Affiliate Program Management

Are You Measuring and Analyzing or Flying Blind?

In September 2009 digital advertising overtook all other channels (including TV) in the United Kingdom [more here]. In October 2009 McKinsey stressed the importance of online retailing in the U.S., forecasting that by the year 2011 online sales will account for over 45% of all US retail sales [more here]. […]

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Online Guide to Affiliate Marketing [for Merchants]

Based on all of the writing I have done (online and offline) over the past four years, I have compiled an online guide to affiliate marketing for merchants/advertisers. It is structured both according to the most frequently asked, and the most important questions you should know the answers to. At

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How to Convert Other Affiliate Links into Text Links

It is no secret that in affiliate marketing text links generally convert significantly better than banner links. Also, when it comes to text links, it is easy for an affiliate to split-test different text variations (improving conversions) on their end without getting the merchant involved in the process at all.

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Small Business and Affiliate Marketing – an Interview

This was the topic of our discussion with Anita Campbell on her today’s Small Business Trends Radio show. It was a good interview chock-full of information that any small businesses can take, and start using right away. Anita asked over a dozen of great practical questions (I am a huge

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What are Affiliate-Exclusive Coupon Codes?

A merchant has emailed me: A newly-joined affiliate is asking if we can offer them exclusive coupon codes. He says these are extremely popular and convert especially well for them. What exactly are exclusive codes? [underlining mine] The technique of enticing coupon affiliates with exclusive codes is a widely-spread one.

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Affiliate Tax Prospect Now Clouds Virginia Sky

A worrying news has come through today: following New Mexico the state of Virginia — which is facing a $3.6 billion budget deficit this year [more here] — is now considering an affiliate tax as well. I’ve read about it in Scott Jangro’s AffBook blog [link to post], Googled the

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New Mexico Looks Towards Internet (Affiliate) Tax

Melanie Seery of Affiliate Advocacy has tweeted: New Mexico has introduced its 2010 House Bill 50 (second edition) “clarifying nexus in regard to certain Internet sales.” The nexus definition/basis is very similar to those in the other states affected by the tax, namely: “A person with a business with no

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Broadcasting Versus Two-Way Communication

The very last Affiliate Summit West 2010 session that I have attended has been the “Creating Lasting Publisher & Advertiser Relationships” panel. It was a good and well-balanced panel — with three publishers (Offers.com, FatWallet, and Cashbaq) and two advertisers (Target.com and Overstock.com) participating. One thing that especially did my

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Should You Block Affiliates from Certain Countries?

Reporting from the Affiliate Summit West 2010. The question of restricting affiliates from joining your affiliate program based on their geographical location sprung up during the Q&A session after my yesterday’s presentation, and I’ve also heard participants of the “Affiliate Program Compliance” panel touch upon it today. The main difference

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Amazon UK to Prohibit Affiliate Direct Linking (PPC or Organic)

Following the example of Amazon.com and Amazon.ca, Amazon UK has just notified its affiliates/associates that DTM (direct-to-merchant) linking will be prohibited starting from February 1, 2010. Unlike their North American counterparts, Amazon.co.uk is explicit that they are against direct linking of both paid search ads and organic SE results. Those

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