PrimeQ, I think would be a good example of a US CPA network that has done well in the UK

Sounds like a big issue you have over there. We don’t really have any CPA specific networks over here – I guess Smart Quotes or OMG are the closest too it as they are Finance based and this is usually a CPA rather than a % but most networks are a mix of the two payment methods.

We don’t seem to have as many problems over here. The networks have a zero-tolerance policy to Spyware and if it’s found that a network is working with them then the network gets a bit of a kicking and removes the particular affiliate pretty fast. Again, Email Spam isn’t tolerated as is closely monitored. Maybe it’s because all the Viagra deals seem to be in USD!

This explains also explains the news of MySpace suing a CPA network (or owner of one) the other week and I can finally understand why.

So what is the general consensus from affiliates like yourself on these networks? Do you refrain from using them to promote merchants, even though they have better deals and what kind of things are being done to prevent against the shady side – surely this has a very negative impact on the industry and can make merchants very wary about entering the market?

CPA networks (here in the states, anway) tend to be just big affiliates themselves, or start out that way until they become big enough to build their own infrastructure and make their own deals. They can offer higher payouts on average than the networks because they aggregate lots of other affiliates into one large one with more weight and leverage. I think they even take a loss on some offers, just to get in good with big affiliates.

Most of the split that you’re talking about comes from the basis and popular opinion that many CPA networks have a shady side and cause problems to the affiliate networks and merchants because they lack transparency and accountability. They can load up with spyware, email spam, etc., and can effectively “launder” the leads that they send on to the merchants. They can “hypothetically” be affiliates of themselves, and push through some junk, and “clean up the affiliate” when merchants complain.

You don’t hear about similiar issues over there?