I purposely didn’t write a “Predictions for 2010″ post. And maybe I should have. You see, I didn’t want to start that particular tradition (see yesterdays post about Tradition in Affiliate Marketing). But in a conversation with an OPM friend a few weeks ago we discussed a scenario that I thought likely this year.
And perhaps today is the day it all begins. AffSpot members Partnercentric and Schaaf Consulting have merged.
Two of the larger OPM firms getting together. Both with a great reputation and excellent people. Which is one of the scenarios that I discussed on that phone call. That would be for OPM (Outsourced Program Management) firms to start merging. I predicted a few different ways it could go. OPM/OPM mergers, Network/OPM mergers, Agency/OPM mergers. And I think a little of it all will happen. But in reply to a thread at AffSpot (that was reposted on Facebook) got me to thinking that my prediction is beginning to come true.. And it’s a beginning.
Integration is going to be the key for these mergers. If done right it will be a win for Affiliates and Merchants alike. If done wrong it won’t be so pretty. But Partnercentric and Schaaf Consulting are both well managed companies with terrific track records and a wonderful group of people running them. I think they’ll do well.
But keep your eyes open. I think more mergers involving OPM firms will occur this year. And not all of them will be as good as I think the Schaaf / Partnercentric merger. There may be a day this year when you’ll end up working with five different Affiliate Managers on Three Networks with 15 merchants at a single OPM firm.
When? I dunno… I just know that with this merger announced we’re likely to see alot more OPM mergers.
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