In a matter of months, two affiliate marketing professional organization have launched. Earlier this year, the Performance Marketing Alliance was introduced, and today Affilaite Voice.
I truly believe, now more than ever, that the Affiliate Marketing industry needs more organization to get our good story out there (there are plenty of bad ones) and to put forth coordinated efforts that are required to get in front of things that threaten our industry like the recent “Amazon Tax”.
I tend to be an optimist, and looking through those glasses I think this is a good thing. Knowing everybody on the initial AV board of directors, I know they have the best interest of the industry in mind, as do the founding members of the PMA.
To answer the question this post’s title asks, I do think there is room for two organizations. I don’t care if it is two or ten as long as they’re working toward the benefit of Affiliate Marketing and don’t spend a minute on us-vs-them BS especially at such a critical time when we cannot afford an ounce of divisiveness.
All interested should be working together in coordinated efforts to stop proliferation of the copycat tax legislation that is spreading through several states now.
Even in quieter times (perhaps especially so) the interests, motivations, and dedication to the industry will be tested. But for now, large, well-funded organizations are needed to put the muscle behind the lobbying efforts to stop the Amazon tax in other states. While small groups have been working feverishly on NY and CA, other states have fallen to more bad legislation. A few volunteers can only do so much.
For the record, I’m on the PMA’s Formation Advisory Board (which will be replaced with an actual Board of Directors at some point), and I have joined as a member. I expect that I’ll be joining Affiliate Voice as well in an effort to do everything I can for our industry (if they’ll have me.)
Whether it be through the PMA or Affiliate Voice or both, please get involved in whatever way you can.
