Welcome to The Affiliate Manager Weekly Strategist from Affiliate Classroom.

Each week, we discuss an affiliate management strategy and ask you for your input.

This week, our VP of Marketing and 10 year affiliate marketing veteran, Rachel Honoway talks out loud about this secretive industry.

CARE TO SHARE?
– Rachel Honoway

Earlier this week I was browsing through the questions that people in my LinkedIn network have asked and I came across a really interesting one from Kevin Lee (of Did-It, ClickZ and SEMPO fame).

He is trying to determine the size of all affiliate payouts.

Now, I’ve been in this industry for some time, I’ve seen a lot of programs both big and small on an individual basis and on a larger scale from my post at an affiliate network. Yet, I wouldn’t even venture a guess on this.

Why?

Because most companies and players in this industry are extremely tight-lipped when it comes to stats. Networks rarely publish hard stats, large retailers lump affiliate revenues in with all “online/web” revenue and affiliates guard their numbers like a secret recipe.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve run into a brick wall hundreds of times when it comes to forecasting, pitching, planning and launching in this industry because I simply didn’t have enough information to make a solid decision.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK

What industry-wide stats would you like to see?

Which would actually help you do your job better?

Would you be willing to share your stats if it were a completely anonymous survey?

Join our discussions and post your answers and comments

(Remember - participating in industry blogs can help with brand/program recognition and with recruiting affiliates!)