I recently learned that FusionQuest, a hosted affiliate network, is shutting down on August 10, 2009.

Merchants will need to switch to new affiliate management solutions. Affiliates will need to fix their links ASAP - read on below for a solution.

Although there's not much news on the FusionQuest site, other than they are not taking on new clients, here's an email that was recently issues by JB McKee, the founder of FusionQuest:

FusionQuest has been offering affiliate tracking solutions to merchants operating an affiliate program continuously since August of 2000. It is thus with some regret that I must inform you of the following.

As of August 10, 2009, FusionQuest will cease operations and will no longer be available to provide affiliate tracking. The server will be shut down and all services will be discontinued, including the Order-It shopping cart.

A number of factors have conspired to force this unfortunate situation. I know this will cause a number of merchants inconvenience and I apologize for that.

As of Aug. 10, 2009, the fusionquest.com domain will be absorbed by ShareASale.com. I have worked with Brian Littleton (CEO of ShareASale) to secure a special deal that will allow all FusionQuest merchants to move over to the ShareASale platform with minimal expense. The regular price to set up a ShareASale account is $500. I have arranged that all current FusionQuest merchants can set up an account for only $125 if they use the specially provided coupon code.

Each FusionQuest merchant has their own assigned coupon code. This code and the special link to redeem the code is available by logging in to your current FusionQuest account. There is also a presentation available there as well giving details of the ShareASale system.

I highly recommend that all FusionQuest merchants take advantage of this offer. ShareASale is a well established, rock solid platform with a large network of very loyal and active affiliates. I have met Brian Littleton a number of times and can vouch for his integrity and commitment to the industry.

Some of you have been using the FusionQuest system for a long time and I want to thank you for your support. I will miss providing this service for you.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and I wish you the best as you move forward with your online endeavors.

This affects some top merchants, including Shawn Collins' Affiliate Summit, which has an affiliate program itself.

Here's a part of an email I recently received from Shawn, which is a good example of a merchant keeping his affiliates informed what's going on with their affiliate program.

Hi -

We just got word that FusionQuest, which powers the Affiliate Summit affiliate program, will be closing down on August 10, 2010.

The Affiliate Summit affiliate program will be relaunching on ShareASale.com.

Please keep an eye on the Affiliate Summit blog at http://www.affiliatesummit.com/blog/ for details on the new affiliate program when it launches.

In the meantime, please take down your current Affiliate Summit links before August 10, 2010.

Thanks,
Shawn Collins

Shawn is merely one of 54 merchants affected by this move.

Here's a complete list of all of the merchants affecte (see below).

If you are an affiliate for any of these merchants than you should contact them to find out where they are moving their program to. In the LEAST you will need to get new tracking links and a new affiliate panel login for stat checking and other affiliate functions.

And that includes this one clueless affiliate who's still advertising FusionQuest using Google AdWords as of today Aug 3, 2009 :)

Lessons learned:

Affiliates:

In general you should NEVER post your affiliate links in their raw form. The main reason has nothing to do with "affiliate link hijacking" which other than in a few cases is a myth perpetuated by link cloaking script vendors trying to scare you into buying their redirect script. But that's a whole other story.

The reason you should NEVER post your affiliate links is that they will get picked up by search engines and possibly other people, and end up out there on the internet  out of yoru control. So if an affiliate program switches to a NEW platform, with different links, then you could be losing out on commissions as the old links could end up going elsewhere.

So what you should do to retain 100% control over your links, and the traffic you are sending out, is to redirect them through your own tracking system first. For PPC traffic links I suggest you use a free affiliate tracking script called Prosper202, which will capture and redirect and CLOAK your traffic. The beauty of p202 is that you will see the ACTUAL search query used by the visitor, which can be valuable information if you're into building negative keyword lists and looking for ways to expand your PPC campaigns.

For non-PPC traffic links I suggest using a commercial script e.g. GoTryThis. I've been using John Reel's GoTryThis for a few years now and recently switched to his hosted system. Support is excellent and you can manage ALL your affiliate links from one place. I'll admit that sometimes I just toss out a raw link somewhere to save time, but in the long run it's always better to make up a GTT link in a few seconds and put that out there.

Merchants:

* Always make sure your affiliate vendor/network is on solid ground. Add a Google Alert for your vendor's company, so you're aware of what's being said about them in the news and blogs.

* Ensure that you can EXPORT the vital data out of your affiliate system. Critical data would be:

• Affiliate contact info and notes - good and bad
  
• Affiliate sales history
• Affiliate accounting
• Affiliate campaigns, click history
• Coupons
  

Here's a list of those merchants affected.

Assuming 100 active affiliates per merchant this probably affects over 5,400 entrepreneurs and their sites:

OPUS Movie Distribution Network

Soypal Cookie Diet

Quest

Ennect Reseller Program

Custom Window Coverings - Blinds & Shades

Local Search Solutions from Get Found Local

Shecy Pearl Jewelry Network

Treadmills Central

eComXpo

i-yo.com

Great Gift Ideas Etc

World Famous Gift Baskets

PharmacySources

Simon's Stamps

newattitude

SITEDESIGNS4U.COM

Khan Certs

Traffic Excess Affiliate Program

grandallure

Generation Tea

800Millionaire

Weight Loss Buddy Affiliate Program

Organic Health and Beauty

Moissanite-Stardust.com Affiliate Program

Pillow-Phonic

Quit For Sure (Stop Smoking in One Week)

The Scholarship & Grant Guide

Traffic Virus eBooks

WeAreAffiliates affiliate directory

ClearanceShop

ALCJR ENTERPRISES, LLC

HEALLIX

Affiliate Summit

SolerInvestments.com

Dealtraders
 
iMate Computer Mirror
 
Outlook Health Serivces
 
AffiliateFirst Submission Services

Transgendered.net
 
The Chilipepper Appliance
 
Crack-GMAT
 
Incometrader

Tantra At Tahoe Sacred Sexuality Ebooks & Training
 
Dr. Rae's Shopping Network
 
Ron's Rhinestones International
 
More Customers, Sales & Money Program
 
HostDude.net
 
B-Quiet Sound Deadening
 
WHOLLY WATER ® Drinking Water Appliance
 
Sun Coast Organics

Ultimate Christmas Storage

--- (Edited on 8/5/2009 3:24 pm [GMT-0500] by Peter) ---