I do comment how the term affiliate manager opens up a can if worms every time.. its in the same category Epassporte, Zango and Chris 3.0..
The job duties of a affiliate manager differ so greatly from company to company and its like being called a webmaster, it's very vague. Some do strictly sales the whole time, some a more like program managers....
Program owners made a critical error and hired inexperienced low wage people with the promise of high commissions to be affiliate managers for the company. They forgot to realize they are the first point of contact and they scared away more traffic then they will ever admit. There is no school for affiliate managers and not all of them have genius husbands
So you can blame both sides to why they got this reputation.
Do I have affiliate's be dicks to me? Oh hellz yes... verbally assaulted, threaten, hit up at all hours yet the min I lose MY COOL... IM GOING TO GFY!!!!!!!!!! it's the nature of the beast.. I'm not mad I love what I do but our job is very public.. and it's not a job its a lifestyle..YOU BECOME an affiliate manager.. this place never closes..
Support tickets are great in theory sure... but its 2011 my guys want instant support, top converting sites, payment details, new tools like yesterday... Submitting a ticket is all pretty and nice and gives me the luxury of prepping nice complete replies...I simply don't have that luxury.
Lazy affiliate rep threads make me laugh out loud... If I posted lazy webmaster threads this board would look different.....
I kinda went off their and miss your question Kristen...the answer is.... being a pretty girl in a male dominated industry has it advantages and this is one of those cases...No disrespect...