Best Practices – Networks have resources that far exceed those of their typical publishers. We often act bad when we don’t know what is right, and networks help publishers stay out of trouble by making sure they know what they can and can’t do. If there is a new rule, a policy change, or any other piece of critical information, the networks push that out to those with whom they work. They are the clearinghouse for making sure we all comply.
Locked Vault – As we have said before, the CPA Network space is much more a relationship game than a technology one. And, relationships rely on trust. Networks also know that many offers publishers could get elsewhere, so keeping them loyal relies partially on the payout du jour. It relies that much more in making sure their relationships believe that networks will do right by them. Right means not violating their trust and protecting secrets.
Sustainability – Keeping a space thriving takes a lot of work, and much of that work generates immediate returns. While we see networks throwing parties at conferences and putting on contests for their publishers, we don’t see the legal bills, the closed door meetings, and veritable lobbying done on behalf of the publishers.
Protection – Just as publishers rarely see the proactive work done by the networks, they also do not see the reactive work. Hardly any publisher of meaningful volume hasn’t either deliberately or inadvertently run afoul and caused some grief for the network. Fans of the movie “Saving Private Ryan” will recall a line that Tom Hanks’ character utters about senior officers never complaining. The same goes here. The networks often shield their publishers, helping them get better without just passing along any heat directly to the publisher.
from DMConfidentail