On April 10, 2013 it was business as usual when I received an email entitled “Google Affiliate Network New Advertisers;” however, a week later on April 17, 2013 another Google email with the innocent subject “An Update on Google Affiliate Network” broke the news that Google would be retiring and closing down GAN (Google Affiliate Network) by July 31, 2013. Google will disable publisher to advertiser functions by July 31, 2013 while reports and payments will continue until October 31, 2013. Additionally, Google posted a brief blog post on April 16, 2013 also titled “An Update on Google Affiliate Network” to inform affiliates of the plans to close the Google Affiliate Network while maintaining Adsense network, Conversion Optimizer, Product Listing Ads, and remarketing.
Important Updates Message for Google Affiliates
I regularly receive updates from affiliate networks and advertisers in my inbox. Most of these are sorted into the appropriate folders by network or advertiser. It was pure happenstance that I saw and opened the April 17, 2013 update email from Google. Here is a convenient copy of my email “An Update on Google Affiliate Network:”
An update on Google Affiliate Network
Important updates for Google Affiliate Network publishers and advertisers
Our goal with Google Affiliate Network has been to help advertisers and publishers improve their performance across the affiliate ecosystem. Cost-per-action (CPA) marketing has rapidly evolved in the last few years, and we constantly evaluate our products to ensure that we’re focused on the services that will have the biggest impact for our advertisers and publishers. To that end, we’ve made the difficult decision to retire the Google Affiliate Network and focus on other products that are driving great results for clients.
Publishers can continue to earn revenue through the AdSense network. And marketers can take advantage of other CPA-oriented Google tools like Product Listing Ads, remarketing and Conversion Optimizer to drive valuable online sales and conversions. These areas are growing rapidly and we continue to invest significantly in them.
We’ll continue to support our customers as we wind down the product over the next few months. While we will no longer be adding new product functionality, we will maintain the platform during the transition period. We plan to disable publisher relationships from advertiser programs on July 31, 2013. Publisher payments will be disbursed for network activity generated through this date. We will continue to make certain functionality available through October 31, 2013 for retrieving reports, reconciling orders, and processing payments.
A huge thanks to all our advertisers, publishers and the team that has worked tirelessly on Google Affiliate Network over the past few years. We look forward to helping you grow your business in the future.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
The Google Affiliate Network Team
Another GAN Closing Reminder
On May 2, 2013 Google Affiliate Network sent an email with the clear and concise message in the subject: “Retiring Google Affiliate Network services.” Affiliate publishers are encouraged to use or continue to use the Google Adsense network in the future. This email message reads:
Dear Publisher,
As you may have read in our recent email, we’ve made the difficult decision to retire Google Affiliate Network (GAN). According to your GAN Online Program Terms and Conditions and AdSense Terms and Conditions, we will suspend all GAN services, except for certain reporting and payments functionality, on July 31, 2013. On October 31, 2013, we will suspend and terminate any remaining GAN services.
Publisher payments will be disbursed for your GAN network activity generated through July 31, 2013. For clarity, the last day that new activity will be tracked through GAN (including conversions) is July 31, 2013.
Affiliate publishers can continue to earn AdSense revenue through the AdSense network. Thanks for your support of our affiliate product, and we look forward to helping you grow your business in the future.
Sincerely,
The Google Affiliate Network Team
Changes to Your Adsense Terms and Conditions
Inbetween the Google Affiliate Network email updates, Google sent an email on April 17, 2013 regarding changes in Adsense Terms and Conditions. Google is updating Adsense terms and conditions beginning on April 23, 2013 and these must be accepted by May 23, 2013 in order to continue to use Adsense services. The new terms and conditions can be viewed by logging into an active Adsense account.
An Abrupt Close to Google Affiliate Network
My initial response to the update on Google Affiliate Network shutting down was surprise. I wondered if it was an email or Internet hoax; however, it is not a hoax. Timing, scale, fit, competition, and legal liability are stated as potential reasons for the close by writer Angel Djambazov in “5 Reasons Google Shut Down Its Affiliate Network” on Geekwire.com. Ultimately Google must believe its bottomline — overall profitability — will improve following the close. Current Google Affiliate Network marketers and merchants have a few months until July 31, 2013 to completely switch over to the Google Adsense Network or expand their horizons with other affiliate networks.
Resources:
“An Update on Google Affiliate Network” — email April 17, 2013
“An Update on Google Affiliate Network” — J.J. Hirschle, GoogleAffiliateNetwork-blog Blogspot.com
“Google Affiliate Network New Advertisers” — email April 10, 2013
“Retiring Google Affiliate Services” — email May 2, 2013
“5 Reasons Google Shut Down Its Affiliate Network” — Geekwire.com