When Brent Elias began working at CSN Stores.com in 2002, the Boston-based online home furnishings retailer didn't have an affiliate program. Elias began his career at CSN working in the advertising department on the keywords team. Like many e-tailers, CSN Stores was afraid that affiliate marketing would cannibalize sales from its main online store.But as the privately-funded … [Read more...]
Crossing the Line
The roles played by each of the key parties in the affiliate marketing space are very clearly defined. Just like a well-oiled machine, each component has its job to do, each ensuring that the industry as a whole functions, if not in harmony, at least in synergy.Affiliates should drive value added traffic and consumers to a merchant's site.Networks are considered to be the … [Read more...]
Commission Junction: Putting the Pieces in Place
Kerri Pollard took over the helm of Commission Junction as general manager over a year ago. Pollard's rise through the ranks - starting at BeFree back in the day and then at CJ as director of publisher services - gives her a wide variety of network experience to draw upon. Since Pollard took over, CJ has undergone some changes.Lisa Picarille: You've been running Commission … [Read more...]
Google Affiliate Network: Big-Time Backing
The performance marketing landscape changed dramatically last year when Performics, the third largest network, was sold along with its parent company DoubleClick to search giant Google. After more than a decade in the online marketing space, Performics became the Google Affiliate Network - gaining all the cachet of an association with Google, along with concerns from the … [Read more...]
LinkShare: Leveraging Technology and Global Markets
Nearly a year ago, LinkShare president Steve Denton stepped down. The company named co-presidents. Jonathan Levine and Yasuhisa "Yaz" Iida are both veterans of LinkShare's parent company Rakuten. Lisa Picarille: LinkShare is the only major network to have co-presidents. Give me the break down of your duties. Jonathan Levine: I used to be the chief technology officer at … [Read more...]
ShareASale: Size Doesn’t Matter
ShareASale.com founder and CEO Brian Littleton runs what is considered to be the fourth largest performance network in the United States. Littleton has earned the respect of the industry and garnered a dedicated following of merchants and affiliates by taking a firm stand on issues. His company is the only network that does not allow downloadable applications of any kind. His … [Read more...]
Key Cogs in the Affiliate Machine
In May 2008, JupiterResearch analyst Patti Freeman Evans published a study on affiliate marketing that indicates online marketers will spend $2.1 billion on affiliate marketing fees, with U.S. online affiliate marketing spending reaching $3.3 billion in 2012. That figure includes the aggregate cost of running an affiliate program: affiliate network fees and affiliate … [Read more...]
Merchant Advantage: eBay Partner Network
In mid-March of 2008, eBay announced it would be transitioning away from having its massive affiliate program run by a network and instead they would take it in-house.eBay began its affiliate program in 2001 and had since grown it to the second largest affiliate program in the world, behind Amazon.com's Associate Program.The eBay Partner Network launched on April 1, and the … [Read more...]
Blurring the Lines
Recently, I posed my question to a diverse audience: "At your company, who is in charge of social media marketing? Raise your hand if it's the marketing group." A few hands went up. "The public relations team?" A few hands again. "Market research?" Once again, only a smattering of hands was raised. "So I guess most of you aren't using social media at all?" I suggested. "Must be … [Read more...]
Social Networking Bailout
Our politicians, along with Wall Street, a few bankers and some mortgage firms may be able to take our money, but they can't take away our friends. In fact, our friends may be all we have left someday. There's no doubt that the crisis we face today financially and otherwise will test our mettle as small business owners and brands.So in tough times what can we do? Well, if … [Read more...]
Owning Up
Social media technologies can be a powerful tool, but it's important to know who within your organization should be taking the lead for your social media marketing strategy, which includes responsibility for everything from budgeting to staffing.It's commonplace for executives and managers to ask about social media leadership and inquiries stem from the growing desire … [Read more...]
Participation Is Not Passive
Elvis has left the building and he took the audience with him.The only people left are fellow participants. Social media has made everyone an author, creator, director, developer, editor, critic and media outlet. There are millions of voices, but they are all saying the same thing - listen to me.Participants do not consume passively. They do not sit silently ready to have their … [Read more...]
Show me the Money
Currently, looking for the money in social media marketing is like asking directions in a foreign land when you don't speak the language and don't know how the locals connect and communicate.Social media is commonly defined as comprising "primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings."As an online marketer you want to hear about … [Read more...]
Incentivize Your Audience
Budgets are tightening, and advertisers need to boost ROI- fast. The social Web is gaining value not only as a medium that delivers measurable results, but also as a resource for gaining insight a company can use to make all of its advertising (TV, print, online) more effective, to increase ROI across the board.Social media is known for its wealth of useful information. Using … [Read more...]
Affiliates are Bullish
With the U.S. dollar sinking to new lows, oil and gold attaining new heights, and both food and gasoline prices rising quickly: corporate CEO's, the media and government officials finally acknowledged what millions have seen coming for years - the U.S. economy is in BIG trouble - and the future looks bleak. As expected, those hit hardest by the current downturn are working … [Read more...]