Publisher must respond satisfactorily within 5 business days of an audit or account will be terminated.

  • Review websites must disclose review process and steps taken to ensure a fair review
  • Each such Publisher Website Must have disclaimers for images that do not represent the consumer that is portrayed
  • Each such Publisher Website Must have disclaimer for use of celebrity or trademarked logos
  • Each such Publisher Website Must have disclaimers for substantiated claims
  • Links to products must have an asterisk leading to a disclaimer that discloses affiliations and compensation
  • Each such Publisher Website Must disclose fact that products were tested
  • Please review these to ensure that your review site or blog site meets the
    standards we have set out. There is no margin for less than 100 percent compliance. That is our standard and that of the
    partners we will continue to work with.
So review sites that are "fairly accurately" dont cut it for clickbooth GOOD LUCK getting your money if you a publisher on clickbooth
 
mediasup said:
At Clickbooth's request publisher must provide copy of Driver License or other form of Government ID
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FUCK that noise. Thats a joke. Was it published April 1st by any chance?

Maybe CB will offer review copies of all products you promote for free, so you can accurately review it.
 
It's just hilarious because ClickBooth is the most shady network out there. Like someone said before, I think they are trying to be proactive about the legal shitstorm that is bound to come their way sooner or later...
 
Ya, it's real. My AM told me it was coming before it got to me. I'm sure they were forced into this situation legally but either way they lost my traffic within 10 minutes of the e-mail.

If they try to make an issue of past revenue I'll just show them the screenshots of them saying the compliance department approved it.
 
Here is the exact email received Enjoy! They fucking better get rid of all there advertiers too cause they dont meet Clickbooths standards.
------
Affiliate marketing is a rapidly evolving industry in which new marketing
techniques are born every
day. It is also unique in that it is the one industry in which a single
individual can compete for
marketing inventory with the largest media companies in the world.

With such an open playing field, significant changes to marketing methods
through new
content-intensive techniques are being made on a daily basis. A special
and important level of
responsibility has now been placed on affiliates to ensure that the
consumer is not misled and is
constantly and consistently protected. This type of self regulation is
what protects not only the
consumer but also the publishers and advertisers, resulting in a
successful future for all parties.

As a leader in the performance marketing industry, Clickbooth - and its
parent company IntegraClick
- have always felt a responsibility to lead by example, particularly in
developing and implementing
self regulation and controls on these new marketing channels. Whether it
is the CAN SPAM Act of 2003
or the complete banning of incentivized traffic years ago, it has always
been and will continue to
be our most important mission to protect consumers and our partners
throughout every step of the
marketing process.

As a point of reference, the CANSPAM Act of 2003 drew a line in the sand
between publishers
marketing the right way and those employing unscrupulous methods. We are
seeking to draw that line
again between the publishers who are running legitimate review and blog
sites and those operating
misleading fake blog and review sites.

This is more than just a situational issue. It's important to distinguish
between compliant
marketing practices and misleading techniques, as that is the only way to
ensure the longevity of
the industry. To create a long term and scalable business, it is important
that publishers refrain
from misleading consumers in any way. This is the best combination of
consumer protection and
enlightened self interest: by protecting the consumers, publishers are
also protecting themselves.

At Clickbooth, it has always been our practice to identify and then refuse
to work with prospective
partners whom we believed did not meet our standards for integrity and
consumer protection. Now,
even though we are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice, our
compliance team has decided to
publicly issue a formal set of guidelines. These were developed after
conducting extensive research
with case attorneys and regulatory bodies to understand the distinctions
between a compliant blog or
review site and a non-compliant one.

We are now communicating this to all of our partners to continue to ensure
that all publisher
traffic generation methods are 100 percent compliant with regulations and
not misleading to the
consumer in any way. Clickbooth's senior director of compliance, Ziare
Brown, has been pivotal in
this entire process.

This process entails more than a set of guidelines. We will also be
auditing any blog and review
sites via an ongoing audit process to ensure the full compliance of
everyone in the partner
relationship.

We have now posted our initial guidelines and review process so other
advertising and affiliate
networks can follow our lead and ensure the compliance of their partners
as well. They are
available for review at
Clickbooth Publisher Affiliate Network and CPA Network.

Please review these to ensure that your review site or blog site meets the
standards we have set
out. There is no margin for less than 100 percent compliance. That is
our standard and that of the
partners we will continue to work with.

Your affiliate strategist will act as your liaison to our compliance team.
Please contact your
representative with any questions or for more information. We will work
with the partners to ensure
their continued success via long term, integrity-based consumer marketing.

We are excited for you to join us in taking the first steps in this brand
new arena.


Thank you,
John Lemp
CEO IntegraClick Inc. and Clickbooth.com
 
mediastar100 said:
agreed.

How much of this is ass covering by the nw? will they really enforce a policy that is going to cost them mega bucks in rev...

Anyway im growing quite attached to my magic fucking cloak so Im keeping it
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Whether they enforce it or not isn't an issue for me- there isn't a chance I'm doing business with a company who COULD at any point choose to enforce it, and given the ridiculously loose/broad legal jargon this is written in were I to actually give a fair review of a product I actually ordered I suspect this could be confiscated/forfeited simply because I didn't keep the istockphoto thin model's driver's license on file for 'verification.'

NOW BACK TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF 'WHEN COVERING YOUR ASS GOES TOO FAR: THE CONCRETE BUTTPLUG CHRONICLES'
 
I'm not promoting any flogs but WOW, I wouldn't even do business with CB company after reading that bullshit.
 
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