Is this unreasonable?
 

Although our primary website is now approx 5 years old I'm still relatively new to managing an affiliate program.
I've come accross one niggle with a new affiliate and I would like to know if I am right to be a little unhappy.
OK, so our primary website is http://www.kinkykicks.net which obviosuly comes top of search engine finds when typing in 'Kinky Kicks'. I have just discovered that a new affiliate is using 'kinkykicks' as a subdomain of their own site, which also returns quite high up when searching for our sites name.
I'm not quite sure if I am happy about this. Would I be wrong to ask that our site name not be used as a subdomain by other webmasters affiliates?

Hi BNMedia, I would say leave them to it. What does it matter to you that they are using your site name as a subdomain? As long as they aren't bringing your brand into disrepute I don't see the harm. It looks like the subdomain you are concerned about is just a blog promoting your site anyway so let them carry on - the more people out there promoting your brand the better.
I would imagine if you contacted them and asked them to stop using the name kinkykicks they would reply along the lines of "OK, we won't use it all" and will stop promoting you. If someone types in Kinky Kicks into Google you are the top three spots anyway and it's not until fourth spot that the subdomain comes along - so I think it's unlikely people would sign up through them rather than you directly - but if they do, it's better to catch them through an affiliate than lose the sale altogether.

I like your site by the way - hit me up on ICQ 23325595 if you want to do some cross promotion sometime :thumbsup

as long as the traffic goes to you then done worry about it and take the same time you have spent thinking this over and posting here and work on getting your self better listed for better keywords and phrases.

Honestly you are worrying over an approx 95 searches a day across all of the big SE's for that phrase. I dont think its enough to worry about.

Thanks guys. I had my reasons for pondering this, but after some thought it I realize there's no harm in this. In fact I came accross one affiliate guide which recommended this kind of practice.
Thanks for the input.

And Charlie, yes I would be interested in some cross promotion. I'll try and catch you on ICQ soon!

It's their job to send you traffic. Don't punish them for doing a great job :)

OK cool, I am online most weekdays during working hours (UK time) :thumbsup

Affiliate is doing his job. If you are worried you need someone advising you on how to seo your site.

:thumbsup

if they are promoting your site, that's not a problem

a niggle that made me chuckle