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majoring in marketing.[33]
Education occurs most often in "real life" by becoming involved and learning the details as time progresses.
Although there are several books on the topic, some so-called "how-to" or "silver bullet" books instruct readers to
manipulate holes in the Google algorithm, which can quickly become out of date,[33] or suggest strategies no longer
endorsed or permitted by advertisers.[34]
Outsourced Program Management companies typically combine formal and informal training, providing much of
their training through group collaboration and brainstorming. Such companies also try to send each marketing
employee to the industry conference of their choice.[35]
Other training resources used include online forums, weblogs, podcasts, video seminars, and specialty websites.
Affiliate Summit is the largest conference in the industry, and many other affiliate networks host their own annual
events.Code of conduct
A code of conduct was released by affiliate networks Commission Junction/beFree and Performics in December
2002 to guide practices and adherence to ethical standards for online advertising.Marketing term
Members of the marketing industry are recommending that "affiliate marketing" be substituted with an alternative
name.[36] Affiliate marketing is often confused with either network marketing or multi-level marketing. Performance
marketing is a common alternative, but other recommendations have been made as well.Sales tax vulnerability
In April 2008 the State of New York inserted an item in the state budget asserting sales tax jurisdiction over
Amazon.com sales to residents of New York, based on the existence of affiliate links from New York–based
websites to Amazon.[37] The state asserts that even one such affiliate constitutes Amazon having a business presence
in the state, and is sufficient to allow New York to tax all Amazon sales to state residents. Amazon challenged the
amendment and lost at the trial level in January, 2009. The case is currently making its way through the New York
appeals courts.Cookie stuffing
Cookie stuffing involves placing an affiliate tracking cookie on a website visitor's computer without their
knowledge, which will then generate revenue for the person doing the cookie stuffing. This not only generates
fraudulent affiliate sales, but also has the potential to overwrite other affiliates' cookies, essentially stealing their
legitimately earned commissions.Click to reveal
Many voucher code web sites use a click-to-reveal format, which requires the web site user to click to reveal the
voucher code. The action of clicking places the cookie on the website visitor's computer. The IAB [38] have stated
that "Affiliates must not use a mechanism whereby users are encouraged to click to interact with content where it is
unclear or confusing what the outcome will be."