Microsoft adCenter Affiliate Program
I read with interest that Microsoft adCenter have just launched their own affiliate program geared towards those of us who work in and around the internet marketing industry. Great I thought, Google have one, Yahoo have one and I’ve made a few quid from both of them. Off I go to sign up, or so I thought.
First disappointment: Pays out on US customers only
Great, so MSN will gladly take onboard customers from countries such as the UK but you will not honour the work done to recruit them. No wonder MSN are so far behind in the search market if this is how you alienate those that wish to promote your services.
Second disappointment: Windows Live Account needed
Still interested in checking the program out I thought I’d sign up anyway to see the details as I own websites that have good volumes of US traffic. Again, as if hell bent on alienating as many people as possible before getting started Microsoft insist you have a Windows Live account just to fill in an application form.
Third disappointment: Invite Only - UPDATED (see below)
Having got the default “we’ll review you in a few days” response I was intrigued about how much they might pay out to affiliates so I went to look in the FAQ’s. That’s when I stumbled across this… ”We are currently accepting applications from affiliates interested in participating in the Microsoft Affiliate Network private release period, which is designed to scale up the size of the affiliate network as we roll out additional offers. Once approved, you’ll be one of just a few affiliates in the network and have a great opportunity to market these great offers.” Or in English… it’s invite only at the moment.
UPDATE: It appears that the T+C’s may be slightly outdated with regards to the private release period. The MSN adCenter affiliate program is now public and open to all.
I do quite like adCenter (when I can get bulk upload working) but at this rate I’ll have to wait till next year, or the year after that… or… oh forget it.
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Hi Paul,
I’m helping with the launch of the adCenter program and will try to clear some things up for you. This is the official launch - I just did a Press Release and everything. So it’s not by invite only. Sorry for the confusion. Someone just needs to change that messaging about the private release period. Not something I can do, unfortunately, but I did let them know.
This is early launch though, so there is always a chance some of the policies will change. I have alerted them to your blog and your concerns about UK referrals not being commissionable. You know me, I always want every affiliate to make all they can, but this is not my call.
Here is the full announcement about the program with more details.
Microsoft Launches adCenter Affiliate Program
Hi Linda,
Thank you for taking the time to drop by and comment, it’s always appreciated. Hopefully you can understand that the post is not a reflection on your PR (which appears to be doing wonders) but more the gut reaction to my experience with the program so far. Many affiliates, including myself failed to receive any credit for another adCenter/Tradedoubler promotion that ran a while back so this time I’m simply calling it as I see it.
That said, my application to the adCenter affiliate program has been approved so it looks like a good call with regards to the ‘invite only’ part of my post. Will update that part now and hopefully report back with good things when I check out the program in full.
Paul