'Net Features : affiliate marketing newsletter

The Head of the Back-to-School Class

Linc Wonham — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:20:00 GMT

The calendar is winding down on the multitude of back-to-school promotions, but the Labor Day weekend and following week historically generate some of the year’s best sales for merchants dealing in fashion, electronics and other school-related supplies. We did a little homework of our own and discovered that the following retailers are still in mid-season form, making them strong candidates for a timely, end-of-summer affiliate connection.

Payless
The discount footwear provider is offering back-to-school sales on numerous well-known brands and designer labels for boys, girls and students of any age. Payless is currently offering a buy one, get half off on everything deal that includes $5.95 flat fee shipping. The free affiliate program is managed through Commission Junction, and new partners can participate in sales programs as well as non-sales programs, earning either a percentage commission from sales events or a fixed dollar amount from non-sales events.

Marshalls
If the more than a quarter million fans on Marshall’s back-to-school Facebook page are any indication, this is an ideal time to partner with the deal-friendly fashion retailer. Sales of up to 60 percent off of designer and brand names are taking place every day of the year at Marshall’s, so it ranks high on the list of destinations for savvy September shoppers. Marshall’s affiliate partners can register through the TJX Companies, Inc.

Best Buy
Whether it’s the latest in laptops, PCs, printers, tablet computers, software or games, Best Buy always has some of the best bargains for students. The leading consumer electronics retailer provides its affiliates with a library of text links, weekly banner ads, widgets and an open API for the company’s product catalog. Partners also receive weekly newsletters and special announcements to help them take advantage of Best Buy’s ongoing promotions and services.

Staples
The back-to-school savings at Staples are both legendary and heavily promoted, and affiliates who join the program now will surely reap the benefits year-round. From notebooks, pencils and pens to file cabinets, desks and entire home offices, the retail giant covers all of a student’s needs with more than 45,000 products. Partners are paid for every purchase made through their sites and Staples takes care of all the details, including processing, shipping and tracking.

OneWayFurniture.com
Students who are leaving home this fall can buy furniture direct from the manufacturers through this online retailer, who then arranges for direct “one way” shipping to campuses all over the U.S. Customers can find deals of between 30 and 70 percent off on couches, beds, desks and other suitable dorm or apartment fare without having to work through a middle man. Affiliate partners earn 6 percent commissions on everything sold, and One Way offers a 90-day cookie and a $10 Cash Activation Bonus paid at the end of the month.

GiftBaskets.com
Also with the college student in mind, this Hayneedle-owned site is the leader in creative gift baskets for any occasion, including an array of clever back-to-school themed care packages. Economically priced and generously stuffed, these baskets and their many accessories earn up to 8 percent commissions for affiliate partners on every order, no matter how large or small. Affiliates receive payments each month via check, direct deposit or PayPal.

Affiliate Gold from Summit East 2010

Linc Wonham — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:35:00 GMT

Affiliate Summit East 2010 just concluded in New York City, marking the 15th such gathering of affiliate marketers and other Internet professionals since the conference’s inception in 2003. The show’s organizers put together another all-star lineup of speakers and session leaders, and we have scoured every blog post, tweet and video so that we could present the highlights for anyone who may have missed it.

In today’s edition of the Affiliate Industry Insider e-newsletter, we present what we consider to be some of the best advice from Affiliate Summit East 2010:

How to advertise on Facebook
Jeremy Schoemaker, aka Shoemoney, dispensed the following guidelines for earning revenues on the world’s largest social network, something he does to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. 1) It is wisest to start with a cost-per-click (CPC) ad campaign; 2) click-through-rates (CTR) are determined most by the images in the ads (70%), the body text (20%) and the titles (10%); 3) the images that receive the highest CTRs include women, brands or a combination; 4) the most effective body text includes a call to action (CTA), is brief but includes results; 5) the best titles include a CTA, have a Facebook feel and are simply worded; 6) Facebook’s cost per thousand views (CPM) is 23 cents; 7) try to be patient in learning how to advertise Facebook, because it takes time, but don’t let your ads run too long if they are not generating clicks

21 words marketers should use
Doctor, author and political consultant Frank Luntz delivered the summit’s opening keynote speech, in which he described how people react to words differently. His acclaimed book is titled Words that Work, and he listed the following 21 words and phrases for affiliate marketers to consider for the 21st century: 1) imagine/inspire; 2) cleaner, safer, healthier; 3) comprehensive/long-term; 4) accountability; 5) results/solutions; 6) hassle-free/no worries; 7) you’re in control/you decide; 8) efficient/efficiency; 9) reliable; 10) respect; 11) renew, revitalize, rejuvenate, restore, rekindle, reinvent; 12) the simple truth; 13) consequences; 14) bold action/getting it done; 15) peace of mind; 16) independent certification; 17) mission/commitment; 18) cutting edge; 19) common sense; 20) convenience; 21) exceeding expectations

How to build a link plan
Renowned SEO expert Wil Reynolds’ presentation appears to have been loaded with useful information, and here is the 10-step plan he recommends as a successful link strategy: 1) stop building links; 2) sign up for Open Site Explorer; 3) sign up for Majestic SEO; 4) get a book on Excel; 5) aggregate your competitors’ top metrics; 6) create graphs/conditional formats to alert you to trends; 7) start finding industry sites that have broken links; 8) look for unnatural link-building patterns; 9) review your competitors’ best link magnets; 10) use Google Suggest to find content opportunities

Affiliate platforming
The Twitter sage and president of social media firm UnMarketing, Scott Stratten, addressed the audience about building a marketing platform on social media. The four stages of doing so include 1) deciding on a platform, whether it be Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.; 2) building traction on that platform, which is the most difficult part and requires the most patience; 3) gaining momentum on the platform, which can be the most fun and rewarding phase of the process; 4) expanding your platform, when you are in a position to send the members of your network to yet another platform, whether it be Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

How to generate ideas
Affiliate marketers are always searching for new ideas, and keynote speaker Jim Kukral offered the following tips: 1) get in the mindset; 2) carry a notebook; 3) forget everything you’ve pre-learned; 4) combine ideas; 5) listen; 6) do the opposite; 7) make a list; 8) free your mind

If you were fortunate enough to be at the conference in New York earlier this week, we would appreciate hearing about some more of the valuable information for our readers.

10 Eco-Friendly Affiliate Marketing Programs

Linc Wonham — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:45:00 GMT

The disastrous Gulf Coast oil spill has had us here at Website Magazine wondering what roles Internet professionals can take in protecting our environment. There are many ways in which a website owner can contribute to a greener, more sustainable planet, and joining an environmentally conscious affiliate marketing program is one of the easiest and potentially most rewarding. Below are 10 such programs that we recommend.

EcoDiscoveries
Recognized by the EPA’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative, EcoDiscoveries provides household cleaning products that are healthy and safe for the planet and the people who use them. Managed through the Performance-Based green affiliate network, this program offers two tiers of commissions and a 365-day cookie duration. First-tier commissions are 15 percent, second-tier commissions are 3 percent, and payouts are made monthly. EcoDiscoveries has several popular product lines including glass cleaner, mildew/mold remover, baby-safe cleaner and fabric deodorizer.

Mountain Rose Herbs
This respected supplier of organic herbs, spices, teas and oils offers 15-percent commissions for every online sale made from traffic generated by your site. Mountain Rose provides a free affiliate program with no obligation, complete online access to accounts activity, traffic reports and payout information, and provides setup assistance and high-level support from their qualified staff. Mountain Rose also provides visually appealing banners and graphics that will add a nice earthy touch to any website.

Eco Chic Holiday Cards
Made from recycled stock and designed with vegetable inks, these Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-approved customizable cards are printed using 100-percent wind power to further reduce the carbon footprint. Commissions are paid on two tiers of 10 percent and two percent, with a one-year cookie duration. This affiliate program is also managed through Performance-Based, and Eco Chic plants a tree for every order placed through the network.

ReBinder
These innovative, durable and practical office products are FSC green to raise both brand and environmental awareness. Managed through the Share-a-Sale affiliate network, ReBinder’s program operates on a 20-percent/10-percent, two-tiered commission structure and pays incentive-based bonuses during promotional periods. Web orders average $180 and cookie duration is 60 days. ReBinder provides a highly visual banner to promote its recycled and recyclable products.

Lily Organics
Since 1986, Lily Organics has been handcrafting award-winning skincare products without using any synthetic chemicals. Lily is the only facial care line on the planet to grow its own ingredients on its own USDA-certified organic farm and make fresh products weekly in its own FDA-inspected lab. Commissions are 20 percent on the first tier and 2 percent on the second tier, and cookies last for a full 365 days.

Eco Mugs
Affiliate partners earn 15-percent commissions from every sale they generate of the most eco-friendly mugs and custom-design, reusable water bottles on the planet. The company specializes in large, custom orders for offices, organizations and clubs, offering great potential for big commissions. Eco Mugs is an exclusive merchant at the Share-a-Sale network.

Home Efficiency Report
Partners earn 20 percent commissions on home energy efficiency reports and subsequent home energy audits under this unique green affiliate program. Commissions run three tiers deep with a generous 30-percent payout at the top tier. A member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Home Efficiency Report’s affiliate marketing program is managed by the Green and Save network.

Itzy Ritzy
Specializing in baby supplies made of organic cotton and sustainable bamboo, Itzy Ritzy sells blankets, cloths, high chair covers, car seat covers and more. The affiliate program is built on two tiers of commissions, starting at 10 percent for the first tier and 2 percent on the second tier. The products are not only sustainable but very fashionable as well, lending to nice visual elements for any partnering website.

Neutral Existence
Weatherization supplies and energy-saving home products are the focus of Neutral Existence’s business, and they are one of the only such retailers with an affiliate program. Using Quality Unit’s Post Affiliate Pro software, this two-tiered program pays 12-percent commissions on the first tier and 3-percent commissions on the second tier. Solar and wind-power supply systems are among the hard-to-find green home building products available.

Sea Chi Organics
Passionate about the purity of its ingredients, Sea Chi makes high-vibrational organic and wildcrafted skin and hair products from Kombucha Tea. Affiliate partners earn 10-percent commissions on each sale made by visitors from their sites, with no limits on the number of visitors or the volume of orders. Sea Chi has hundreds of products to choose from, all of them rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and Vitamin C, creating an antibiotic effect to promote bodily cleansing and a healthy lifestyle.