Mentioning .com in Guts ads is stealing?

[slots777]

I noticed Guts mentions Guts.com on all banner material for affiliates. On their site they only mention Guts (without .com).

I interpretated this as a way of getting extra direct and untracked traffic via affiliate sites. People are more inclined to surf to it directly with mentioning .com. It's like stealing even a bit more of the direct and untracked type-in traffic affiliates already provide.

Do I see this correct or is should we see it in another way?

 

[CaseyM]

Guts aren't the only ones to do this, I notice it a lot. I think you interpret it correctly, obviously the banners are better for us without the .com and better for them with the .com

 

[slots777]

Guts aren't the only ones to do this, I notice it a lot. I think you interpret it correctly, obviously the banners are better for us without the .com and better for them with the .com

Thanks. Are there any marketing insights showing how much affiliates lose with type-in traffic in general and due to adding .com in the ads? And, if Guts wants to be the great new affiliate program should they remove .com in their ads? (I know I'll promote programs more with banner material without .com so it might be better for them as well)

 

[Guard Dog]

When a program does this, I either look for materials without the .com... or go to another program for materials. Not sure how much traffic I would lose, but i don't want to lose any

 

[PaaskeUK]

I agree with Andy here

 

[admin]

A reminder is sent to all affiliate managers.

 

[GutsCasino]

Hi guys, we will provide banners without the ".com", never really saw this as an issue. Regarding the reason we dont have ".com" on the site is because the user is already there, the .com is not necessary.

 

[AussieDave]

never really saw this as an issue.

You'd have no reason to... This 'habit' only encroaches on affiliates. Thanks for the feedback though

lol... Any program who does this, I just edit the banners and remove the url.
Yes you can do this on *gif files and still maintain the animation but not on flash banners. Hence why I either use links or *gif banners, only.

rant
32Red is especially prone to this habit, of which they also pepper a lot of their banners with 'CasinoMeister' too.
My view on this... I'm in the business of making money for me, not the business of promoting other affiliates or ways for a casino program to get free traffic, with direct type-ins.
/rant

 

[casinonewbie]

Kudos to Guts for offering the no dot com banners, a handy free online tool to modify banners etc can be found at www.lunapic.com

 

[admin]

A reminder is sent to all affiliate managers.

 

[AussieDave]

As a side note - imo the title of this thread needs changing, it's misleading and false.